Warden boys blast Connell, earn program's first state tournament berth

ZILLAH — The Warden boys were flying high in the locker room after their 70-54 victory over Connell in the SCAC district playoff game at Zillah Alumni Gym on Saturday to earn a berth to regionals.

Cougar coach Wes Richins glanced at the message on his phone and he held it up for all to see. It read that Wahluke had been beaten just up the road in Wapato, meaning the No. 12 Cougars (17-6) automatically qualify for the 12-team 1A state tournament in Yakima, with the regional round determining whether they will earn a first-round bye or not.

“We're going to the Dome!” he shouted.

The expressions on seniors J.R. Delgado (19) and Adam Richins (18), who combined for 37 points, said all. Stunned disbelief, then an exuberant shouts reverberating off the walls, along with a victory dance.

“Warden basketball going to state sounds amazing, like history,” said Adam Richins, who also had five assists and eight rebounds. “The seniors have played together since AAU, since the third or fourth grade, so to be able to experience this with them feels great. Wrestling goes every year, but being the first ones (in basketball) to ever do it is crazy.”

Warden coach Wes Richins said at least four teams ranked ahead of the Cougars in RPI failed to qualify for the round of 16. Things still need to get sorted out, but Richins believes Warden will end up with the No. 7 seed, which would put them on the road against No. 2 Lynden Christian in regionals.

“This is huge. We needed a little help and we got it,” the Cougar coach said. “We were one game away from the tournament last year. There's a lot of people that have put on a Warden jersey that didn't get there. To finally get there is really special.”

J.R. Delgado combined for 63 points in the two previous SCAC district games. He had a double-double on Saturday with 19 points and 11 rebounds, including a trey from the top to tie it early.

“Tonight is history. We're finally going to the Dome,” he said. “My sophomore year and junior year we got put out. Now we're going, but we're not just going for two-and-barbecue. We're going to go play our basketball and go as far as we can.”

The Cougars have seven seniors, so one last run together on 1A basketball's biggest stage is a fine way to represent Warden and finish a high school career, 6-foot-4 forward Tanner Skone said.

“I'm sure it won't set in for another day or two, but it's amazing,” said Skone, who finished with nine points. “With Warden being a wrestling town and them going to state every year, we made it for all the guys that didn't get to play basketball at the state level.”

Martin Arriaga drained a 3-pointer from the wing for the Cougars, who were 10-of-26 from beyond the arc, and Jack Hardman backed in and put one in off the glass to give Warden a 52-33 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Brian Hawkins, who scored 13 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter, sparked a late 8-1 Connell run and the Eagles (12-10) closed to 62-51 with 1:42 remaining. But the Cougars made nine free throws in the final two minutes to earn their spot in the state tournament for the first time in school history.

Score by quarters

Connell - Nolan Chase, Brian Hawkins 29, Austin Smith 6, Payton Riner 2, Colin Poe 2, Silas Chase 9, Ridge Pauley 6. Totals - Field goals: 22. Free throws: 5-7. Score 54.

Warden - Zach Richins 13, Jack Hardman 2, Martin Arriaga 9, Tanner Skone 9, Adam Richins 18, J.R. Delgado 19. Totals - Field goals: 22. 3-point goals: 10. Free throws: 15-19 Score: 70.