It's a good day to wear Cougar Blue
Rodney Harwood/Columbia Basin Herald Warden head basketball coach Wes Richins never got the chance to go to the 1A boys basketball state tournament as a player. But he will coach the Cougars in their first trip to the state tournament.
Rodney Harwood/Columbia Basin Herald Two-year-old Tayton Jaderlund of Warden takes in the action at the SCAC District tournament at Zillah Alumni Gym on Saturday.
WARDEN — It’s not exactly the Luv Ya Blue Houston Oiler fans made famous back in the mid-’70s, but the idea is the same.
When you’re a basketball fan in a wrestling town, you stomp your feet, make your own noise and support the team through heartache and good times. They had a chance to witness Warden basketball history on Saturday night at Zillah Alumni Gymnasium. With Warden’s 70-54 victory over Connell, combined with a Wahluke loss, the Cougars are headed to the 1A state tournament for the first time in program history and Big Blue was there to help the boys bring it on home.
“We’re going to the (Yakima) Dome,” became the battle cry and the senior-laden Cougar boys team gave Warden fans one more reason to wear the blue and support its community on the big stage – the basketball stage.
“I went to school in Warden,” Cougar boys coach Wes Richins said with more than a hint of pride. “I played in a game to go to state when I was a senior and we lost. I was never able to play at the state tournament.
“So it’s awesome to be able to take a boys team to state for the first time in the program’s history. There’s a lot of people that have put on a Warden jersey and some really good teams. We just haven’t had that chance. We were this close last year and the year before, to be finally going is something special for our team and our fans.”
For 2-year-old Tayton Jaderlund, it was cool to be able to sit in the stands and eat popcorn and be a part of the excitement. He probably had more knowledge of the Smartphone he was playing with than what was going on out on the floor. But he will be able to say he was in the house when the Cougs qualified for their first state basketball tournament.
For guys like Arnold Ross, it was a chance to witness Warden history in the making for basketball in a wrestling town.
“Warden is definitely known for wrestling, but this gives the kids playing basketball at a young age something to shoot for,” he said. “The kids on this team are like superstars to them. It’s a bright future for the kids that want to play basketball as they get older.”
Warden wrestling finished ninth in the 1A state wrestling tournament at the Tacoma Dome over the weekend. Rodrigo Ozuna (132) and Anthony Martinez (113) placed third to lead the way. Tyrone Mendez (170) was sixth and Bryce Martinez (126) finished seventh.
Now the Cougar basketball team gave Big Blue something else to be proud of.
“We’ve never been to state, so it’s honestly not as big of a deal. But as the program builds and people get involved, the town will get more excited,” said Ross. “But it’s definitely a community thing to support the kids. It’s cool.”
Kristen Rodriguez grew up in Warden, playing volleyball, basketball and softball. Seeing success in another arena is always a good example for Generation Next, she said.
“It’s a great town, this is super important,” she said. “These guys are great role models and something positive for the kids to follow.”
As the little ones raced around on the court waiting for the first Warden boys basketball team to qualify for the state tournament, it was an exciting moment for all involved.
Cougar blue is going to the Yakima Dome to see if it can’t make some more history.