Prep basketball recaps

SPOKANE - The Lind-Ritzville girls basketball team is bound for the 2B state basketball tournament after surprising Northwest Christian 51-41 on Monday night at Mead High School.

The Lady Broncos (21-4 overall) used a 14-6 run in the fourth quarter to put the game away and hand the Northeast League champion Crusaders only their fourth loss of the season.

Lind-Ritzville's Katlin Fowles tied for the game high with 17 points, with Laura Cain scoring eight and Emmy Bouwman and Stephany Steinberger each tallying seven. The game was tied 18-18 after one quarter and at 26-26 at halftime.

The Broncos will open state tournament play next Wednesday, Feb. 27, at the Spokane Arena. The state draw will be announced this Sunday.

Lind-Ritzville 51, Waitsburg 44

SPOKANE - Needing a win to keep their season alive, the Broncos got the job done behind the strong offensive games of Jamie Stevenson and Cory Whitmore.

Stevenson led all scorers with 19 points and Whitmore tossed in 16 as Lind-Ritzville (19-6) beat the Cardinals in a loser-out regional playoff game at Mead High School. The Broncos play again Friday in a winner-to-state game, a 4:15 p.m. start at Mount Spokane against the Wellpinit Redskins.

The game was close throughout, with the Broncos holding a 27-23 halftime advantage.