MOUNTLAKE TERRACE — It appears that the Neah Bay girls basketball team has its ticket stamped for the state tournament even though it’s always risky to assume that one win away from state.
But the Red Devils, who have hardly had any resistance on their way to a perfect 19-0 record so far this season, will take on Grace Academy in the regionals in a winner-to-state, loser-out game Saturday night at Mountlake Terrace High School.
Neah Bay defeated Grace Academy 63-14 in the Tri-District Tournament first round on Feb. 14.
Saturday’s game starts at 6 p.m. with the winner advancing to the Class 1B state championships.
The Red Devils would seem to have a pretty good matchup in regionals after easily winning the Tri-District championship, pounding Northwest Yeshiva 68-47 in the semifinals and smashing rival Lummi 60-21 in the title game.
The Red Devils have been to state the past four years, placing the last three seasons.
Neah Bay went 0-2 at state in 2008 but claimed eighth place in both 2009 and 2010 and then captured fourth place for its best finish in school history last year.
The only team the Red Devils lost to last year was eventual state champion Colton.
In the Tri-District championship game last Saturday night at Lynnwood High School, the Red Devils ran out to a commanding 21-0 lead at the end of the first quarter and increased the advantage to 32-7 at halftime and cruised to the victory.
The Red Devils never allowed more than single digits in any period while scoring no less than 11, leading 49-16 going into the fourth quarter.
Cherish Moss led three players in double figures with 21 points while Cierra Moss was close behind with 15 and Rebecca Thompson canned 12.
Cherish Moss was 5 of 7 beyond the 3-point arc.
Neah Bay hauled down 33 boards in the game with Cierra Moss and Kaela Tyler leading the way with six rebounds each.
Cherish Moss gathered up five boards.
Thompson also contributed five steals, five assists and two blocked shots while Cherish Moss added three assists and two steals.
Lummi’s Amanda Humphreys shot a team-high 12 points.
The 1B state championships are set for March 1-3 at Spokane Veterans’ Memorial Arena.
Tri-District Championship
Neah Bay 60, Lummi 21
Lummi 0 7 9 5— 21
Neah Bay 21 11 17 11— 60
Individual scoring
Lummi (21)
A. Humphreys 12, James 1, JOnes 3, Dennis 1, Birdhat 3, T. Humphreys 1.
Neah Bay (60)
Thompson 12, Tyler 8, Ch. Moss 21, Ci. Moss 15, Chartraw 4, Greene, Murner, Winck, Hill, Hahn.
