Archbishop Murphy
girls 2A's lone unbeaten

By SCOTT SPRUILL
YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC

Seven of last year's eight trophy teams in the Class 2A state girls basketball tournament are back for another crack at hardware this week.

Archbishop Murphy was not among that seven, which, in no small part, explains why the Wildcats are 23-0 and the only unbeaten team headed into the Yakima Valley SunDome on Wednesday.

In 2008 and 2007, ATM won its district opener and then went 0-2 in winner-to-state games. Last year the elimination game was a 51-49 loss to Anacortes, which went on to place fifth at state.

"Last year I went to state to watch and it wasn't easy, thinking a shot here, a rebound there and we'd be playing," said ATM coach John Barhanovich.

"The frustration of that happening two years in a row has been difficult, but our seniors have responded in a very positive way."

Here's positive: The closest game in a 14-0 Cascade League campaign was 20 points, three nonleague wins were over 4A teams and another was over reigning 1A state champ Lynden Christian.

All of which should make the Wildcats a major player this week in a deep field that includes top-ranked Prosser (21-1) and No. 3 Black Hills (21-2), which comes in on an 11-game win streak.

ATM and Prosser are in the same semifinal bracket, but before that savory possibility takes place, the Wildcats must deal with fifth-ranked Pullman (20-3) in Wednesday's marquee opener at 9 p.m.

The Greyhounds, who placed fourth last year, won 17 straight games before getting tripped up by West Valley in district play. The other two losses were to Idaho teams.

"I saw them last year -- athletic, aggressive and solid," Barhanovich said. "They go undefeated in league, lose only once (to Washington teams) and we come in 23-0 and a No. 1 seed -- that's a tough opener."

By starting at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Black Hills can steer clear of all that trouble, but second-year coach Robin Johnson is wary of her first-round opponent, CWAC No. 3 seed Ellensburg.

Last year the Wolves got whipped by Othello, which had the same seed, by 24 points on opening day before rallying to place eighth.

"We had some high expectations last year so they were devastated by that loss on the first day," Johnson said. "That's really helped motivate our girls this year -- they come with a good mental focus every game."

Coming out of the Evergreen Conference and Southwest District earns everyone's respect. River Ridge is the two-time defending state champion and the Hawks played league rival Tumwater in the 2007 final.

Prosser opens Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. with Bellingham (13-12) with a possible quarterfinal looming against eighth-ranked Elma (16-5), a team the Mustangs beat for third place last year.

"When it comes to state, you never know until you start playing," said Prosser coach Mark Little. "You just hope the kids keep a cool head and stick with what got them here."