SPOKANE -- The State B Basketball Tournament tips off at the Spokane Veterans Arena. The 1B teams from rural towns are back in Spokane after competing in Yakima for four years.
The arena was packed with players on Thursday all hoping to take home the title. And the fans in the stands say the return of1B schoolscouldn't be sweeter.
For two and a half decades, Gene Smith coached basketball at Reardan High School. He and his teams were fixtures on the hardwood.
'Class B people are from these old little towns that used to come into the coliseum. Everybody knew where they were sitting, where they were going to eat. You could walk right in, walk right up to the players,' said Smith.
Smith is retired now and happy with the birds-eye view.
Between 2007 and 2010, the 1B teams competed in their own tournament in Yakima. The WIAA said they wanted to give more athletes the tournament experience. But they changed the format this year. They are bringing those teams back to Spokane along with the 2B teams. Both are playing in eight team tournaments.
As for the parents, they say this is right where they want to be.
'There are so many schools that are so local. It's more convenient with the weather this time of year,' said Heather Flett.
It isn't just the small town teams and their players who are out here. Many have dozens of fans who say this tournament is their vacation.
