Five draw foes for state tourneys
Published 10:45 pm Sunday, March 8, 2009
When the Sultan High School boys basketball team tips off against Wapato in the opening round of the Class 2A state tournament on Wednesday, it will have been a long time coming.
The Turks haven’t been to state since 1961.
But led by 6-foot-2 senior guard Jordan Nicholes, who is averaging 22.1 points per game, Sultan (15-9) is back at state at last, one of 16 teams in the boys field.
Pairings for the Class 2A and 3A tournaments were announced Sunday.
The Archbishop Murphy High girls also are headed to 2A state tournament at the Yakima SunDome while the Lynnwood High boys and the Meadowdale High boys and girls will be playing in their respective Class 3A state tournaments at the Tacoma Dome. Both the 2A and 3A tourneys get underway Wednesday.
Sultan went 3-1 at the 2A District 1 tournament and secured the district’s third seed to state, along the way upsetting Cascade Conference rival Archbishop Murphy 57-53 in a loser-out overtime game. Murphy had been ranked fifth in the state in the Associated Press poll.
Nicholes led Sultan with 13 points in that game, but Michael LaMunyon, Zach Beebe and Clayton Knowles each scored in double figures to make it a rounded team effort. That unselfishness will be key to their success against higher-seed Wapato.
The Archbishop Murphy girls, on the other hand, are considered one of the favorites to reach the 2A state championship. Ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press poll before districts and undefeated at 23-0, Murphy beat Lynden by 20 points in the District 1 championship game to secure a No. 1 seed to state.
Murphy, which hasn’t lost since March of 2008, plays Pullman at 9 p.m. Wednesday.
Murphy head coach John Barhanovich attributed his team’s success to its unselfishness on the offensive end and its defense.
“If you can play defense, your shot might not always fall, but you’re going to stay in the (game),” Barhanovich said.
The Meadowdale girls won the 3A District 1 championship to take a No. 1 seed to state. Ranked eighth in The Associated Press poll before districts, Meadowdale (19-5) is playing without standout Hanna Fjortoft, who dislocated her knee cap. The Mavericks rely heavily on forcing turnovers and getting out on the break and will need to continue to do that at state.
The Meadowdale boys, who are the District 1 champions, play North Kitsap at 12 p.m. Wednesday at the Tacoma Dome. The Mavericks (20-4) will go as far as senior guard Roger O’Neill and posts Kris Larson and Connor Hamlett can take them.
Lynnwood (14-12), the District 1 second seed, is a bit of a surprise to reach state. The Royals play Union at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Tacoma Dome and will need continued strong play from 6-foot-9 center Simi Fajemisin and senior Aaron Matzen.
