Class 2A boys tournament: Pullman in final

YAKIMA — If Cashmere has the most storied history in small-school boys state basketball, here's the title of the latest chapter: "Man, is Fred Peete good or what?"

Peete, Pullman's high-flying, 6-foot-4 senior, was good and then some in the Greyhounds' 57-40 Class 2A semifinal triumph over Cashmere last night. He didn't find out how good until a postgame radio interview, during which he was told he'd tied the 2A tournament single-game scoring record with 37 points.

The guys whose record company he joined? Blaine's Luke Ridnour, the reigning Pacific-10 Conference player of the year at Oregon, and former Pullman star Brent Cummings.

"They tell me Cummings was a great player, so it's a great honor to be up there with a guy like him. I understand he was a great inside player, great outside player. I'm glad to bring that kind of charisma to the Pullman Greyhounds."

And he brought up front and center just when it was needed most — when Cashmere, after trailing 9-0 just 3½ minutes into the game, had rallied behind center Kent Fletcher and taken a 29-28 lead on a Fletcher layup with 3:22 left in the third period.

It was Fred Peete time.

After an 8-footer by Hunter Simpson gave Pullman the lead back, Peete scored 10 of the Greyhounds' next 13 points over the next five minutes, adding four rebounds and a steal over that span, building the lead back up to 43-31.

Third-ranked Pullman (23-3) will play second-ranked Nooksack Valley (24-1) in tonight's championship game. Nooksack pounded Chewelah 68-36 in last night's other semifinal.

Cashmere (18-8) plays Chewelah (18-9) today for third and sixth places.

Nooksack Valley 68, Chewelah 36 — Kyle Vermueulen was 10 for 10 from the field, and two teammates also scored in double figures as the Pioneers returned to the state championship game for the first time in 29 years. Phil Silves added 15 points and Jason Heutink had 13 for Nooksack.

The Pioneers won the Class A state title in 1974 under Kay LeMaster. The current team is coached by Bill Kelly, who coached Cashmere to four state titles in the 1970s.

Loser-out games

Lynden Christian 70, Steilacoom 63 — Mark Holleman scored 20 points to lead five Lynden Christian players in double figures as the ninth-ranked Lyncs (16-10) eliminated sixth-ranked Steilacoom (22-7). Lynden Christian plays Kiona-Benton (18-8) today for fifth and eighth places.

Ryan Reynolds scored 19 points to lead Steilacoom. Brett Wusterbarth had 13 points and Michael Lewis added 10 points and nine rebounds.

Kiona-Benton 52, Othello 45 — Rick Rose scored 20 points and Jeff Linehan had 16, each scoring 10 in the second half, as Kiona-Benton (18-8) rallied for a victory over Othello (16-11).

The Bears came back from a five-point first-half deficit and took the lead for good on a jumper by Rose with 4:08 remaining in the third quarter. That started a seven-point run to end the period.

Othello cut the deficit to 42-41 with 4:06 to play but couldn't tie the game. Matt Coffman led the Huskies with 16 points.

Ilwaco 45, Connell 39 — Andy Hudkins' three-point play with 1:10 to play lifted Ilwaco (17-9) to a victory over Connell (13-14). Ilwaco faces top-ranked Hoquiam (25-1) today for fourth and seventh places.

Hudkins, who scored 15 points, had a putback and was fouled. He made the free throw to give Ilwaco a 40-39 lead. Kyle Kaino, who scored 12 points, added three free throws and Ryan Cadwell had two more to close the scoring.

Steven Dorman led the Eagles with 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Hoquiam 48, Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) 46 — David Brittinen scored 12 of his 20 points in the second half as top-ranked Hoquiam (25-1) eliminated fourth-ranked Lakeside (20-5). Hoquiam was bumped into the consolation bracket when it suffered its first loss of the season on Thursday — 59-40 to second-ranked Nooksack Valley.

Justin Reed hit a three-pointer with 5:33 to play to put Hoquiam ahead for good at 44-41. Reed scored five of his six points in the final period while Jeff Wayman finished with 17 points.

Jared Tikker scored 16 points for the Eagles while Greg Smith had 10 rebounds.