Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
District 7, 6 to crossover in 2B hoops
Jaylee Abrahamson (left) is guarded by Brenna Gilchrist (right) in a Northeast 2B girls basketball game Jan. 6 in Reardan.
SPOKANE VALLEY – Historically, postseason basketball at the B level has taken place over four exciting weekends throughout the greater Spokane County area. Four weekends apparently weren't enough for Districts 6 and 7, as the two added a new wrinkle to the postseason picture this year: Crossover games to qualify for the state tournament the weekend of Feb. 17-18.
The WIAA has allotted three boys state berths to District 7, three girls state berths to District 7, two boys state berths to District 6 and three girls state berths to District 6. Instead of making the district tournament the final decider of each of those allocations, as has historically been the case, the two districts will combine those allocations (five total for boys and six total for girls) and decide which teams will qualify for state through the crossover weekend.
But the traditional district tournament is by no means rendered useless through this change. That tournament will seed each District for the District crossover games.
"The crossover gives more teams from our district the opportunity to move on," Davenport boys head coach Matt Henry said. "Our district is one if not the best in the state and I am, more often than not, in favor of giving more of our district more opportunities. If you finish third, this system doesn't fully benefit you, but it will the fourth and fifth seeds."
On the girls side, the top three finishers in each district tournament will host crossover games. District 7's champion will host District 6's sixth-place finisher, while District 6's champion will host District 7's sixth-place finishers. No. 2 seeds will host No. 5 seeds and No. 3 seeds will host No. 4 seeds.
On the boys side, each District's No. 1 and No. 2 seeds will host the opposite District's No. 5 and No. 4 seeds respectively. District 7's No. 3 seed will host District 6's no. 3 seed.
Games hosted by District 7 will take place at West Valley High School, while games hosted by District 6 will be in Wenatchee.
"To my knowledge we will match up games after we know results to district tournaments," Davenport athletic director Tim Rasmussen said. "Accommodations will be made for schools who have both girls and boys qualify."
If district tournament results go chalk according to each district's current standings, crossover girls matchups would include Upper Columbia Academy at Okanogan, Liberty at Lake Roosevelt, Davenport at Brewster, Tonasket at Northwest Christian, Oroville at St. George's and Bridgeport at Colfax.
Crossover boys matchups would include Lind-Ritzville/Sprague at Lake Roosevelt, St. George's at Liberty Bell, Brewster at Northwest Christian, Tonasket at Colfax and Okanogan at Davenport.
"I love it! When we could potentially take one of their berths, it's a good deal. On the contrary, they may take one of ours as well; however, I feel a good coach might have an opportunity to get by someone they haven't already played multiple times," Reardan girls head coach Bob Swannack said. "While this may create some economic issues with school districts having to travel, I feel the potential advantages far outweigh the disadvantages."
The start of the District 7 tournament has been moved up a few days and consolidated into 10 days of action instead of the usual 12 to allow time for the crossover weekends.
District 7 action at West Valley High School begins Thursday, Feb. 2 with two play-in games. Four loser-out games will be Saturday, Feb. 4, while eight quarterfinal games are Monday, Feb. 6. Four semifinal and four loser-out games are Wednesday, Feb. 8.
Four games Thursday, Feb. 9 will line up third/fourth and fifth/sixth place games. Saturday, Feb. 11 will feature six games: two fifth/sixth place games, two third/fourth place games and two championship games.
All six girls participants on Feb. 11 will advance to the district crossovers, while the top boys five finishers advance, making the boys fifth/sixth place game a loser-out game.
"I think it's a good idea. Our district/league is so tough," Reardan boys head coach Brian Graham said. "When we only get three allocations from our district, we always leave a good team or two home. With this, it gives our 4 and 5 seed a chance to still make it."
Drew Lawson is a reporter and sports writer for Free Press Publishing, including the Cheney Free Press and Davenport Times. He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University.
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