A Winters family affair

TOURNEYTOWN.COM

It's almost spring, but there are plenty of Winters in the SunDome this week.

Rick Winters has guided his St. John-Endicott boys team into tonight's championship game, while his daughter, Alli, plays in the SJE girls' game for fifth place this morning.

Rick's brother Randy was selected as a boys tournament referee, but Randy had to withdraw because of family ties to a tournament participant.

Watching the event is father Bob, a local football legend who coached Toppenish to a state title in 1989.

Next week, Rick's sister Mindi will bring her Zillah girls team to the Class 1A tournament.

***

YOUTH IS SERVED: Tonight's title contenders are a young bunch, indeed. Almira/Coulee-Hartline's girls team has no seniors, and Colton's squad has only one. On the boys' side, Sunnyside Christian has one senior, and SJE has four.

***

TROPHY TITANS: Tonight's boys championship features the two schools from this field that boast the greatest winning traditions. Between SJE and Sunnyside Christian, the schools have 12 state basketball titles. The Eagles won in 1942, 1961, 1963, 1968, 1969, 1978 and 1980. SC has won in 1992, 2002, 2005, 2007 and 2008.

In all, SJE has a combined tournament history of 46 appearances, 40 trophies and seven titles. SC has 18 appearances, 11 trophies and five championships.

***

SHORT JUMPERS: The SJE boys team has lost more games than any other B team that has appeared in a B state championship game. SJE started the year 3-7 without center Warren Miller. ... The Bickleton girls hadn't been to state since 1981, but their trophy string remains intact: The team was trophied in all five state appearances. ... Two boys teams that won 20 games didn't make it to trophy day: Rosalia and Lummi. ... Five of the eight boys teams playing today also won trophies last year. Six of the eight girls teams also won hardware last year.