Recognizing local athletic achievements from 2015

July

Local teams competed in the Hoopfest three-on-three basketball tournament during the last week of June in Spokane. The team of Alarah Pierce-Pulliam, Kyle Gimmaka, Bryson Gering and Abby Gering won the high school co-ed team consolation bracket and received the infamous King of the Losers t-shirts.

August

On Aug. 10 the annual Puttin’ on the Ritz ladies golf tournament took place. Over 30 women participated in the event and afterwards enjoyed lunch provided by Fairway Café. The Digs Men’s tournament then took place on Aug. 16. The evening before residents participating enjoyed a dinner served by Fairway Café and an auction at Legion Hall.

The annual Ritzville Jamboree was held on Aug. 28 at Jimmie Snider Field. Participating this year from the NE 2B league were Lind-Ritzville/Sprague, Northwest Christian, Davenport and Colfax. Additionally Tri-Cities Prep, Warden and Medical Lake teams participated.

September

The Lady Broncos volleyball season began with a tough loss to the Warden Lady Cougars with set scores of 1-25, 15-25, 13-25. The Bronco Invite followed this match where the Lady Broncos faced Odessa-Harrington, the Cusick Lady Panthers and the Northpoint Lady Tigers. They lost to the first two teams and won the last match of the day.

On Sept. 26 the Ritzville Golf course celebrated its 75th birthday with a tournament and barbecue.

The Broncos football team defeated the defending state champions, Okanagan, 28-21 on Sept. 18 at Jimmie Snider Field.

October

The Broncos football team earned a Homecoming victory versus the Northwest Christian Crusaders on Oct. 2 at Jimmie Snider Field. The Broncos led 22-14 after the first quarter and the game was tied when halftime rolled around. In the second half the Broncos came out strong and were able to cinch a 32-29 victory.

The Lady Tigercats defeated Liberty Christian in a league match in Kahlotus on Sept. 28 after pushing the match to four sets. The Lady Tigercats then played their Homecoming match where they fell to Touchet in five sets.

Flag Football returned to Jimmie Snider Field on Oct. 24. The tournament began at 9 a.m. and hosted students from kindergarten to fifth grade.

November

The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Broncos team became the Northeast 2B league champions for the fourth consecutive year on Oct. 30 in a game versus the Colfax Bulldogs. The team earned a 33-0 victory and left the field defending their title.

After upsetting Reardan in the District Tournament, the Lady Broncos then moved onto the Regional Tournment where they fell to Tri-Cities Prep in three sets: 11-25, 10-25, 22-25. The next game they faced DeSales and won in three sets, which moved them onto a game versus Wilbur-Creston where they lost this match. Their final match was versus Northwest Christian and they were unable to win in the three set match, which ended their season.

The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague team took on the Mabton Vikings in the First Round playoff match where they moved onto the quarterfinals with a 21-7 victory. The Okanogan Bulldogs knocked the Broncos out of the state playoffs in the quarterfinal game at Lions Field in Moses Lake. The game took place on Nov. 20 and the team fell 28-35.

December

The Broncos basketball season began with a nonleague game versus Columbia-Burbank where they ultimately lost to the Coyotes on the road 53-62. The Broncos team then took on two league teams after a loss of 49-63 versus Medical Lake. They beat the St. George’s Dragon 60-38 and the Colfax Bulldogs 52-47.

The Lady Broncos also played Columbia Burbank and fought hard but fell to the Lady Coyotes 47-48. The Lady Broncos played their first league match against St. George’s, which proved difficult and they fell 36-52. The first home game was versus the Colfax Lady Bulldogs where they fought hard but ultimately lost 49-51. The Lady Broncos also defeated Tekoa-Rosalia in a league game at Gilson Gym 50-43.

The Lady Tigercats went on the road to begin their season versus College Place for a nonleague game. The Lady Tigercats lost with a final score of 24-33.

The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague wrestling squad competed in their first tournament. There were three wrestlers participating, Alex Whitman, Tucker Guiles and Karl Hawks. The Broncos then competed in their first League competition in Colfax.