Happy spring, everybody!
OK, I know the first day of spring is actually more than three weeks away. But it is the first day of practices for high school spring sports.
And while the prospects for a snow-covered Monday were lessening, the weather today is going to make it feel like the first day of spring is farther away than three weeks.
So while we’ll feel for the athletes and coaches who will be heading outside today, the competition remains indoors for at least one more week with the state tournaments for high school basketball.
The biggest issue for the week will be if all state participants can get to their state tournaments in Tacoma, Yakima and Spokane.
But with the tournaments still a couple of days away, we’ll focus on the schedule as it is, right now.
We went into last weekend’s regional round with 12 Clark County basketball teams. Five of those teams were playing elimination games, of which one only prevailed — the King’s Way Christian boys.
That leaves eight teams still alive — four in Tacoma and four in Yakima.
In Tacoma, there will be the Union and Battle Ground boys in Class 4A, and the Prairie girls and boys in 3A.
The Battle Ground boys get things started for local teams in Tacoma with a 2 p.m. Wednesday loser-out game against Kentridge. If the Tigers prevail, they’ll meet No. 2 seed Gonzaga Prep at 2 p.m. Thursday.
The Prairie boys also have a loser-out game on Wednesday against Ingraham of Seattle at 5:30 p.m. If the Falcons win, they’ll face top-seeded Eastside Catholic of Sammamish at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday.
The Union boys and Prairie girls have advanced straight to Thursday’s quarterfinals at the Tacoma Dome.
If you were hoping to watch both teams play, you’ll have to find a seat at the dome where you can see both courts. Union and Prairie play at the same time — 10:30 a.m.
Union faces the winner of Glacier Peak and Curtis, while Prairie meets Edmonds-Woodway or Bethel.
The scheduling conflict won’t be an issue for us at The Columbian. We’ll have both Meg Wochnick and Andy Buhler there to report on the games.
However, it will be a bit more challenging for our photographer Nathan Howard. But Nathan can make it work.
It’s a bit more challenging for Micah Rice, who will be our man in the Yakima SunDome.
Both the La Center boys, in 1A, and Washougal girls, in 2A, have advanced to Thursday’s quarterfinals.
And both play at the same time — 9 p.m.
La Center faces Royal or Connell, while Washougal meets Burlington-Edison or W.F. West.
Now covering one 9 p.m. game is a challenge on deadline. But covering two?
Wednesday’s schedule is more friendly for Micah.
The Columbia River boys face Anacortes in a 2A loser-out game at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. If the Chieftains win, they’ll face top-seeded Lynden at 10:30 a.m. Thursday.
King’s Way Christian meets Cashmere in a 1A loser-out game at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday. If the Knights prevail, they’ll meet Seattle Academy at 3:45 p.m. Thursday.
It all figures to be a busy week of hoops. Hopefully, all the hot action inside will melt anything that falls outside.
Tim Martinez is the assistant sports editor/prep editor for The Columbian. He can be reached at 360-735-4538, tim.martinez@columbian.com or follow his Twitter handle @360TMart.
