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By ROGER UNDERWOOD
YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC

Now that the Class 2A state boys tournament has been reduced to four championship contenders, it’s time to worry about the little things.

Like what time the next game is.

“Nine o’clock?” Nooksack Valley coach Bill Kelly asked Thursday night after his No. 2-ranked Pioneers had earned a semifinal berth with an impressive 59-40 victory over previously unbeaten and No. 1-ranked Hoquiam.

Next up for Nooksack will be Chewelah, which pounded Lakeside 66-51 in the evening’s late quarterfinal. The Cougars (18-8) and Pioneers (23-1), as Kelly said, will tip off at 9.

The early semi, scheduled for 5:30, will pit Cashmere (18-7) opposite Pullman (22-3).

The Bulldogs subdued Connell 48-44 in Thursday’s first quarterfinal behind the 12 points of 6-foot-6 junior Ken Fletcher.

Nooksack, one of the pre-tournament favorites, used persistent man-to-man defense and a precise offense to wear down Hoquiam (24-1).

The Pioneers forced 19 turnovers, off which they scored 28 points, and totaled 12 steals to Hoquiam’s six.

Kyle Vermeulen had 19 points, Jason Heutink 12 and Phil Silves 10 points and 10 assists. Justin Reed led Hoquiam with 15 points and David Brittinen had 11, but the Grizzlies shot only 41 percent.

Chewelah, the 2001 state champion, was led by Andy Belzer’s 21 points. Matt Hagen added 15 and Ryan Feist and Clint Hagen had 12 each as that foursome accounted for all but six of the Cougars’ points.

Belzer and Hagen combined to hit 7 of 10 shots from 3-point range.

Greg Smith led Lakeside (20-4), which shot only 39 percent, with 15 points.

Pullman (22-3) got exactly what it needed in its 30-point win over Ilwaco: a victory to advance to the final four and an opportunity to rest its starters.

“They (the Greyhounds starters) wanted to play a lot, but we didn’t want to exert an energy we didn’t have to,” coach Ken Swanger said. “And you don’t want to risk an injury. You get in a game like that and sometimes it gets a little ugly and you might get a fluke injury. Then you’d have to live with that for the rest of your life.”

Friday, Pullman will have to live with Cashmere, a team with six Class 1A state titles. The Bulldogs are trying to write a new chapter in their rich basketball history, seeking a semifinal berth in only their second Class 2A trip.

Cashmere went 1-2 in last season’s tournament.

“Success breeds success,” Bulldogs coach Miles Caples said after his team’s nail-biter over Connell. And he wasn’t talking about the Class 1A title he won in 1995.

Cashmere’s football team advanced to the Class 2A playoff semifinals last fall where it lost to eventual state champion Connell.

“Part of what you saw tonight resulted of what these kids accomplished on the football field,” Caples said. “Marcus (Miller) was the quarterback.”

Swanger, who watched some of Cashmere’s first two games, said, “You know when you play Cashmere you’re going to play a team that’s extremely well-coached and very well-disciplined. You’re going to have to play 32 minutes. And Brandeberry (6-3 senior Jared) is a load.”

So is Fred Peete.

In addition to his 26 points, eight rebounds and four assists, the 6-3 senior was a force on Pullman’s full-court zone press which accounted for many of Ilwaco’s 25 turnovers. The Greyhounds committed only six.

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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