2A STATE TOURNAMENT TEAM CAPSULES AND SCHEDULE

Published 5:16 pm Monday, March 9, 2009

Sultan Turks

Record: 15-9

Last appearance: 1961 (did not place)

Coach: Nate Trichler (eighth year)

Key players: G Jordan Nicholes, 6-2, sr. (23.1 ppg, 6.7 apg, 5.6 rpg, 3.8 spg); G Michael LaMunyon, 5-9, sr. (11.3 ppg); F Nathan Barnhill, 6-3, sr. (6.3ppg, 6.1 rpg).

First-round opponent: Wapato (16-6), 4 p.m. Wednesday

Outlook/Coach’s comment: Sultan, the District 1 No. 3 seed, is back in the state tournament for the first time in 48 years. In the program’s only previous appearance in 1961, the Turks went 1-2 in Spokane.

Cascade Conference MVP Nicholes is a contender for The Herald All-Area Boys Basketball Player of the Year award. “Jordan is the leader and we have seven others that produce very well,” Sultan coach Nate Trichler said. “It is such an unselfish group that (gets) along very well on and off the court.”

Wapato is a fast team that will give Sultan all it can handle in what could be high-scoring, fast-paced first-round game, said Trichler.

2A boys tournament

At the Yakima SunDome

Wednesday’s games

Game 1: Anacortes vs. Quincy, 9 a.m.

Game 2: Hockinson vs. Fife, 10:30 a.m.

Game 3: Pullman vs. Squalicum, 12:30 p.m.

Game 4: Toppenish vs. Mark Morris, 2 p.m.

Game 5: Sultan vs. Wapato, 4 p.m.

Game 6: North Mason vs. River Ridge, 5:30 p.m.

Game 7: Sequim vs. Clarkston, 7:30 p.m.

Game 8: Tumwater vs. Burlington-Edison, 9 p.m.

Archbishop Murphy Wildcats

Record: 23-0

Last appearance: 2006 (did not place)

Coach: John Barhanovich (fourth year)

Key players: F Alyssa Smith, 6-0, sr. (9.7 ppg, 8.0 rpg); G Sam Pettinger, 5-9, jr. (11.9 ppg, 3.0 apg, 3.0 spg); G Shelby Lyman, 5-8, jr. (9.7 ppg, 3.0 apg).

First-round opponent: Pullman (20-3), 9 p.m. Wednesday

Outlook/Coach’s comment: Unbeaten Archbishop Murphy, ranked No. 2 in 2A by the Tacoma News Tribune, is a title contender that starts off with a tough foe: fourth-ranked Pullman. “Pullman is a very good team who played in the state tournament last year and has most players back,” Archbishop Murphy coach John Barhanovich said. “They have a great post player who is 6-4 and were unbeaten in their league season. They like to pressure on defense and try to get you to turn it over.”

Making its second 2A state-tourney appearance, district-champion Murphy went two-and-out in 2006. The Wildcats went to the 1A championships four times, placing in the top eight once (fifth in 2003).

2A girls tournament

At the Yakima SunDome

Wednesday’s games

Game 1: Ellensburg vs. Black Hills, 9 a.m.

Game 2: Eatonville vs. Lynden, 10:30 a.m.

Game 3: Hockinson vs. Othello, 12:30 p.m.

Game 4: Burlington-Edison vs. West Valley, Spokane, 2 p.m.

Game 5: Fife vs. Elma, 4 p.m.

Game 6: Bellingham vs. Prosser, 5:30 p.m.

Game 7: River Ridge vs. Kingston, 7:30 p.m.

Game 8: Pullman vs. Archbishop Murphy, 9 p.m.