Last weekend, we sent five reporters into the field to cover state championships and district tournament games.
We went to Tacoma, Federal Way, Puyallup, Camas, Longview, Chehalis, Centralia and Kelso.
This weekend we’ll send those same five reporters out, and they’ll have to travel even farther for the regional round of the state basketball tournaments.
Clark County has nine boys and girls basketball teams still alive. Those teams will be playing in Chehalis, Tumwater, Puyallup, Renton, Bellevue and Bothell.
4A boys
No. 1 Union (22-1) vs. No. 7 Curtis (20-6), 8 p.m. Friday at W.F. West HS, Chehalis: Union won the Curtis Holiday Tournament back in December, but the Titans and Vikings never met. Curtis won the South Puget Sound League South Division with a 12-0 record. The Vikings went 3-3 in the postseason (reserving comment on a team losing three times in the postseason), but two losses were to second-ranked Federal Way.
Camas (17-6) vs. No. 4 Kentwood (22-3), 4 p.m. Saturday at Puyallup HS: Kentwood won the SPSL Northeast with an 8-0 record. The Conquerors won 10 in a row before falling to Federal Way in the District 3 title game. In fact, Kentwood has won 14 straight games against teams not named Federal Way.
3A boys
Columbia River (18-6) vs. No. 1 Rainier Beach (22-3), 4 p.m. Saturday at Bellevue College: A tough draw for the Chieftains. The Vikings from Seattle are the three-time defending 3A state champions, and they are top-ranked once again. Rainier Beach has three losses — to Central Catholic of Portland, St. Benedict’s Prep of Newark, N.J., and Garfield. They’ve won eight straight since their last loss, including sweeping through the very tough District 2 tournament.
1A boys
No. 9 La Center (14-8) vs. No. 6 Lynden Christian (15-8), 4 p.m. Saturday at Tumwater HS: The Lyncs are a tough draw for a No. 3 seed. Lynden Christian went 7-5 in the split-classification Northwest Conference that included eight 2A teams and a 3A team. If you want a point of reference, the Lyncs beat King’s Way Christian 62-45 on Dec. 6.
No. 10 King’s Way Christian (18-6) vs. No. 7 Seattle Academy (14-7), 6 p.m. Saturday at Renton HS: Seattle Academy went 11-1 in winning the Emerald City League. Since Jan. 1, the Cardinals have lost three times — to 3A Cleveland and a pair of 1A state tournament teams, Overlake and King’s.
4A girls
No. 10 Skyview (19-3) vs. Kentlake (20-6), 6 p.m. Saturday at W.F. West HS, Chehalis: The Falcons tied for first in the 4A SPSL Northeast Division with Kentridge at 7-1. But it’s been a bumpy road toward state. Kentlake is 6-4 in their final 10 teams.
Camas (17-5) vs. No. 4 Bellarmine Prep (21-2), 6 p.m. Saturday at Puyallup HS: The Lions from Tacoma won the 4A Narrows League with a 12-0 record. Bellarmine Prep had won 14 in a row before falling to Todd Beamer in the District 3 championship game.
3A girls
No. 9 Prairie (18-6) vs. Juanita (13-13), 4 p.m. Saturday at Bothell HS: The Rebels from Kirkland went 7-5 and placed third in the 3A/2A KingCo Conference. While Juanita’s 13-13 record may not be very impressive, there is one thing to note — the Rebels started the season 0-9.
No. 7 La Center (19-4) vs. No. 9 Cascade Christian (19-3), 6 p.m. Friday at Rogers HS, Puyallup: The Cougars from Puyallup won the 1A Nisqually League with a 7-1 record. They have wins over 4A teams Emerald Ridge and Graham-Kapowsin.
