Warriors claim first win on road to state berth
COULEE CITY — One down and one or two more to go.
That’s the scenario the Almira/Coulee-Hartline boys basketball team faces aftertaking their first step toward a return trip to the Class 1B State Finals last night.
The Warriors kicked off the 2010 basketball post season for the Columbia Basin with an 81-46 whitewashing of Northport in the first round of the District 7 1B Basketball Tournament.
With the victory, ACH (14-7 overall) plays the winner of last night’s game between second-ranked Wellpinit (19-3) and Odessa (8-12). Results were not available at press time.
The Warriors struggled out of the gate as the fell behind Northport 4-0 in the game’s first few minutes and despite taking the lead back for good, only led 18-13 after the first quarter came to an end.
“It was kind of goofy and not very sharp play by us,” ACH coach Scott Isaak said. “We had probably four or five minutes of not being focused and then we finally got after it.”
ACH came into the game winning six out of their last seven and Isaak noted the first quarter was the first one in some time his team struggled out of the gate.
However once they got going, Northport (7-12) would soon need to start eyeing the consolation bracket.
“We were very impatient in our first half a dozen offensive sets and settling for first pass or second pass shots,” Isaak said. “We didn’t let the game get rhythmic at first but when we did it was over.”
The Warriors danced to the rhythm of a 23-4 second quarter to build a 41-17 halftime lead and it was time to start working on their game in preparation for the next rounds.
“We ran the ball really well and we obviously didn’t give them a ton of easy looks,” Isaak said. “We actually boarded the ball well and ran like crazy.”
ACH would lead 69-31 at the end of the third quarter.
The Warriors were led by Derek Isaak’s 38 points in three quarters of play, Kody Jess’ 20 points and the five point, 12 assist performance of Chad Carlquist.
“”Our starters played for three quarters and they got after it,” Scott Isaak said. “We probably made up for that first few minutes of the first quarter. That was the first time in nine games that we came out slow. It better not be a trend.”
Scott Isaak noted that not having played teams from the Panorama League — the district tournament consists of five such teams along with ACH, Odessa, and Wilbur-Creston from the Bi-County league — makes for a step into the unknown for the Warriors as they continue play on Saturday at Deer Park high school at 3:45 p.m.
“We won’t see an easy team from here on out,” Scott Isaak said. “It’s play ball or go home. From this point we really have to play four quarters. If we play Wellpinit, they are a very good club. They are very fast. They have kids that can score and they are bigger than we are and can they shoot the rock. They understand each other and are just a good club.”
If ACH were to win Saturday’s contest they would gain qualification to the state tournament. A loss would send them to the consolation bracket where they would have to win twice next week to get in as the third seed out of the district field.
ACH girls begin districts tonight
COULEE CITY — The third-ranked 1B Lad Warriors of ACH begin their District 7 Tournament campaign with a 6 p.m. tip off against Curlew (9-11)
ACH (17-3) is one of two favorites to win the title along with fourth-ranked Columbia (Hunters (19-3) out of the Panorama League.