New 1A alignment
makes boys bracket
a two-in-one
 
By SCOTT SPRUILL
YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC

Honest, nothing has changed. It's the same 16-team bracket, the same four days in Yakima and the same final dance on Saturday night.

Technically, there's nothing different about this year's Class 1A state boys basketball tournament, which opens today in the SunDome.

Except that it feels like two tournaments in one. Two loaded tournaments in one.

"With a lot of 2A schools coming down I think we all knew this was going to be a pretty special tournament," said Bellevue Christian coach Mike Downs. "You could see this coming."

Like a freight train.

With the WIAA's realignment of classifications, nine teams that were in last year's 2A state tournament are now 1A, including '06 runner-up King's and fourth-place finisher Nooksack Valley.

Blend those traditional powers into a 1A field this week that returns six of last year's eight trophy winners — a group headlined by two-time champion Bellevue Christian and our-time reigning finalist Brewster — and you get the picture.

"It'll look like the old A tournaments (before 2A was formed in 1998) and I like that," offered Brewster coach Tim Taylor. "It will definitely have a different feel and it will definitely be deep."

Never mind winning here. Just getting here was tough enough. Vashon, ranked second behind unbeaten Brewster most of the season, didn't qualify out of the rugged Northwest Bi-District.

Even with the added depth, it wouldn't have been surprising, given their stellar seasons, to see a third straight Bellevue Christian-Brewster showdown come Saturday night.

But that was before they were drawn into the same quarterfinal bracket on Sunday. What's more, that same semifinal bracket includes third-ranked King's and SCAC District champ River View.

"That bottom bracket's pretty loaded, that's for sure," Taylor said. "But it doesn't do any good to worry about it. Each day is the biggest day no matter what."

Taylor's Bears are minus his son, scoring star and Eastern Washington recruit Michael Taylor, but they roll into the SunDome with the lone unbeaten record at 25-0.

Bellevue Christian (19-3) graduated eight seniors off last year's title team but the Vikings come in on a 17-game win streak. Their only losses were in December to Brewster (46-41) and two California teams.

"The number one word for us at the start was patience, but these kids have developed real quick," said BC coach Mike Downs, who has a solid 1-2 punch in seniors Jeffery Downs (22.3 ppg) and 6-foot-8 Evan Haines (15.9). "We have the best mix of talent that we've had in years in terms of diversity."

King's is also 19-3 but the Knights are without 6-10 center Charlie Enquist, who suffered a broken right wrist last week in the district game that eliminated Vashon. Enquist's backup is capable Dylan O'Neil, a 6-7 junior.

"That's a tough road," King's coach Marv Morris said of the draw. "You never what's going to happen. If you can just win the first game nobody has time to prepare for you.

"There are some higher echelon teams this year," he added. "Brewster, Bellevue Christian and Nooksack are probably the favorites."

Ah yes, Nooksack Valley.

The sneaky Pioneers come in with a 17-7 record but all seven losses were to 2A and 3A teams in their combined-class league. The benefits of such a demanding schedule paid off in the postseason, where NV beat King's twice in eight days.

The day after securing the Northwest District title, coach Bill Kelly got even better news. The Pioneers drew into the top semifinal bracket and away from Brewster, BC and King's.

"Looking at the draw, we're fortunate," admitted Kelly, whose team opens at 10:30 a.m. against Onalaska. "It's been a struggle for us at times because we've been smacked around and I've never been around a team that took losses so hard.

"But it makes me feel good to be off the radar screen a little," he said. "I don't think many teams can match the schedule we played. And right now we're playing well."