Editor's Note: This story is included in The Chronicle's 2023-24 Prep Basketball Preview, which is published in the Thursday edition.
Spokane is waiting on the other side of the state, and the local contenders in the 1B ranks are ready to make their bids to go back.
Last year saw the 1B Columbia Valley League dominate the 1B Coastal in District 4, with the exception of Oakville, which outclassed its league so badly that the Acorns were handed the league title in an agreement that let them play extra non-league games for better competition. Once the district tournament rolled around, Oakville beat Mossyrock to get to the championship game, where it lost to Willapa Valley, while the Vikings went on to make the state tournament themselves by beating Taholah by 33.
The Acorns were dealt the No. 8 seed in the tournament, which came with the singular misfortune of having to cross the state to Cheney to play No. 1 Wellpinit in the regional round — Oakville lost by 37 — then come back to Grays Harbor County, then go back to Spokane four days later, taking a morning six-hour bus ride to play a 9 p.m. loser-out game and losing to Orcas Island.
Mossyrock, meanwhile, upset its way through the bracket to finish fourth, its first placing at State since 2016.
A year later, and the Acorns and Vikings are ready to run it back. Mossyrock is down Keegan Kolb, Cooper Young and Matt Cooper, but Zack Munoz is back as one of the CVL’s top scorers, and Hunter Isom is returning to be one of the top big men at the 1B level in the district.
The Acorns will once again be led by reigning 1B Coastal MVP Eddie Klatush and also bring back Courtney Price, who earned first-team all-Coastal honors last season for his work in the post. Oakville does have to replace a few weapons in Hazen Charles-Cayenne, Ashton Boyd and Shayden Baker, but has its Rodas brothers — Daniel and Gio — back after another year starring on the football field to fill the ranks.
Elsewhere in 1B, Pe Ell has some returning pieces of its own to build up from, with Carter Phelps and Calan McCarty leading the Trojans at early days this winter.
Mossyrock Vikings
Coach: Tom Kelly (Second season)
2022-23 record/finish: (21-7, fourth in State)
Returning starters: Easton Kolb, Zack Munoz, Hunter Isom
Newcomers to watch: Tyce Vigre, Shaun Fry
Oakville Acorns
Coach: Marcus Whittaker (Third season)
2022-23 record/finish: 18-6 (District runner-up, State tournament)
Returning starters: Eddie Klatush, Courtney Price, Daniel Rodas
Newcomers to watch: N/A
Pe Ell Trojans
Coach: Chris Phelps (Third season)
2022-23 record/finish: 9-13 (District tournament)
Returning starters: Calan McCarty, Blake Howard, Carter Phelps
Newcomers to watch: Kohl Perkins
Quoteable: “We have a lot of potential with this group, and we as coaches need to do a better job maturing our offense. Give it time we will get where we need to be when it counts.”
