26 Mid-Columbia basketball teams still alive and fighting for a playoff berth

There are 26 Mid-Columbia teams still alive in the high school basketball playoff wars after this past weekend’s tournament play.

That includes five Mid-Columbia Conference boys teams, and five MCC girls squads.

With more games coming Tuesday, the battle for those coveted WIAA state regional playoff berths will really get heated this week.

Here’s a look at the tournaments:

Class 4A boys

The Chiawana and Walla Walla boys both lost winners bracket semifinals on Saturday night.

Liam Lloyd’s 29 points helped lead Gonzaga Prep over Chiawana 68-56. Jayden Martinez led the Riverhawks with 19 points and six rebounds.

Meanwhile, Michael Cornia scored 26 points, but it wasn’t enough as visiting Walla Walla lost 84-77 to Central Valley.

In loser-out games, Kaden Bradshaw scored a team-high 18 points, but it wasn’t enough as Richland was eliminated in a 62-40 loss to Ferris; Hudson Shupe scored 19 points for Hanford, but the Falcons were ousted by Mead 87-67.

Remaining tournament games:

Tuesday, Feb. 18

Game 9, Ferris at Walla Walla (loser out), 6 p.m.

Game 10, Mead at Chiawana (loser out), 7 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 21

Toyota Center, Kennewick

Game 11, Gonzaga Prep vs. Central Valley (winner No. 1 to state regional), 9:15 p.m.

Game 12, winner 9 vs. winner 10 (loser out), 5:45 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 22

Toyota Center, Kennewick

Game 13, loser 11 vs. winner 12 (winner No. 2 to state regional, loser out), 5:15 p.m.

Class 4A girls

The Greater Spokane League has both spots in the District 8 championship.

On Saturday in the semifinals, Mead upset Gonzaga Prep 52-36, while Central Valley held off visiting Pasco 64-56. Mya Groce led the Bulldogs with 16 points.

In a Saturday loser-out contest, Talia von Oelhoffen scored 40 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and dished off 6 assists, as Chiawana eliminated Walla Walla 70-58. Rian Clear led the Blue Devils with 26 points.

Megan Holm had a team-high 14 points as Richland lost to University 69-52 to end its season.

Remaining tournament games:

Tuesday, Feb. 18

Game 9, Chiawana at Pasco (loser out), 5 p.m.

Game 10, University at Gonzaga Prep (loser out), 6 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 21

Toyota Center, Kennewick

Game 11, Mead vs. Central Valley (winner No. 1 to state regional), 7:30 p.m.

Game 12, winner 9 vs. winner 10 (loser out), 4 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 22

Toyota Center, Kennewick

Game 13, loser 11 vs. winner 12 (winner No. 2 to state regional, loser out), 3:30 p.m.

Class 3A boys

Kamiakin and Mt. Spokane will meet in the District 8 championship on Feb. 21 in the Toyota Center, after both teams won their semifinals last Friday.

Kamiakin beat Southridge 73-39, as Kyson Rose scored 15 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and blocked 4 shots. Steven Westermeyer added 14 points, while Tristan Smith led Southridge with 13 points and 9 rebounds.

Ayoni Benavidez scored 22 points, but it wasn’t enough as Kennewick lost at Mt. Spokane 80-54.

Remaining tournament games:

Friday, Feb. 21

Toyota Center, Kennewick

Game 5, Kamiakin vs. Mt. Spokane (winner No. 1 to state regional), 2:15 p.m.

Game 6, Southridge vs. Kennewick (loser out), 10:45 a.m.

Saturday, Feb. 22

Toyota Center, Kennewick

Game 7, loser 5 vs. winner 6 (winner No. 2 to state regional, loser out), 1:45 p.m.

Class 3A girls

Kennewick advanced to the district title game when the Lions beat Kamiakin 73-60 in the semifinals last Friday.

Madeline Gebers scored 30 points and had 12 rebounds for Kennewick, while teammate MeiLani McBee added 20 points and 11 boards. Nikole Thomas paced Kamiakin with 17 points and 8 rebounds.

In the other semifinal, Mt. Spokane held off visiting Hermiston 43-35. Jazlyn Romero and Madison Feigum had 7 points each for the Bulldogs.

Remaining tournament games:

Friday, Feb. 21

Toyota Center, KennewickGame 5, Kennewick vs. Mt. Spokane (winner No. 1 to state regional), 12:30 p.m.

Game 6, Kamiakin vs. Hermiston (loser out), 9 a.m.

Saturday, Feb. 22

Toyota Center, Kennewick

Game 7, loser 5 vs. winner 6 (winner No. 2 to state regional, loser out), 12 p.m.

Class 2A boys

Prosser is the lone local team left in the district tournament.

The Mustangs lost a winners bracket semifinal to Toppenish on Saturday in Ellensburg, losing 83-79.

Haden Hicks led Prosser with 30 points.

So the Mustangs will now play Ephrata in a loser-out game at 5 p.m. Tuesday in that Yakima Valley SunDome.

If they can win that game, they would play the East Valley-Ellensburg Tuesday game winner on Wednesday for third and fourth place.

Class 2A girls

Prosser takes on Grandview on Tuesday at 7 p.m. In the Yakima Valley SunDome, in a loser-out contest.

The Mustangs dropped into the losers bracket on Saturday, falling 49-48 to East Valley of Yakima.In that game, Ashlynn Sylve scored the game-winning basket as time expired to give the Red Devils the victory. Alexis Harris led Prosser with 13 points.

The winner of Tuesday’s Prosser-Grandview game will play either Selah or Toppenish for third place on Wednesday.

Class 1A boys

River View has already qualified for the 1A state regionals, thanks to winning a 67-58, double-overtime game on Saturday over La Salle.

The Panthers will play Zillah – the other semifinal winner on Saturday, beating Royal 107-60 – for the district title at 7:15 p.m. this coming Saturday at River View.

Kiona-Benton takes on Royal on Tuesday in a 6 p.m., loser-out contest at Wahluke High.

Class 1A girls

Warden will meet La Salle at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at River View High School in the district championship.

The Cougars made it to the finals when they beat Zillah 70-52 last Saturday in the semifinals

.In a loser-out game on Thursday at Wahluke High, Connell will play Royal at 6 p.m.

The Eagles lost 48-45 to La Salle in last Saturday’s other semifinal contest.