Championship History: Four consecutive State B Championships from 2006-2009, making the Crusaders the first 2B school to accomplish such a Championship feat. In 2011, Crusaders captured the title again.
NWC placed third in State B Tournament in 2005, 2nd in State 1A Basketball Tournament in 2004, 2nd in 2B tourney in 2012. In 1989, Northwest Christian was the first private school to win the State B Championship. The Crusaders also took home the State B Championship trophy in 1994. The Crusaders have captured many additional trophies and qualified for the state tournament 12 of the past 13 seasons. Last year the Crusaders placed 5th losing in the state semi-final game to eventual champion Morton-White Pass.
Road to State: At 24-2, the Crusaders placed 1st in the NE 2B District 7 Tournament. NWC came out of the District 7/9 Sub-Regional Tournament as the #1 seed as well. The Crusaders defeated Asotin 85-57 in the first round of Regional State action on February 27, 2016.
Players: The Crusaders are a veteran team returning five starters this season. Three 1st Team NE 2B all-league players lead the way for the Crusaders including senior guard 6’2 David Olds (13.3 ppg), 6’1 junior guard Ryan Ricks (15.1 ppg / 4 assists pg), and 6’7 junior post Asher Cox (16.5 ppg/ 7 reb. pg). Rounding out the starting line-up, are an athletic and physical senior post, Nathan Sander (who recently signed to play football at Montana Tech next year) and a seasoned speedy senior point guard Ian Starkey (7.5 ppg). 6’3 junior guard Rolf Veenstra comes off the bench to provide a spark for the Crusaders as well each game.
Coaches: Head coach Ray Ricks, in his 16th season, was a member of the NWC 1989 State B Championship team, and he is also the Northwest Christian High School Principal. Lead Assistant Aaron Spuler has also coached two varsity teams to the state tournament (Tacoma Baptist boys 2005 and Northwest Christian girls in 2008). Ricks was also voted District 7’s “Coach of the Year” for 2016.
