Colton girls, Gar/Pal boys top seeds in league tourney

Feb 07, 20190

The Southeast 1B league tournament starts Friday in a new four-team format, reduced from six last year.

For the boys, no. 1 seed Garfield/Palouse will host no. 4 Pomeroy at home Saturday, Feb. 9. Tip-off is 6 p.m.

No. 2 seed Oakesdale will host no. 3 Prescott, also starting at 6 p.m.

For Gar/Pal-Pomeroy, it will be the third meeting between the two teams after the Vikings beat them twice before, the second time 60-45 just a week ago at Palouse.

Pomeroy is led by senior Jace Gwinn and freshman brother Trent Gwinn.

Jace Gwinn, a varsity contributor since his freshman year and a starter since he was a sophomore, sat out all of last year with an injury. He watched from the bench as the Pirates took third in state.

It led to a million-dollar question about Pomeroy: if Jace Gwinn had not been injured his junior year, would they have won the state championship?

“Yep,” said Garfield/Palouse coach Steve Swinney. “I think he's the best of the bunch. The kid's got great leadership skills. He makes everybody better.”

Also on Saturday, on the other side of the league tournament bracket, Oakesdale will look to beat Prescott for a third time, after winning by 18 points in December followed by a 52-50 win on the road Jan. 19.

Second round games of the double-elimination tournament will be played Feb. 13 at Colfax High School, with the championship game Feb. 15, also at Colfax.

GIRLS

No. 1 seed Colton hosts no. 4 seed St. John/Endicott/LaCrosse at 6 p.m. Friday.

Oakesdale plays at no. 2 Pomeroy, also at 6 p.m. Friday. Second round games for the girls will also be played at Colfax High School Feb. 13. The championship game will be Saturday, Feb. 16.

OTHER SCORES FROM LAST WEEK:

BOYS

Oakesdale 77-St. John/Endicott 34

Colton 57-Touchet 47

Garfield/Palouse 60-Pomeroy 45

Touchet 58-St. John/Endicott 54

Prescott 66-Colton 47

GIRLS

Colton 75-Touchet 6

Pomeroy 46-Garfield/Palouse 24

Oakesdale 77-St. John/Endicott/LaCrosse 34

Colton 90-Prescott 16