Despite return of defending champion Brewster,
there's no certain lock for any team in this year's field
 
By SCOTT SANDSBERRY
YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC

Since moving to Yakima in 2001, the Class 1A boys state basketball tournament has been all about dynasties and headline-making stars.

First it was King's winning back-to-back titles behind sharpshooting Chris Faidley. Brewster dominated the next two seasons behind Gonzaga-bound David Pendergraft. Then Bellevue Christian and Jeff Downs took over for the next two. Last year, it was Brewster on top again, capping a 29-0 season.

This year? No undefeated heavyweights. No dynasties. No one player who is simply going to take over the 1A tourney opening Wednesday in the SunDome, although there are certainly plenty capable of dominating a game or two. The road to this year's 1A boys title is a superhighway, and every lane is open.

The title chase became even more wide-open in recent weeks. Two favorites, top-ranked Bellevue Christian and Nisqually League champion Vashon, both lost key players to suspension for undisclosed reasons. Bellevue Christian will be without two starters, including Emerald City League scoring leader Jeremy Bohnett (18.8), who at 6-foot-5 was BC's tallest player, while Vashon will be without its No. 2 scorer, 6-4 slashing guard Thomas Timm-Skove (11.8), and a key reserve.

"It's been a trying time, so just to get here, we're ecstatic," said Vashon coach Andy Sears, whose team still has one of the tourney's biggest talents in 6-9 sophomore John Gage (16.5). "We've been redefining roles, shifting things just a tad, and it's worked."

"I think it's going to be interesting," said King's coach Bill Liley, whose 20-5 Knights face 20-3 Connell and future Division I gridder Spencer Hadley in one of several intriguing opening-round matchups Wednesday. "Everybody's been talking about how loaded the bottom half of the draw is, and I know that. You've got King's and Bellevue Christian (21-2) in the same quarter-bracket, and you've got Charles Wright (18-6) down there too.

"But you've got defending champion Brewster (16-10) up in the top bracket, and Vashon (20-4), who I have a tremendous amount of respect for, especially after they beat us at district, and you've got River View (20-3), which was ranked in the top five most of the year."

And that's not all of the legitimate contenders, either. Lakeside is only 15-10, but that record looks a lot more impressive when you take into consideration that the Eagles lost their first eight games while breaking in an inexperienced lineup with a loaded preseason schedule.

Neither should anyone overlook Castle Rock (20-3), which hasn't lost to a 1A team this year, or Charles Wright (18-6), which is led by one of the tournament's premier players, 6-4 Gerald Hill (14.8). Or, for that matter, 21-5 Lake Roosevelt, 19-5 White Swan, which has won 10 of its past 11, or even Brewster. The Bears' 16-10 record may not look impressive, but they are the reigning champs and they have practically owned the SunDome in this decade.

Charles Wright's 9 p.m. game Wednesday against Winlock (20-3) figures to be another interesting opener. Winlock is young -- not a senior on the team -- but huge, with starters standing 6-8, 6-6 and 6-5, and very balanced (four players average between 12 and 17 points).