Both ACH teams advance to 1B semifinals

SPOKANE – Last year the Almira/Coulee-Hartline Lady Warriors played their way into the Class 1B state final.

There, they would ultimately lose out to Colton and settle for a runners-up trophy.

After opening up the 2011 Hardwood Classic at the Spokane Arena yesterday in grand fashion, the two teams are each one victory away from another clash to decide who will sit on the throne of Class 1B.

The Lady Warriors (23-2) systematically built their lead against district rivals Selkirk in their quarterfinal matchup and would ultimately cruise to a 66-29 victory.

Tonight, ACH battles nemesis Columbia-Hunters at 5:45 p.m.

"Coming in to this game I thought honestly if they played well and we played decent it would still be a 20-point game," ACH head coach Mike Correia said. "But we executed really well and did what we needed to do."

ACH approached their opener ?- one of four quarterfinal contests that would be decided by a combined 174 points in the Washington Interscholastic Athletic Association's (WIAA) new playoff format - as an exercise in quick execution in order to conserve their energy for what promises to be a much more competitive final two days of action.

"We wanted to save some legs for (today) because Columbia-Hunters is going to be a very tough, hard fought game," Correia said. "If we get by them in a three-game format it is always good to conserve your legs."

ACH led 14-4 at the end of the first quarter and would lead 34-10 by halftime and the substitutions would be free-flowing from there as the Lady Warriors began to ready themselves for what should be two tough necessary wins for a title.

"We came out ready to play and we wanted to get done what we wanted to get done," ACH's Nikki Osborne said. "When we are in the game we take things seriously and we go all the way. If we give them a life they could make more shots and get that little momentum and we don't let that happen."

Osborne led the Lady Warriors with 21 points while Sarah Gloyn added 14 points and Kodi Noggles contributed 10 points.

ACH held Selkirk to 22 percent shooting from the field and forced 20 turnovers.

"It seems that everybody realizes what is expected of them and they know their role," Correia said of his team. "When they are called upon they know what we need them to do. They are also buying into each other and game plans. Hopefully we can keep it going."

Now they must get past Hunters who ACH beat by eight in overtime back in February and by 18 points in the District 7 1B championship game two weeks ago.

"Beating anybody three times is tough to do," Correia said. "I expect them to put everything in the line and throw everything at us and see what happens."

Colton plays Sunnyside Christian in the other Class 1B semifinal.

ACH boys 66, Mt. Rainier Lutheran 25

Tonight, the ACH boys will be in position to settle a score.

At the Class 1B 2010 quarterfinals, the Warriors led Sunnyside Christian by as much as 19-points in the first half.

When the dust settled they fell by one point to the eventual state champions from Sunnyside.

This season the Warriors have ruled the roost, ranked number one most of the season and headed into this year's Hardwood Classic with a record of 24-1 as they tipped off their championship quest against unbeaten, but questionably competitive Mt. Rainier Lutheran from outside of the Seattle area.

After a slow start, the Warriors got rolling and never looked back in a 66-25 demolition of MRL (25-1) in Thursday's first boys' quarterfinal.

With that win ACH is set for a showdown with...Sunnyside Christian in a state semifinal contest.

Game time is set for 7:15 p.m.

"It's just quiet with our team since there is not much to say," ACH head coach Scott Isaak said. "We just got to do. It's time to put up or shut up."

Against Mt. Rainier Lutheran, ACH were up only 15-12 after the first eight minutes but used a 19-2 outburst in the second quarter and a 21-4 spurt after intermission to lock up their second straight blowout win against a west-side, unbeaten team, in their state tournament opener.

"We played some ball tonight by running, using pressure defense, and we hit the boards," Isaak said. "Cody Jess shut down a kid with a 20-point average to zero points tonight and that kid was a good athlete."

Offensively, Derek Isaak led ACH with 25 points while Thunder Wellhausen added 10 points.

ACH shot 56 percent from the field while holding their opponents to 21 percent.

"We ran like crazy and that is what stirs our pot," Scott Isaak said. "If we are successful against Sunnyside Christian we have to execute our RPM ?- rebound, pressure, and rebound."