Loss spurs Wildcats

By DAVE THOMAS
YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC

Colton's girls remember the heartbreak that ended last season, a loss to rival Garfield-Palouse in the Class 1B state final in the Yakima Valley SunDome.

Colton¹s Kelsey Moser brings the ball up against Trout Lake-Glenwood during the 2008 Class 1B state tournament in the SunDome. Moser leads the top-ranked Wildcats in scoring at 16.2 points per game.   GORDON KING/Yakima Herald-Republic file

Instead of letting that disappointment linger, the Wildcats have drawn motivation from the 44-36 defeat, helping fuel a perfect run to this point.

"Losing in the state championship game is disappointing ... but they've really used it in a positive way this season," said Colton coach Clark Vining, whose team has overcome the loss of last season's top two scorers, including Alisa Moehrle Druffel, who is currently playing at Yakima Valley Community College. "They've been on a mission all season."

That mission, which has produced a 20-0 record and No. 1 state ranking so far, enters its final phase Wednesday with the Wildcats one of the favorites in the 16-team tournament in the SunDome.

"It'll be pretty challenging," Vining said, "but this group is real focused. They're only looking at (first-round opponent) Wishkah Valley right now and not worrying about the other stuff."

Vining knows his team is drawing plenty of attention, but he points out that there are several other teams out there capable of winning it all -- including potential semifinal opponent Sunnyside Christian.

Fortunately for Colton, its two prime challengers, based on the state rankings, not only landed in the other bracket, but found themselves paired up in Wednesday's first round.

Second-ranked Almira/Coulee-Hartline meets third-ranked St. John-Endicott late Wednesday afternoon.

This could mark a second straight state disappointment for ACH (22-1), which was eliminated prior to the trophy round last season, including a second-round loss to Colton.

But coach Ben Addink is confident this year's tournament will produce a better result.

"We have a number of girls returning that know what state is all about," he said. "I think all the girls were eager to earn the right to play here again. They've paid their dues."

That experience paid off during the season, with the Warriors losing just once, to Class 2B Colfax, while posting wins over fellow state qualifiers Moses Lake Christian and Sprague-Harrington.

Having survived those tests will help this week, particularly since ACH finds itself in the toughest quarter bracket.

Along with St. John-Endicott, the draw includes 2008 state placers Lummi and Pateros.

"If you worry about the draw too much," Addink said, "you forget about just going out and playing basketball."

That portion of the bracket highlights an overall field that boasts plenty of state-tested competition, with six of last season's eight trophy-winning teams returning, along with three others that qualified but were eliminated early.

In addition to Colton, St. John-Endicott (fourth), Lummi (fifth), Sunnyside Christian (sixth), Pateros (seventh) and Neah Bay (eighth) earned trophies, with ACH, Taholah and Mary M. Knight earned return trips.