Storm brewing in Dome

By SCOTT SPRUILL
YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC

No longer do Squalicum's boys have to concern themselves with the high expectations of being a powerful Class 3A team coming down to 2A ranks with nearly the entire crew intact.

It's the current body of work that's making plenty of noise as the top-ranked Storm from Bellingham opens play Wednesday in the 2A state tournament in the Yakima Valley SunDome.

If putting up 86, 94 and 88 points in three district games doesn't impress you, consider Squalicum's only loss in a 22-1 season -- a December setback to Mater Dei, Calif., which is only 30-0 and ranked No. 1 in the nation by USA
Today.

Since that forgivable loss, the Storm have won 17 straight with an average winning margin of 30 points in the district tournament. That includes an 86-50 humbling of sixth-ranked Burlington-Edison in the final.

Coach Dave Dickson lost only one starter from a team that earned a third-place trophy in last year's 3A state tourney, making the Storm a built-in favorite for the 2A crown before the season began. And in three months and 23 games Squalicum has solidified that role.

"They're definitely the team to beat," said River Ridge coach Jeremy Landram, whose third-ranked Hawks won the Southwest district. "With their ability to score and the things they can do defensively, Squalicum can play
just about any kind of game and win."

Dickson has tempered that target status with a focus on basics and never thinking beyond the task at hand.

"My philosophy has always emphasized getting better each day and these kids have done it," he said. "We haven't worried much about going from 3A to 2A, just about being the best team we can be. After last week it felt like we
were playing our best basketball of the season."

For much of the season the primary challenger on the 2A landscape appeared to be second-ranked Mark Morris, a towering team with a 6-9, 6-9, 6-7 front line and a 16-game win streak heading into last week's district championship.

But River Ridge ended MM's run of five straight district titles with a 46-43 win sparked by full-court pressure and some timely 3-point shooting.

That result, coupled with fourth-ranked North Mason losing to Fife in the West Central district final, created some unexpected twists in Sunday's state draw.

Most notably, Squalicum and Mark Morris (20-3) could meet in Thursday's quarterfinals. They play in consecutive games Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m., respectively.

And while River Ridge (19-4) dodged that semifinal bracket, the Hawks and their 12-game win streak but deal Wednesday with North Mason at 5:30 p.m.

"With Squalicum and Mark Morris so close together the top half of the bracket is definitely heavier than the bottom, but North Mason is a No. 1-caliber team," Landram said. "Our game is probably the toughest of the first round."