Isaiah Price (21) and La Conner were knocked out of the state basketball playoffs this weekend. (Chloe Marzocca photo)
Four teams are still chasing the dream, but one has a better shot than the other three.
The Mount Vernon Christian boys and girls, La Conner girls, and Orcas Island boys are still alive as the 2022-2023 state basketball championships head towards their final games.
Two other Northwest 2B/1B League hoops teams — the Orcas girls and La Conner boys — also made it to state but were knocked out in regional round games Saturday.
Which was also the fate for the Auburn Adventist Academy boys, who nipped Coupeville in a winner-to-state, loser-out clash during the District 1/2 tourney.
Where things sit:
MVC girls:
The defending 1B state champs held off Inchelium 49-41 Saturday and are the lone NWL team to be in the double-elimination winners brackets headed to next week’s 12-team event at the Spokane Arena.
The fourth-seeded Hurricanes, now 22-4, play in the quarterfinals Mar. 2 against the winner of Moses Lake Christian and Odessa, then would likely have to topple #1 Neah Bay in the semifinals to have a shot at going back-to-back.
(STATUS: Alive ‘n Thrivin’)
La Conner girls:
The #6 Braves (19-5) lost their state opener, falling 52-44 Friday to #3 Napavine.
La Conner tips off Mar. 1 in Spokane against #11 Northwest Christian (Colbert) in a loser-out game, with #4 Warden, which smacked them a year ago, waiting in the quarterfinals.
(STATUS: Living on the edge)
Orcas Island girls:
The Vikings entered the 1B tourney as the #13 seed, and were promptly roughed up and eliminated by #12 Willapa Valley, falling 51-30 in a loser-out game. No trip to Spokane and a final record of 12-12.
(STATUS: On to spring sports)
MVC boys:
The Hurricanes are 21-6 and Spokane-bound after toppling Pomeroy 65-40 Saturday in the #10 vs. #15 matchup.
Up next is a clash with #7 Cusick Mar. 1, with the loser headed home and the winner advancing to play top-seeded Wellpinit in the quarterfinals.
(STATUS: Need an upset)
Orcas Island boys:
While the 2B state tourney began with 16 teams, the 1B event started with 20 squads because of a larger number of schools playing basketball in that classification.
The Vikings (21-9), seeded #16, had to win twice to make it to Spokane, and did, eliminating #17 Inchelium 63-42 Tuesday and #9 Neah Bay 73-65 Saturday.
Next up? Another loser-out game, this time against #8 Oakville Mar. 1, with #2 Sunnyside Christian awaiting the winner in the quarterfinals.
(STATUS: Playing with house money)
La Conner boys:
The surprise bi-district champs were the only boys team in the 2B state field to boast a losing record, and they were seeded #15 in a 16-team field.
It was one and done and no trip to Spokane for the Braves, who finished 11-13 after being bounced 68-41 by #10 Chief Leschi.
(STATUS: On to spring)
Auburn Adventist boys:
The Falcons were seeded #13, but were no match for #12 Tri-Cities Prep, which eliminated them 63-42, sending AAA home with a final record of 18-5.
(STATUS: On to spring)
Coupeville Sports 