Washington was the only state in the union to hold a 16-team, modified double-elimination state basketball tournament for every classification, but that is no longer.
The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association’s representative assembly voted to pare down the state tourneys. State tourneys will still include 16 teams, but the opening round will be a single-elimination game at regional sites. The final eight teams will advance to a double-elimination format.
Because of sagging attendance figures, the WIAA sought to cut down the state tourney. They will also save money on venue rent by holding two tournaments at the same site on the same weekend, March 3-5. The Class 4A and 3A tourneys will be at the Tacoma Dome. The Class 2A and 1A ones will be at the Yakima SunDome and Class 2B and 1B will be at the Spokane Arena.
2. WIAA votes down lacrosse: Lacrosse, which likes to bill itself as the fastest-growing sport in the nation, won't be a sanctioned sport in Washington next year. For the third straight year, the representative assembly voted down an amendment that would add girls lacrosse. Boys lacrosse didn't come up for a vote. Lacrosse is played as a club sport.
3. Javelin king signs with UCLA: Tahoma's Derek Eager broke his state record in the javelin last week at the Pasco Invite, throwing 229 feet, 5 inches. This week he signed a letter of intent with UCLA for a full-ride scholarship. Eager is also the state leader in the discus (182-9) and is eighth in the shot put (53-5).
4. Chehalis player on homer binge: Robert Pehl of top-ranked West (Chehalis) hit a home run in five straight games. His final game of the streak was a three-homer game in a win against River Ridge.
Top five performers
Derek Callahan (Edmonds-Woodway baseball): The junior had a no-hitter and struck out 11 in a 6-0 win over Lynnwood.
Jason Monda (Capital baseball): The senior went 7 for 10 with three doubles, two triples and 13 RBI in two wins. He also pitched twice, going 1-0 with eight strikeouts and no walks.
Bailey Brewer (Sedro-Woolley softball): The senior was 8 for 11 with two doubles and a homer and seven RBI in three games. She also struck out 17 in one game.
Nick LaRoy (Kalama baseball): The Washington State recruit threw his sixth no-hitter and his first perfect game, fanning 20 of 21 he faced in a win against White Salmon.
Hailey Graham (West softball): Just a sophomore, she went 8 for 9 in two games and also struck out 10 in one of them.
Recruiting news
King's Dionna Kirton signed a letter of intent to play volleyball at Hartford (Conn.) University. ... South Kitsap's Molly Weder signed to play basketball at NAIA Montana Tech. ... North Kitsap's Daniel Jewett signed to play baseball at Truman State in Kirksville, Mo.
Nate's notes
Count me as shocked that the WIAA changed the state basketball tournaments. They've been talking about if for years, and I was pretty sure it would always just be talk.
I understand why the move was made. The morning consolation games practically had tumbleweeds blowing through them. The chance to eliminate some of those games and combine venues to save some serious cash was too good to pass up.
But still, I'm a bit disappointed. It seemed the right thing to do to hold those consolation games and decide state trophies down to eighth place. Also, half the teams that actually earn a spot at state won’t feel the state experience.
As it is in all things, money is the bottom line.
Nathan Joyce has covered high school sports in Washington for 12 years. He works at the Kitsap Sun in Bremerton.
