Reardan wins qualifying Spangle tournament

REARDAN–A basketball team comprised of seventh and eighth-grade boys qualified for the Washington Middle School Basketball Championships by winning five games and the championship at the Veterans Day Tournament in Spangle on Nov. 11-13.

The team is not school sponsored, but the players attend Reardan Middle School. They compete in the Spokane YMCA league and play in various tournaments throughout the year.

Players will join the school's team in December.

Coach Jared Flaa has coached this group of boys since they were in the third grade.

"We want to have fun, learn basketball fundamentals and win the state championship," Flaa said.

Flaa's team is undefeated so far this season. He expects his players to be at the top of their game at the tournament.

Ultimately, his goal is to prepare his team for high school where they "can be a great team."

He praised several eighth graders on his team.

"I've never seen an eighth grader like Maverick Sobotta," Flaa said. "He's a humble kid with a higher basketball IQ than most high school players."

He also complemented Fred Frolov, Carsten Flaa and Brett Wilson.

"They have improved so much," Flaa said. "With this group of guys, I don't have to coach effort. I can concentrate on x's and o's."

Sobotta said that playing for Flaa has made him a better basketball player and has helped him off the court as well.

"I've learned to build others up and not just concentrate on myself," he said.

Approximately 500 teams will take part in the state tournament.

"Reardan has never had a middle school team win a championship," Sobotta said. "So I want to compete, and I want to win."

The Washington Middle School Basketball championships will take place at The Podium in Spokane between March 17-19, 2023.