SPOKANE — The Neah Bay girls basketball team has been here before.
Unfortunately, the Red Devils will open up against the same powerhouse team in the first round of the Class 1B state championships.
And that is not good news.
The Red Devils, red-hot and rolling at 20-0, will be making their sixth consecutive appearance at state when they play three-time defending state champion Colton, an even hotter 23-0, in the first round today at 3:45 p.m. at the Spokane Arena.
Colton, the New England Patriots of 1B girls basketball, was the only team to beat the Red Devils at state last year.
And that was in the first round, too, with Neah Bay falling 67-34.
The Red Devils earned fourth place, their best finish ever, and were hoping for something a little better in 2012 after going undefeated so far.
They will have to pull a major upset over No. 1-ranked Colton today for that to happen.
The Red Devils have an unofficial state rank of No. 6. (The statewide poll lists only the top five teams in 1B).
Semifinals next
Today’s winner advances to the championship semifinals Friday against the Lopez Island-Almira Coulee Hartline winner at 7:15 p.m.
Almire Coulee Hartline captured second in state last year and is ranked No. 4 this season.
The state championship game is set for Saturday at 9 p.m.
Today’s loser between Colton and Neah Ball falls to the loser-out consolation semifinals Friday at 12:15 p.m. against the Lopez Island-Almira Coulee Hartline loser.
Teams on the other side of the bracket include No. 2-ranked Columbia (Hunters), which captured third a year ago, Northwest Yeshiva, Cusick and third-ranked Sunnyside Christian, which claimed fifth place at state last year.