Bombers Route Bulldogs, Face Chiawana for 3rd Time This Season - By Dallas Butler

    Going into the first game of districts, with Richland head coach Earl Streufert looking for his 4th district title, we have Richland versus Pasco. Going into this game, Richland is looking to fine-tune any weak spots and get momentum going for the rest of the districts. Richland had a perfect season going 16-0 in the conference season. However, Pasco had the opposite outcome to their season with a record of 1-15. Talks around the league have questioned the design of the MCC vs GSL matchup. 

    Richland gets the tip-off at the start and gets the first score of the game just four seconds into the game. After a slow start to the first quarter with neither team hitting any long-range shots, Richland put the pedal to the metal and ended the first quarter with a dominant 28-6. With 2 minutes left in the second quarter, Richland pulled ahead enough to get a running clock. The Bombers ended the first half with a staggering 52-8 lead. The late third quarter and the entire fourth quarter were entirely played by the Bomber's second string. Any sign of sloppiness the Bombers showed in beginning was nowhere to be seen as they delivered an outstanding performance, eventually ending the game 79-21.

Photo courtesy of Megan DeGraaf (RHS Yearbook).

    One of the key components of this dominance was excellent communication and teamwork. Richland did an amazing job passing the ball around, leaving Pasco’s defense confused and mixed up, creating plenty of open threes. Richland Senior Jackson black said, “We played really well, we improved on communication which is what we were working on”. The reason Black felt this was a very important element was that it will prepare them to face teams that are much more physical and that change up defenses. Richland's next game is against Chiwana, who although they beat both times they faced them, will not be as free of a game. Richland will want to keep the momentum heading into this game. 

    Chiawana has had a good season. Chiawana lost to Richland by 22 the first time they played, and the second time they played Chiawana only lost by 14. The third time around you can expect Chiawana to play even better and be more ready for what Richalnd is going to bring to the court. Kamikan has been a very solid team this season and both times Richland played them they were high-energy games that were closer to the very end, and Chiawana only lost to Kamikan by one point. Chiawana also has played the number one seed Gonzaga prep. This game was at Gonzaga prep and Chiawana only lost by one. Chiawana, sitting at the 6th seed, won their first game of districts with an upset against number three seed Lewis and Clark. Facing off against Lewis and Clark in Spokane they were able to hand them a 67-49 loss. Chiawana is no stranger when it comes to playing good teams and they will be ready to bring the heat to the Bomber’s court for the second round of districts. Both teams are coming off solid wins, and we can be sure to expect an intense game.

Photo courtesy of Megan DeGraaf (RHS Yearbook).