Despite going 0-2 last weekend, Trout Lake's boys and Klickitat's girls are still in the running for WIAA state Class B basketball tournament berths.
However, both teams must win twice this weekend, during the Central Washington Regional Tournament at Ellensburg High School, to earn trips to Spokane.
Trout Lake (16-5) plays Mansfield (15-11) at 4:45 p.m. Friday, while Klickitat (13-6) takes on Waterville (18-6) at 6:30. Both contests are loser-out games.
The Mustangs will face a Mansfield team that, like last year's edition, is on a post-season roll. The Kernels have won four in a row and five of six playoff games overall.
As their opponent, the Vandals get a Waterville squad that finished second in its division of the North Central Washington League.
In the playoffs, the Shockers are 3-1; their only post-season loss -- a five-point defeat -- was to top-rated Kittitas.
Saturday, Feb. 21
at Sunnyside HS
Sunnyside Christian 69, Trout Lake 22 --
The Mustangs absorbed their second-worst defeat of the season in the consolation game of the Yakima Valley District 5 Tournament.
Sunnyside Christian, winner of 10 of its last 11 games, had four players in double figures, led by Andrew Schutt with a game-high 14 points.
Trout Lake's leading scorer was freshman Tim Dearden, who came off the bench to score eight points.
The absence of a double-digit scorer demonstrated how the Mustangs never got anything going offensively against the stingy Knights (14-9).
Trout Lake trailed, 22-3, after the first quarter and, 36-11, at halftime.
The Mustangs' starting five accounted for just 14 points and senior Mike Hansen, the Mustangs' leading scorer this season, was held scoreless.
La Salle 57, Klickitat 30 --
Trouble breaking the Lightning's press in the first half sent the Vandals to their locker room trailing, 38-10, at halftime of the district consolation game.
La Salle (15-7) exploited Klickitat's inability to get the ball into its forecourt by putting together two 12-0 runs that gave it control of the game in the first half.
All told, its defensive pressure limited Klickitat to 31 field-goal attempts and forced 32 turnovers in 32 minutes of action.
Freshman Aryn Davis led the Vandals with 10 points (on 5-of-5 shooting) and 11 rebounds. Senior Kaeley Schultz added nine points, four rebounds and four steals.
Friday, Feb. 20
at Sunnyside HS
Mabton 64, Trout Lake 54 --
The Mustangs went in to the halftime break down by two points, 31-29, but were outscored by eight in the second half of their district semifinal loss.
Trout Lake -- which beat Mabton during the regular season and led, 16-14, after one quarter -- pulled within 44-43 at the end of the third period.
But, in the final frame, the Mustangs couldn't contain the Vikings' balanced attack. Mabton pulled away by outscoring Trout Lake, 20-11.
Senior Mike Hansen spearheaded the Mustangs' effort, scoring a game-high 17 points to lead four players in double figures.
Senior Roy Browning and junior Kris Huffsmith added 12 points each, and junior Ben Steward had 11.
Riverside Christian 57, Klickitat 38 --
The Vandals made just 25 percent of their 52 field-goal attempts and half of their 20 free throws in losing to their taller, more-experienced semifinal foes.
Moreover, Klickitat turned the ball over 34 times against a team that knew how to take advantage of those mistakes.
Freshman Aryn Davis' double-double of 12 points (4/8 from the field, 4/5 from the line) and 10 rebounds (6 offensive) paced the Vandals. She added three blocks and three steals.
Classmate Trisheena Keys came off the bench to score eight points for Klickitat, which fell behind, 32-11, at halftime.
Tuesday, Feb. 17
at Goldendale HS
Sunnyside Christian 70, Lyle 29 --
The Knights never looked back after opening up a 22-8 first-quarter lead in the loser-out district game.
And the Cougars never threatened, falling behind, 35-14, at halftime and mustering no more than eight points in any quarter against the Knights' extended zone defense.
Junior Kalvin Kernan led Lyle (7-12) with 10 points and eight rebounds. Junior Dusty Vorce added five points and four boards, and classmate Callan Johnson contributed three steals.
SC's Andrew Schutt led all scorers with 25 points.
Mabton 69, Glenwood 47 --
The Vikings ended the Eagles' season in advancing to the semifinals of the boys tournament.
Sunnyside Christian 55, Lyle 34 --
A subpar third quarter, in which they were outscored, 18-6, led to the Cougars elimination from regional tournament contention.
Lyle (9-10) kept the game close for one half and went in to the intermission down by eight points, 18-10.
Senior Dawn Ullom's 16 points were tops for the Cougars, who also got nine points from junior Tara Rappe.
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