Rank This!
1/10/10
RICHLAND, WA
by Zenon Thornton
e-mail Zenon
Richland, WA -- The biggest showdown of the year so far pitting two top-10 undefeated teams going head to head in front of a big crowd at Art Dawald Gym on the Richland campus. Richland defended their ranking defeating the Braves 72-51.
Kamiakin entered the game with a #5 ranking in the Seattle Times 4A poll having gone a perfect 8-0 on the strength of good inside play from Jr Garrett Anderson and Soph Justin Pedley and deft perimeter play from Jr. Case Rada. Having already beaten highly regarded Walla-Walla the Braves looked to solidify the top spot in the rough Cascade Division.
Richland came off a tough Friday night game against an athletic Eastmont team and sensation Malachi Roberts. Having already bested the Wildcats their East Wenatchee Gym and Yakima’s Davis Pirates in their gym, the Bombers proved they could take the show and #8 ranking on the road.
A big crowd was on hand for Saturday’s match up. The two teams traded blows early and after the first quarter the Bombers lead was only 3. But Richland would shift into overdrive on the strength of Dylan Radliff’s 3-pt shooting and inside power game of Garrett Gallinger.
The Braves kept fighting the entire game, most of their scoring coming from Case Rada’s 26 points. In the end though, the experience of the Bombers won out over the youth of the Braves.
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