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By SCOTT SANDSBERRY
YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC

As Nooksack Valley coach Bill Kelly watched the game that would determine who his second-ranked Pioneers would face in today’s Class 2A boys quarterfinals, he wasn’t sure just which one he’d rather face.

“I’ve seen Hoquiam play before,” he said of the top-ranked Grizzlies that would eventually eke out a 54-53 victory over Othello to set up Thursday’s No. 1-vs. No.2 showdown.

“They have three perimeter kids — (Justin) Reed, (Tim) Grun and (Jeff) Wayman, and they can drive, shoot 3’s, do the things perimeter kids should do. They’ve got this (Jeff) Niemi kid, he’s only scoring about six points a game but he’s the guy who hit the 3-pointer at the end to beat La Center (in an overtime game in district). And they’ve got the big 6-6 kid (David Brittinen) inside.

“We probably match up better with them than with Othello, because I think we have three pretty good perimeter guys, and we have a couple of kids who can check Niemi. But we don’t match up with their big kid.”

The Pioneers do, however, have 6-2 Phil Silves, who racked up 23 points and 15 rebounds in Nooksack’s 70-42 thumping of Chimacum. The senior forward generated some concern when he wrenched a knee in a practice last Thursday, but said it wasn’t a concern.

“It’s fine,” he said of his knee after his Wednesday game, which included 9-for-17 shooting and four steals. “It goes out every once in a while, but when I’m playing it’s fine.”

So the Pioneers, with Kyle Vermeulen and Jason Heutink contributing 13 points each, moved on to the quarterfinals, creating a game between look-alikes.

“They like to run the court like we do, and they crash the boards,” said Hoquiam’s Reed, whose two late 3-pointers helped the Grizzlies nip Othello. “They have a lot of weapons,” Hoquiam coach Brian Grun said of the Pioneers.
“Lots of guys who can score, they rebound well, they’re unselfish, they defend very well, and they’re experienced here at this tournament. They have very good players.

“If we come out and play with intensity, play hard, hopefully we’ll be OK.”

No. 1 versus No. 2 ... a little early to be playing this one, isn’t it?

“I kind of wish it was Saturday or Friday, sure,” Grun said. “But that’s just the way the draw went. You have to play the best to be the best.”

And, at least as far as the rankings are concerned, that’s what today’s game will be. No, it doesn’t include Pullman or Lakeside, two other teams with the kind of talent and depth to make a strong championship statement.

But it’ll do.

“It should be an up-and-down game,” Silves said. “It should be a lot of fun.”

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Tourney Bracket
:: Boys tournament
 
Other Games
Saturday
:: Lynden Christian 60, Kiona-Benton 54
:: Hoquiam 64, Ilwaco 39
:: Chewelah 63, Cashmere 52
:: Nooksack Valley 56, Pullman 54
Friday
:: Lynden Christian 70, Steilacoom 63
:: Kiona-Benton 52, Othello 45
:: Ilwaco 45, Connell 39
:: Hoquiam 48, Lakeside 46
:: Pullman 57, Cashmere 40
:: Nooksack Valley 68, Chewelah 36
Thursday
:: Lynden Christian 58, Meridian 55
:: Steilacoom 70, Ridgefield 39
:: Othello 71, Chimacum 57
:: Kiona-Benton 66, La Center 47
:: Cashmere 48, Connell 44
:: Pullman 67, Ilwaco 37
:: Nooksack Valley 59, Hoquiam 40
:: Chewelah 66. Lakeside 51
Wednesday
:: Connell 57, Lynden Christian 45
:: Cashmere 52, Meridian 39
:: Pullman 70, Ridgefield 57
:: Ilwaco 50, Steilacoom 35
:: Nooksack Valley 70, Chimacum 42
:: Hoquiam 54, Othello 53
:: Chewelah 50, Kiona-Benton 28
:: Lakeside 66, La Center 51
 
Latest Statistics
:: Boys tournament
 
Team Capsules
:: Boys tournament

Record Books
:: Boys records
:: Boys champions
:: Boys all-time scoring leaders
 
District Results
:: Boys tournament
 
Girls Tourney
:: Girls tournament