High School Basketball

Richland boys, Chiawana girls best in Mid-Columbia Conference. Final stretch begins

By Jeff Morrow Special to the Herald

We’re in the final stretch of high school basketball’s regular season before post-season begins.

Here’s what we know:

  • Richland’s boys and Chiawana’s girls are the best in the Mid-Columbia Conference.
  • Prosser’s girls are among the elite in 2A state.
  • Zillah’s boys and girls are the best in the 1A South Central Athletic Conference.
  • Tri-Cities Prep’s boys and Mabton’s girls should be state title contenders in Class 2B.
  • Liberty Christian and DeSales are battling for the Southeast 1B Grape Division boys crown.
  • Yakama Tribal has a top-caliber 1B girls team.

Below are the latest conference standings, as of Wednesday, Jan. 28. I’ll also list when postseason play begins for each conference.

Richland senior Lance Horntvedt goes up for a dunk during the Bombers’ 109-53 win over Southridge on Jan. 23 at Southridge High in Kennewick. He is the Bombers’ leading scorer this season. He scored 36 points, while teammate Landen Northrop added 37 points.
Richland senior Lance Horntvedt goes up for a dunk during the Bombers’ 109-53 win over Southridge on Jan. 23 at Southridge High in Kennewick. He is the Bombers’ leading scorer this season. He scored 36 points, while teammate Landen Northrop added 37 points. Scott Hunt Special to the Herald

MCC boys basketball

Richland (4A) 14-0 MCC, 17-0 overall

Chiawana (4A) 11-2, 14-2

Kamiakin (4A) 9-4, 12-4

Kennewick (3A) 8-5, 10-6

Walla Walla (3A) 6-7, 8-8

Sageview (3A) 5-8, 8-8

Southridge (3A) 5-9, 8-8

Hermiston (3A) 4-10, 5-11

Hanford (4A) 3-11, 5-12

Pasco (4A) 2-11, 2-14

Key games left: Chiawana at Richland, 5 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 31.

Richland’s Landen Northrop works around Southridge’s Demario Cruz during the Bombers’ 109 to 53 win Jan. 23 at Southridge High in Kennewick.
Richland’s Landen Northrop works around Southridge’s Demario Cruz during the Bombers’ 109 to 53 win Jan. 23 at Southridge High in Kennewick. Scott Hunt Special to the Herald

Last day of regular season: Tuesday, Feb. 10.

4A postseason: All five 4A teams have at least one post-season game, with No. 5 playing the Greater Spokane League’s No. 4 team in a play-in game on Feb. 12. Everyone else starts Feb. 14. Top three teams in the tourney advance to state.

4A state: Opening round is Feb. 27-28. Top 12 teams in state will play in the Tacoma Dome March 4-7.

Southridge’s Demario Cruz
Southridge’s Demario Cruz Scott Hunt Special to the Herald

3A postseason: Top four 3A MCC teams advance to the district tourney. No. 4 MCC team plays GSL No. 5 in a play-in game on Feb. 12. Everyone else begins tourney play on Feb. 14. Top three teams advance to state.

3A state: Seeds 13 through 20 play an opening round game on Feb. 24. The second round will be Feb. 27 or 28. Final 12 head to the Tacoma Dome on March 4-7.

Kennewick’s Daniel Trotenya is guarded by Chiawana’s Devin Davis.
Kennewick’s Daniel Trotenya is guarded by Chiawana’s Devin Davis. Scott Hunt Special to the Herald

MCC girls basketball

Chiawana (4A) 13-0 MCC, 17-0 overall

Southridge (3A) 11-3, 14-3

Richland (4A) 10-4, 12-5

Hermiston (3A) 9-5, 11-5

Kamiakin (4A) 7-6, 9-7

Kennewick (3A) 7-6, 8-8

Walla Walla (3A) 6-7, 7-9

Pasco (4A) 2-11, 3-13

Hanford (4A) 2-12, 3-14

Sageview (3A) 0-13, 0-14

Key games left: Chiawana at Southridge, 5:45 p.m., Friday, Jan. 30; Chiawana at Richland, 3:15 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 31.

Last day of regular season: Tuesday, Feb. 10.

Kennewick’s Raylee Brendewald and Chiawana’s Gianna Medelez
Kennewick’s Raylee Brendewald and Chiawana’s Gianna Medelez Scott Hunt Special to the Herald

4A postseason: All five 4A teams have at least one post-season game, with No. 5 playing the Greater Spokane League’s No. 4 team in a play-in game on Feb. 12. Everyone else starts Feb. 14. Top three teams in the tourney advance to state.

4A state: Opening round is Feb. 27-28. Top 12 teams in state will play in the Tacoma Dome March 4-7.

Chiawana’s Maylee Maldonado takes a shot.
Chiawana’s Maylee Maldonado takes a shot. Scott Hunt Special to the Herald

3A postseason: Top four 3A MCC teams advance to the district tourney. No. 4 MCC team plays GSL No. 5 in a play-in game on Feb. 12. Everyone else begins tourney play on Feb. 14. Top three teams advance to state.

3A state: Seeds 13 through 20 play an opening round game on Feb. 24. The second round will be Feb. 27 or 28. Final 12 head to the Tacoma Dome on March 4-7.

2A CWAC boys standings

Selah 13-0 CWAC, 16-2 overall

Grandview 11-3, 13-6

Prosser 10-4, 10-9

Ellensburg 7-6, 8-10

Toppenish 6-7, 9-9

Othello 5-8, 7-11

Quincy 4-10, 6-13

East Valley 2-11, 3-15

Ephrata 2-11, 3-15

Key games left: Prosser at Selah, 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 3; Grandview at Prosser, 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 6.

Last day of regular season: Friday, Feb. 6.

2A postseason: Starts Feb. 11. Top four teams automatically in the district tournament. Last four teams have loser-out play-in games (8 at 5, 7 at 6) same day. Top two district placers advance to state tourney. Third-place team will host a District 1/5 team in a crossover game (winner to state, loser out) on Feb. 21.

2A state: Opening round games either Feb. 27 or 28. Top 12 teams play March 4-7 in the Yakima Valley SunDome.

2A CWAC girls standings

Prosser 13-1 CWAC, 16-3 overall

Selah 11-2, 15-3

Grandview 11-3, 15-4

Ellensburg 10-3, 14-4

Toppenish 6-7, 9-9

Quincy 4-10, 5-13

Othello 3-10, 4-13

East Valley 2-11, 2-15

Ephrata 0-13, 0-18

Key games left: Prosser at Selah, 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 3; Grandview at Prosser, 5:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 6.

Last day of regular season: Friday, Feb. 6.

2A postseason: Starts Feb. 10. Top four teams automatically in the district tournament. Last four teams have loser-out play-in games (8 at 5, 7 at 6) same day. Top two district placers advance to state tourney. Third-place team will host a District 1/5 team in a crossover game (winner to state, loser out) on Feb. 21.

2A state: Opening round games either Feb. 27 or 28. Top 12 teams play March 4-7 in the Yakima Valley SunDome.

1A SCAC boys standings

Zillah 13-0 SCAC, 17-0 overall

Royal 10-2, 15-2

Wapato 8-4, 11-6

Cashmere 8-5, 12-6

Connell 7-6, 11-7

Wahluke 5-7, 8-9

Naches Valley 4-8, 7-9

College Place 1-11, 3-13

Kiona-Benton 0-13, 1-16

Key games left: Wapato at Zillah, 7:15 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 3.

Last day of regular season: Friday, Feb. 6.

1A postseason: Top 8 teams advance to district tournament, which opens on Feb. 10. Top two teams automatically qualify for 1A state. Third and fourth place will play Northeast 1A teams on Feb. 21 in crossover games for state tourney berths.

1A state: Opening round games either Feb. 27 or 28. Top 12 teams play March 4-7 in the Yakima Valley SunDome.

1A SCAC girls standings

Zillah 13-0 SCAC, 16-2 overall

Wapato 10-2, 13-3

Royal 9-3, 14-3

Cashmere 9-4, 11-6

Naches Valley 7-5, 11-5

Kiona-Benton 4-9, 8-9

College Place 2-10, 4-12

Connell 2-11, 5-12

Wahluke 0-12, 1-16

Key games left: Wapato at Zillah, 5:45 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 3.

Last day of regular season: Friday, Feb. 6.

1A postseason: Top 8 teams advance to district tournament, which opens on Feb. 12. Top two teams automatically qualify for 1A state. Third and fourth place will play Northeast 1A teams on Feb. 21 in crossover games for state tourney berths.

1A state: Opening round games either Feb. 27 or 28. Top 12 teams play March 4-7 in the Yakima Valley SunDome.

2B EWAC east boys standings

Tri-Cities Prep 9-0 EWAC, 17-1 overall

Warden 7-3, 10-9

Columbia-Burbank 6-4, 10-9

River View 4-5, 6-11

Granger 3-7, 6-13

Mabton 0-10, 3-17

Last day of regular season: Thursday, Jan. 29.

2B postseason: The top five teams in the EWAC East play the EWAC West’s top five, starting Feb. 2, with games also Feb. 4 and 7. When it’s all done, the top five placers advance to the district tournament.

That will be held at Wenatchee High School on Feb. 13, 14 and 21 against the top four Central Washington 2B teams. The top six placers advance to the 2B state tournament.

2B state: Opening round games either Feb. 27 or 28. Top 12 teams play March 4-7 in the Numerical Veterans Arena in Spokane.

2B EWAC east girls standings

Mabton 9-1 EWAC, 12-8 overall

Tri-Cities Prep 7-2, 12-7

Warden 6-4, 7-11

Columbia-Burbank 4-6, 9-11

River View 2-7, 5-13

Granger 1-9, 5-15

Last day of regular season: Thursday, Jan. 29.

2B postseason: The top five teams in the EWAC East play the EWAC West’s top five, starting Feb. 3, with games also Feb. 5 and 7. When it’s all done, the top five placers advance to the district tournament.

That will be held at Wenatchee High School on Feb. 13, 14 and 21 against the top four Central Washington 2B teams. The top five placers advance to the 2B state tournament.

2B state: Opening round games either Feb. 27 or 28. Top 12 teams play March 4-7 in the Numerical Veterans Arena in Spokane.

Southeast 1B Grape Division boys

Liberty Christian 11-1 SE1B, 18-1 overall

DeSales 11-1,15-4

Sunnyside Christian 9-3, 16-4

Touchet 6-5, 12-5

Riverside Christian 5-8, 10-8

Yakama Nation Tribal 3-9, 7-12

WWVA 3-9, 6-9

Prescott 0-12, 0-19

Last day of regular season: Saturday, Jan. 31.

1B postseason: The top four placers in the Grape division, and the top four Wheat division teams, meet in the Southeast 1B tournament. It begins on Feb. 5 and also runs Feb. 7, 11 and 13. Top five teams will advance to the District 6 tournament, featuring the top five Northeast 1B teams. Games will be held Feb. 20-21 at Reardan High School. Seven of those 10 teams will qualify for the state tournament.

1B state: Twenty teams will qualify for state, with the lowest eight seeds playing Feb. 24 in an opening round. Round 2 is Feb. 27-28 at various sites, and the top 12 will play in the Numerica Veterans Arena in Spokane from March 4-7.

Southeast 1B Grape Division girls

Yakama Nation Tribal 11-0 SE1B, 19-0 overall

Liberty Christian 8-3, 12-5

DeSales 6-4, 9-8

Sunnyside Christian 5-4, 11-6

Touchet 3-7, 3-10

Prescott 3-8, 4-10

WWVA 0-10, 0-11

Last day of regular season: Saturday, Jan. 31.

1B postseason: The top four placers in the Grape division, and the top four Wheat division teams, meet in the Southeast 1B tournament. It begins on Feb. 4 and also runs Feb. 6, 11 and 13. Top five teams will advance to the District 6 tournament, featuring the top five Northeast 1B teams. Games will be held Feb. 20-21 at Reardan High School. Seven of those 10 teams will qualify for the state tournament.

1B state: Twenty teams will qualify for state, with the lowest eight seeds playing Feb. 24 in an opening round. Round 2 is Feb. 27-28 at various sites, and the top 12 will play in the Numerica Veterans Arena in Spokane from March 4-7.

- Jeff Morrow is former sports editor for the Tri-City Herald.

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