Kamiakin or Richland High boys? Who will be seeded No. 1 for playoffs
There is one full week left in the Mid-Columbia Conference basketball season, and really there are no playoff positions locked in.
Although we can assume some things.
For instance, we know that the Kamiakin and Richland boys will have the top two Mid-Columbia Conference seeds when the District 8 tournament begins Feb. 10.
We just don’t know for sure who will be No. 1.
Kamiakin is currently 13-0 in MCC play, while Richland is 12-1. When the teams first met on Jan. 11, Kamiakin pulled away to win 70-49.
The two teams will meet again this coming Friday, Feb. 4, at Kamiakin (7:30 p.m. tipoff).
At halftime, the school will dedicate the Kamiakin gym to former Braves basketball coach and athletic director Randy Dolven, who passed away in 2020.
The Braves have won 10 consecutive games, while the Bombers are riding a 6-game winning streak.
Both teams will be guaranteed a home game next week in the district tournament.
Basketball highlights
▪ Congrats to Richland boys basketball coach Earl Streufert, who earned his 200th career coaching victory at Dawald Gym, the Bombers’ home court, on Friday night.
The Bombers rolled over visiting Hermiston 107-67.
At 14-3 this season, Streufert now has a coaching record of 387-173 over 24 seasons.
What’s been interesting for Streufert’s team is this past week, going 3-0, someone different stepped to the forefront in each victory.
In Tuesday’s 75-88 win over Walla Walla, it was Twazae Gladney (22 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists) and Jase Vopalensky (21 points).
In Friday’s win over Hermiston, it was sophomore post Luke Westerfield (12-for-13 from the floor, 26 points, 13 rebounds, 5 blocked shots).
And in Saturday’s 96-37 victory over Pasco, it was Jordan Valencia (24 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists) and Josh Woodard (24 points).
▪ Take a look at the boys standings below, and look where Kennewick and Walla Walla are. The Lions are 7-5 in MCC play, while the Blue Devils are right behind at 7-6.
They are the top two Class 3A teams in the MCC, battling for that top seed into the district tournament. Against each other, they split their two games. The top three MCC 3A teams advance to the district tourney.
The top four 4A MCC squads advance to the tournament.
▪ Top stat line of the week has to be Westerfield’s in Friday’s Richland win over Hermiston.
But Chiawana’s Connor Mendez is a close second. In an 87-51 win over Southridge last Tuesday, Mendez went 8-for-9 from the floor (2-for-2 from the 3-point line), 8-for-8 from the free throw line, for 26 points. He also grabbed 6 rebounds.
Boys standings
4A-3A MCC basketball
Kamiakin 13-0 MCC, 16-1 overall
Richland 12-1, 14-3
Chiawana 7-5, 10-6
Kennewick 7-5, 9-7
Walla Walla 7-6, 8-8
Hanford 4-8, 5-11
Hermiston 4-9, 4-15
Southridge 2-10, 3-12
Pasco 0-12, 0-16
Tuesday, Jan. 25 — Chiawana 82, Southridge 51; Hanford 75, Pasco 40; Kamiakin 86, Hermiston 45; Richland 75, Walla Walla 58.
Friday, Jan. 28 — Kamiakin 103, Pasco 43; Kennewick 85, Chiawana 78; Richland 107, Hermiston 67; Walla Walla 71, Southridge 43.
Saturday, Jan. 29 — Hermiston 94, Southridge 55; Kamiakin 78, Hanford 51; Richland 96, Pasco 37; Walla Walla 68, Kennewick 64.
Tuesday, Feb. 1 (all times 7:30 p.m. tipoff) — Chiawana at Walla Walla; Hanford at Richland; Hermiston at Kennewick; Pasco at Southridge.
Thursday, Feb 3 — Walla Walla at Ferris, 5:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 4 (all times 7:30 p.m. tipoff) — Chiawana at Hermiston; Kennewick at Pasco; Richland at Kamiakin; Southridge at Hanford.
Saturday, Feb. 5 (all times 5 p.m. tipoff) — Chiawana at Pasco; Hanford at Kennewick; Hermiston at Walla Walla; Kamiakin at Southridge.
Pasco girls unbeaten
Pasco’s girls went 3-0 last week to raise their MCC record to 12-0 (15-0 overall).
Barring a complete collapse this week, the Bulldogs have the conference’s top Class 4A seed to the district tournament just about locked up.
Once again, it was the 1-2 punch of Mya Groce and Taija Mackey who did a lot of the damage.
In a 61-53 win over Hanford last Tuesday, Mackey added another double-double to her resume with 18 points and 17 rebounds against a hot Falcons team which has won five of its last six games.
In Friday’s 68-37 win over Kamiakin, Groce scored 27 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. Mackey added 20 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 blocked shots.
The big game this week will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, when Chiawana visits Pasco. The Riverhawks may have the last shot of trying to knock the Bulldogs from the unbeaten ranks before postseason play begins.
Meanwhile, in 3A MCC play, Kennewick has the top district seed right now with a 6-6 record, while Hermiston is a half-game back at 6-7.
Girls standings
4A-3A MCC basketball
Pasco 12-0 MCC, 15-0 overall
Chiawana 9-3, 12-4
Richland 9-4, 12-5
Hanford 6-6, 10-6
Kennewick 6-6, 8-7
Kamiakin 6-7, 10-7
Hermiston 6-7, 10-8
Southridge 1-11, 4-11
Walla Walla 1-12, 2-15
Tuesday, Jan. 25 — Chiawana 68, Southridge 39; Kamiakin 60, Hermiston 59; Pasco 61, Hanford 53; Richland 60, Walla Walla 46.
Friday, Jan. 28 — Chiawana 67, Kennewick 56; Pasco 68, Kamiakin 37; Richland 84, Hermiston 62; Walla Walla 51, Southridge 47.
Saturday, Jan. 29 — Hanford 65, Kamiakin 58; Hermiston 74, Southridge 65; Kennewick 71, Walla Walla 44; Pasco 49, Richland 35.
Tuesday, Feb. 1 (all times 5:45 p.m. tipoff) — Chiawana at Walla Walla; Hanford at Richland; Hermiston at Kennewick; Pasco at Southridge.
Friday, Feb. 4 (all times 5:45 p.m. tipoff) — Chiawana at Hermiston; Kennewick at Pasco; Richland at Kamiakin; Southridge at Hanford.
Saturday, Feb. 5 (all times 3:15 p.m. tipoff) — Chiawana at Pasco; Hanford at Kennewick; Hermiston at Walla Walla; Kamiakin at Southridge.