This week's happenings on the Washington prep sports scene:
1. More changes coming for state hoops?: The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, the state's governing body for high school sports, held its Winter Coalition meeting on Monday. One of the topics discussed was the controversial new state basketball format.
The new format was unveiled last month with opening rounds held at regional sites and with two tourneys completing at the same site. Fans have been voicing displeasure about the new format.
"Could see some changes, yes, for next year," WIAA executive director Mike Colbrese told the Tacoma News Tribune.
The WIAA released figures reporting that the state basketball tournaments brought more than $31,000 more than budgeted — last year the tourneys fell about $80,000 short — the TNT reported. The WIAA will continue meeting with groups on the issue and could decide what the 2012 format will look like when the executive board meets on April 17-18.
2. 3A wins All-State game: Dustin Watts of O'Dea had 23 points as the Class 3A team beat the 4A squad at the Washington Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association All-State basketball series.
Jerid Ronquillo of Hoquiam scored 21 as the 1A team beat the 2A team 128-104, and Willapa Valley's
Aaron Friese had 18 to lead the 2B team past the 1B team 107-81.
3. Northwest Shootout set: The annual Northwest Shootout, pitting the top senior girls and boys basketball players from Oregon and Washington, is set for April 2 at the Chiles Center in Portland.
4. Bet on black in volleyball series: Class 4A state MVP Leigh Anne Haataja of
Jackson (Mill Creek) had 14 kills and five blocks to lead the black team past the red team in the 4A/3A match of the 26th annual All-State Volleyball Series, 26-28, 19-25, 25-16, 25-20, 19-17. Jessica Miller of
Fife (Tacoma) had 18 kills to lead the red team to a 3-1 win the 1A/2A match.
Brewster's Amanda Youngers had 10 kills and two blocks as the red team moved to a 4-0 win in the 2B/1B match.
5. Kingma shooting in Houston: Oregon-bound guard
Brett Kingma of Jackson is set to compete in the 3-point shooting contest at the National High School Slam Dunk & 3-point Championships on April 3 in Houston.
TOP FIVE PERFORMERS* Gary Bell, Kentridge boys basketball: The Gonzaga-bound guard was named the Gatorade State Player of the Year after leading the Chargers to a sixth-place finish at state. He averaged 28 points, eight rebounds and three assists.
* Erika Johnson, Holy Names girls basketball: Johnson, who led the Cougars to the Class 3A state title, was named the Gatorade state player of the year. She averaged 16.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 4 steals and 2.4 blocks per game.
* Lauren Burchak, Woodinville softball: Burchak hit two homers and a double and had seven RBIs in a 10-0 win over Monroe.
* Glenn Paden, Shorecrest (Seattle) boys soccer: Paden scored two hat tricks (and seven goals in three games) in a 3-0 start last week.
* Dylan Davis, Redmond baseball: Davis picked up the win with one unearned run over four innings and he went 3-for-3 with two homers, a triple, five RBIs and four runs in an 11-1 win over Mount Si.
RECRUITING NEWSCentral Kitsap (Silverdale) volleyball player Alexis Wesley signed with Memphis. ...
Bremerton wrestler Lauren Richardson, a state girls champ at 112 pounds, signed with Menlo. ... UCLA has offered a scholarship to Tacoma Baptist tackle
Walker Williams, according to Internet reports. It's believed to be the first major offer for the massive 6-6, 330 junior.
NATE'S NOTESExaggerated or not, Washington is known for its rain. The early part of spring is as rainy as any time of the year, and baseball game after baseball game gets postponed. It's like this more often than not.
And, by the end of the regular season, games are backed up, and teams are blowing out their pitching playing five games in a week to get them all in. My solution? Fewer league games, more nonleague games.
Have the league games start in April. Play everybody once instead of twice. Fill your rainy March schedule with nonleague games, and if they don't get played, it's not that big of a deal. League games have to be played in order to decide playoff spots.
Nathan Joyce has covered high school sports in Washington for 13 years. He works at the Kitsap Sun in Bremerton.