Haling from the wide-open spaces in Nevada, Capital High school’s new football coach plans to reenergize the once-proud Cougars football program next season.

John David (J.D.) Johnson is Capital’s new coach, unanimously approved by the Olympia School District school board Monday night.

Johnson also will teach in the Olympia School District, and comes from Shadow Ridge High in Las Vegas, where he accumulated a 32-12 record over four seasons including three playoff appearances.

Johnson is married with two children, and said he’s been looking to move north for a better place

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For those still in the mood for high school basketball, more games await this weekend.

The boys and girls all-state games will be held this Saturday.

The boys games will be held at KeyArena, and begin at 9 a.m. with the 1B vs. 2B game, followed by the 1A vs. 2A game at 10:30 a.m., and the 3A vs. 4A game at Noon.

The boys game is sponsored by the Washington Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association. Tickets can be purchased at www.theFinalScore.TV for $15 each. The tickets are good for all three

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Just wanted to let you folks know the prep crew is all taking a little down time to recover from the two weeks of basketball madness. Look for spring sports previews soon, likely starting March 22 (a week from tomorrow) with fastpitch.

Now stop reading the blog and go enjoy the early spring sun while we have it!

Two-in-one

Adam Barrett won his first state championship as a girls basketball coach tonight, two steps behind his best friend.

At the same time, Michael Meek, seventh-year coach at Beaverton, Ore.’s, Southridge High, led the Southridge girls to the 6A state title – their third consecutive Oregon championship.

"It’s amazing," said a hoarse Barrett after he found out. "We’re going to catch him though."

Stephanie Wilber was the state tournament MVP and Ireti Amojo was named to the second team as the Ravens knocked off No. 1 Chief Sealth, 56-46.

The River Ridge Hawks capped an astounding postseason run finishing third at the 2A state tournament with a 54-44 win over Centralia.

Donald Terry scored 20 points for River Ridge, which finished ith 15-13 record.

Centralia 19-9 was led by Isaac Moog’s 20 points and 11 rebounds.

Mindi is having some issues with the Internet, so here the score from the girls 3A game, I have no further details.

The River Ridge girls basketball team is 16 minutes away from a state title. Courtney Blume has been unstoppable inside for the Hawks, finishing with 12 points in the first half for River Ridge. Tumwater is shooting 18 percent from the field.

The Mavericks, who were undefeated until a Friday meeting with Auburn Riverside, lost in the third-place game to West Valley.

We’re running about an hour behind still, but this Southridge-North Central game is (so far) cruising along nicely. Let’s keep this pace up, boys.

AR is scheduled to tip at 7 p.m. (also known as 15 minutes after this game ends. There’s less than a minute in the first half.) Once we’re underway, I’ll try for quarterly updates, but remember the game’s also on FSN.