Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
After a year’s exile in Colfax, the SE 1B basketball playoffs will return to Endicott next month.
Athletic directors from the eight Southeast district schools voted to bring the district qualifying tournament back to Endicott’s Hardy Gym, long-time site of the Whitman County basketball tournament.
“We’re really excited about it,” said Tournament organizer Suzanne Schmick. “We had a break, but now we’re back, bigger than life.”
WIAA District 9 Director Bob Kirk of Pomeroy said a number of the directors wanted to get back to the Endicott gym, known to county hoop fans at Doc Hardy’s house. The gym is named after the late Dr. John Hardy of Endicott.
“A lot of people don’t care for Endicott, but it ended up there anyway,” said Kirk. He noted Endicott’s big parking lot and seating space are big factors in landing tournament play. One negative is the close proximity of bleachers to the baseline.
“They put on a good show as far as the feed goes,” said Kirk.
The tournament was moved to Colfax last year, when some directors cited the baseline seating and prior complaints from St. John/Endicott about being booked into middle school gyms in a previous year.
Endicott’s big gym dates back to Endicott High School which ceased when the district combined in a co-op with St. John. That sent middle school students to Endicott and High School students to St. John.
Fluctuating enrollment numbers and WIAA classifications did away with the Whitman County league and its 87-year-old tournament in 2008.
Garfield/Palouse and Tekoa/Oakesdale were lifted to the 2B ranks and the Whitman County League was no more. The two squads were brought back down to the 1B ranks last year after school population counts. Pomeroy and Touchet, lone 1B schools in the old Blue Mountain League, also compete in the 1B with six Whitman County schools.
Kirk said tight parking at Colfax, as well as a lack of a cafeteria-style dinner were reasons cited by athletic directors in their decision to move back to Endicott.
Schmick said Endicott officials have re-assembled the team of tournament workers that regularly worked the floor, parking lot and cafeteria feed.
“The pie bakers are being contacted as we speak,” she said.
The Endicott tourney served as a financial boon to the school and its various clubs. Volunteers from the community put together meals in the school cafeteria to feed hungry basketball boosters.
In its last year, 1,335 tickets were sold.
Anne Lowe with the Endicott Community Club promised her group will gladly bring their pies back for game breaks. Club proceeds are directed back into the school.
Schmick noted Endicott’s parking crew gathered at the school lot last year for a little reunion while the action was underway in Colfax.
The District 9 tournament moves to Endicott Tuesday, Feb. 14, and continues Feb. 17 and 18. First rounds of the playoffs are the prior weekend on the courts of higher-seeded teams.
“What better way to spend some time with your Valentine than with great basketball and a home-cooked meal?” asked Schmick. The Endicott dinner scene also serves as a sort of county reunion for hoop fans from all corners of the county.
The top two girls teams and boys teams from Endicott will advance to the regional round of the state playoffs before the survivors head for the State B show at the Spokane Arena March 1-3.
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