Richland boys, Chiawana girls lead MCC teams vying for state basketball tournament berths
The Richland and Walla Walla boys, as well as the Chiawana, Kennewick and Southridge girls, will all be playing for a state tournament berth this week after a couple rounds of District 6 basketball play.
The Bombers boys defeated Mead 81-71 at Dawald Gym on Saturday, Feb. 15, advancing to the 4A district championship game. Richland will travel to play Gonzaga Prep at 6 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 20, for one state 4A berth.
Meanwhile, Chiawana’s boys — despite losing at Gonzaga Prep 68-51 this past Saturday, still has a chance for a 4A state berth.
The Riverhawks, who were led by Gage Williams’ 17 points in the loss, plays host to Lewis & Clark at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 18, in a loser-out contest. Chiawana must win three straight loser-out games to qualify for state.
▪ Meanwhile, Kaia Foster scored 32 points — sinking 6 of 11 3-point field goal attempts — to lead the Chiawana girls past Gonzaga Prep 78-65 in a district semifinal. The Riverhawks will play at Mead at 6 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 20, in the district championship.
The winner earns a state 4A berth, while the loser gets another shot at a berth in a loser-out game.
Kamiakin fell into the loser’s bracket on Saturday, losing 62-55 at Mead. Richland beat Lewis & Clark 58-48 in a loser-out game Saturday.
The Bombers travel to play at Kamiakin at 6 p.m., Tuesday, in a loser-out game. Each team must win three games to qualify for state.
▪ In the 3A boys District 6 tournament, No. 9 seed North Central continued its upset run. The Spokane school beat No. 8 Ridgeline 69-58 on Tuesday in a play-in game; then it upset top-ranked Kennewick 56-53 on Saturday.
What that does to the Lions is they must play host to Southridge at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 18, in a loser-out game.
Meanwhile, Walla Walla won its opener Saturday, beating Cheney 57-46.
The Blue Devils will play at Mt. Spokane at 6 p.m., Tuesday.
The top three placers in this tournament advance to 3A state.
▪ The Kennewick and Southridge girls both won 3A district openers, and they’ll now play in winners bracket semifinals with state berths on the line.
Kennewick routed Cheney 69-26 on Saturday, meaning the Lions will host Ridgeline at 5 p.m., Tuesday.
Southridge beat University 53-46 to earn a chance at a state berth, playing at Central Valley at 6 p.m., Tuesday.
The top three placers in this tournament advance to 3A state.
BOYS BASKETBALL
3A-4A MCC
Through games of Feb. 15
Richland (4A) 16-0 MCC, 22-0 overall
Chiawana (4A) 13-3, 19-4
Kennewick (3A) 12-4, 15-6
Kamiakin (4A) 9-7, 12-10
Walla Walla (3A) 8-8, 12-9
Southridge (3A) 6-11, 7-16
Hermiston (3A) 5-12, 8-13
Hanford (4A) 3-13, 3-19
Pasco (4A) 1-15, 2-19
GIRLS BASKETBALL
3A-4A MCC
Through games of Feb. 15
Chiawana (4A) 16-0 MCC, 21-1 overall
Kamiakin (4A) 14-2, 17-5
Kennewick (3A) 12-4, 16-5
Richland (4A) 8-8, 10-12
Southridge (3A) 7-9, 12-9
Walla Walla (3A) 6-10, 8-12
Hermiston (3A) 6-10, 9-13
Pasco (4A) 2-14, 4-17
Hanford (4A) 1-15, 1-18
CWAC girls basketball
Sophomore Herbie Wright scored a game-high 25 points to lead the Prosser girls basketball team to a 76-49 win over Selah in the first round of the 2A CWAC district tournament on Feb. 12.
That allows the Mustangs to advance to the winner’s bracket semifinals against Grandview at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 18.
The other semifinal will pit Selah at Ellensburg, set for 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 18.
The semifinal winners will meet on Thursday, Feb. 20, with one automatic state tournament berth on the line.
The other three remaining teams will be battling for two state play-in games on Feb. 22 against the Greater Spokane League’s top two teams.
College basketball
Chiawana graduate Cash Callaway spent the 2023-24 college basketball season playing for Benedictine Mesa University in Arizona.
But this past offseason, Callaway transferred to South Mountain Community College, also in Arizona.
Through games of Feb. 15, Callaway leads his team, which is 10-17, in scoring at 19.0 points a game. He’s also the top passer, with 3.0 assists, and he leads the team with 1.8 steals.
▪ Kamiakin grad Peter Dress is making an impression in his true freshman season at Embry-Riddle University in Arizona.
Dress has started in 25 of 26 games (through Feb. 14) for the 12-14 Eagles men’s basketball team.
Dress averages 13.0 points a game, ranking him second on the team.
Dress was named the Great Southwest Athletic Conference men’s basketball offensive player of the week twice this season.
Letter of intent
Kamiakin senior Addisen Ford, who helped lead the Braves to the Mid-Columbia Conference regular season volleyball title, has signed a letter of intent to play volleyball at Columbia Basin College starting in the fall.