By Tim Clinton

SPORTS EDITOR

Both West Seattle teams were bumped off in back-to-back Metro League basketball championship tournament semifinals played Wednesday at Seattle Pacific University.

The girls team suffered its first in-state loss of the year, falling to Cleveland by a 63-60 score.

The boys team then took the court and took a 73-43 beating at the hands of Rainier Beach.

Both teams are playing in games for third and fourth place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

The boys play Cleveland at nearby Chief Sealth as the girls journey to Nathan Hale to battle Garfield. Ballard plays Blanchet for fifth and sixth right before that game at 5:45 p.m.

In other action

Kennedy knocked off highly-touted Skyview by a 58-54 score to open the West Central District 4A boys tournament Wednesday.

The Lancers ride the win on their home court into a 7:45 p.m. game against Curtis at Mount Tahoma's court Friday.

The Mount Rainier boys, meanwhile, opened district with a 63-51 loss at Union on Wednesday.

The Rams fall into a 6 p.m. Friday battle with Bellarmine at Foss.