CHEHALIS – The Southwest Washington Class “B” Basketball Tournament is set to open this week. The boys tip off the action Friday, Feb. 14, in the gyms of the highest placed team in each of the match-ups. The girls action starts Saturday, Feb. 15, also in the highest placed teams’ gyms.

Tied for fifth in the Pacific division, the Naselle boys play in game three on Friday, Feb. 14, at 7 p.m. at Central 3 in Pe Ell. The Pacific 1 Naselle girls play in game six Saturday, Feb. 15, at 2:30 p.m. in Montesano, against the winner of the Pacific 5 Wishkah Valley at Central 4, Cathlamet or Pe Ell, game.

Both Naselle teams will play a second district tournament game, at the least. If they win their first game, the boys will play on Monday, Feb. 17, in Rochester at 4 p.m., or on Wednesday, Feb. 19, at 6:30 p.m. in Montesano if they lose their first game. The girls will play on Thursday, Feb. 20, at 8 p.m. in Montesano if they lose their first game or on Saturday, Feb. 22, in a game which is currently scheduled for 4 p.m. in Aberdeen, if they win their first game.

All six of the teams which advanced to state last year, three boys and three girls teams, are back to try for a repeat performance. For the boys, last year’s first place Willapa Valley, second place Pe Ell and third place Mossyrock return. On the girls side, first place Mossyrock, second place Willapa Valley and third place Naselle are back.

Both district tournaments are using a twelve team format this year, in contrast to last year’s eight-team tournament. The Pacific League’s top six teams and the Central League’s top five teams qualify for the tournament. The State Deaf School plays at Pacific 7 for the final tournament spot.

The first and second place teams from each league are seeded into the second round, each playing a winner from the first round of games.

The tournament format is a modified double-elimination tournament where two losses end a team’s season. Teams which play in the first round of games must win their first three games to earn a trip to state. The seeded teams will advance to state if they win their first two games. Losing a game in the first two rounds requires a team to win two or four more times in order to advance to state, depending upon when the loss occurs.

The tournaments’ final boys and girls games, which will determine the three teams, in each category, that will advance to the state tournament, which will be played Saturday, March 1, in Chehalis at the W.F. West High School gym.

BOYS “B” DISTRICT TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Game Date Time Place Teams

1 2/14 7 (At 1. Wishkah or SDS at Taholah (Pac. 3);

2 2/14 7 highest 2. So.Bend (Pac. 5) at (Cen. 4);

3 2/14 7 seeded 3. Naselle (Pac. 6) at (Cen. 3);

4 2/14 7 team) 4. (Cen. 5) at Lake Quinault (Pac. 4);

5 2/17 1 Rochester Winner 1 vs Central 2

6 2/17 2:30 Rochester Winner 2 vs Willapa Valley (Pac.1)

7 2/17 4 Rochester Winner 3 vs NW Christian (Pac. 2)

8 2/17 5:30 Rochester Winner 4 vs Central 1)

9 2/19 6:30 Rochester Loser 1 vs Loser 7 (Loser out)

10 2/19 8 Rochester Loser 2 vs Loser 8 (Loser out)

11 2/19 6:30 Montesano Loser 3 vs Loser 5 (Loser out)

12 2/19 8 Montesano Loser 4 vs Loser 6 (Loser out)

13 2/22 1 Hoquiam Winner 9 vs Winner 10

14 2/22 2:30 Hoquiam Winner 11 vs Winner 12

15 2/22 4 Hoquiam Winner 5 vs Winner 6

16 2/22 5:30 Hoquiam Winner 7 vs Winner 8

17 2/26 6:30 Chehalis Winner 13 vs Loser 15 (Loser out)

18 2/26 8 Chehalis Winner 14 vs Loser 16 (Loser out)

19 3/01 2:30 Chehalis Winner 17 vs Winner 18

(Winner- 3rd to state) (Loser out)

20 3/01 8 Chehalis Winner 15 vs Winner 16

(Winner-1st, Loser-2nd, Both to state)

GIRLS “B” DISTRICT TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Game Date Time Place Teams

1 2/15 7 (At 1. NWC or Tahola at M.M.Knight (Pac. 3);

2 2/15 7 highest 2. Wishkah Valley (Pac. 5) at (Cen 4);

3 2/15 7 seeded 3. Lake Quinault (Pac. 6) at (Cen 3);

4 2/15 7 team) 4. Van. Ch.(Cen. 5) at South Bend (Pac. 4)

5 2/17 1 Montesano WInner 1 vs Central 2

6 2/17 2:30 Montesano Winner 2 vs Naselle (Pac. 1)

7 2/17 4 Montesano Winner 3 vs Willapa Valley (Pac. 2)

8 2/17 5:30 Montesano Winner 4 vs Mossyrock (Cen.1)

9 2/20 6:30 Rochester Loser 1 vs Loser 7 (Loser out)

10 2/20 8 Rochester Loser 2 vs Loser 8 (Loser out)

11 2/20 6:30 Montesano Loser 3 vs Loser 5 (Loser out)

12 2/20 8 Montesano Loser 4 vs Loser 6 (Loser out)

13 2/22 1 Aberdeen Winner 9 vs Winner 10

14 2/22 2:30 Aberdeen Winner 11 vs Winner 12

15 2/22 4 Aberdeen Winner 5 vs Winner 6

16 2/22 5:30 Aberdeen Winner 7 vs Winner 8

17 2/27 6:30 Chehalis Winner 13 vs Loser 15 (Loser out)

18 2/27 8 Chehalis Winner 14 vs Loser 16 (Loser out)

19 3/01 1 Chehalis Winner 17 vs Winner 18

(Winner- 3rd to state) (Loser out)

20 3/01 6 Chehalis Winner 15 vs Winner 16

(Winner-1st, Loser- 2nd, Both to state)