ACH finishes fifth in 1B state tourney

SPOKANE — The Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors boys basketball team concluded their season in fifth place at the 1B state tournament. Though the Warriors took losses in the semifinals and finals, the team held their heads up as the hard work from their season was rewarded with a trophy to add to the school’s case. 

“I feel great. Obviously, we didn’t get exactly what we wanted, but the reality of that is it’s tough to get everything you want,” said Head Coach Graham Grindy. “I told the boys that in the locker room. That’s life, and sports is a vessel for later on in life that you’re not going to get everything you want, but what we get from this whole experience is that brotherhood and togetherness that lasts longer than just the weekend.” 

During the semifinal game, the Warriors’ first opponent, the Tulalip Hawks, came out of the gate with a strong offensive front and by the end of the first eight minutes, gained a 15-point lead. ACH snapped back in the second quarter to cut into Tulalip’s lead and went into the half down by only five. 

The Hawks proved formidable coming back from the half as they stayed one step ahead of the Warriors. Despite getting the score close on multiple occasions, ACH fell 49-64. 

“I’m very proud of our boys and our effort,” said Coach Grindy after the semifinals. “Incredibly proud of their character and the way they take care of themselves.” 

Coming into the finals Saturday morning, the Warriors still had one more opportunity to end the season off with a victory. The final challenger of the season was against the DeSales Irish for the third/fifth-place game. 

The Warriors came out on top in the first quarter as they outscored the Irish with a strong offensive start. Despite a 10-point lead by the Warriors at one point in the second quarter, the DeSales responded and outscored ACH by one and headed into halftime with a 35-33 Warriors lead. 

DeSales was fired up heading into the second half and claimed the lead for the first time during the matchup in the third quarter. The Warriors fought hard throughout the fourth quarter to regain their lead, but the Irish finished strong to end the game 55-67, with DeSales claiming third and ACH taking fifth in state. 

Coach Grindy said the Warriors’ success this season, which got them into the finals, came from the quick growth seen by the freshman players on the squad. Many of the freshmen earned starting lineup opportunities throughout the season from the skills they showed on the court, which the coach attributes to the boys facing experienced players in both the junior and senior classes. 

“I told them every day, ‘You guys are practicing against a top team every day, you have that opportunity,’ and they just got better, and it was really cool to see,” he said.  

The rest of the team saw continued growth in all aspects of the game this season as they tightened up the defense and got stronger on offense, said the coach.  

Looking forward to next season, the team has a strong group of returning players with Brody Pitts, Max Grindy and Tucker Bayless coming back as seniors for the 2026/27 season. Along with them will be a strong group of returning sophomores, players ready to move up from JV, and a new class of freshmen, said Coach Grindy. 

The Warriors are graduating four seniors from the squad as Caden Correia, Josh Booker, Brady Roberts and Mason Maes. The coach said each of the seniors poured their heart into every game and that he was lucky to have gotten the opportunity to coach them. 

“They are great models for everyone else on our team to follow,” said Coach Grindy. “We’re talking character, work ethic, classroom work ethic, how they interact with all of our teachers and just being great kids. In terms of basketball, they maximized their potential and I couldn’t ask for anything more.”  

One of the seniors, Correia, said while the finals were a tough way to end the season, it was a dream come true to make it into the state tournament and go as far as they did. 

“The first two years of my high school career, it sucked; we lost in districts, couldn’t make it to the arena,” he said. “Growing up, that was the dream, and to be able to finish out my career here is just something that you can only dream of.” 

With his time on the Warriors’ basketball team coming to a close, Correia said he will always look back fondly on the meals that he shared with his fellow teammates. 

“Going out to eat with the boys, there’s no greater feeling than that,” he said.  

The senior said being able to play basketball over the years and forming strong bonds with his teammates has meant a lot to him. He has been playing sports with most of the other players his entire life, and now being able to finish out the season with those same guys is something he said is even more special than winning. 

“It’s a bond,” said Correia. “It’s a brotherhood that you can never take away from us and it’s great.” 

BOX SCORES 

SEMIFINALS 

TLPH: 27-6-14-17: 64
ACHW: 12-16-8-13: 49 

FINALS 

DSLS: 13-20-19-15: 67
ACHW: 16-19-7-13: 55 

    Josh Booker, a senior from ACH, leaps up to complete a layup and adds two onto the board against DeSales in the 1B state finals.
  

    Brady Roberts, a Warriors senior, guards against DeSales’ Malachi Raymond in the final round of the 1B state tournament.
  

    ACH junior Max Grindy takes a shot at a free throw during the third/fifth place game against DeSales in the 1B state tournament Saturday morning.