Preps this week
We're nearing the end of the soccer, volleyball and cross country seasons in Idaho and we're getting close to starting the state-qualifying process for those sports in Washington.
Buckle your seat belts folks. The next few weeks will be busy to say the least. Not to mention there are some interesting races in football in the various area leagues. Click the tab for more.
FOOTBALL: Consider this, eight of the 10 GSL teams still have shots at securing play-in berths with two weeks left in league play.
A couple of big games this week, beginning Thursday when Gonzaga Prep (6-1) takes on Mead (4-3) at Albi. Kickoff is at 7:15.A G-Prep win keeps it alive for a share of the league title and the top 4A play-in seed. Mead needs a win Thursday and a win over University the following week and some help to keep postseason hopes alive.
On Friday, league-leading Ferris (7-0) meets Lewis and Clark (3-4) in the renewing of the South Hill rivalry at Albi in the second game of a doubleheader at 8. A Ferris win coupled with a G-Prep win sets up a showdown for the top 4A play-in seed next week. LC is still clinging to playoff hopes. If LC can pull an upset Friday, it would set up a winner-take-all game for the third seed against Central Valley the following week. There's a scenario that could play out that involves a three-way tie for third between CV, LC and Mead. Not likely but could happen.
In other GSL games Friday, defending champ Mt. Spokane (6-1), which can still grab the league title outright or at least a share of it, meets Rogers (0-7) in the first game at Albi at 5:30. Elsewhere, Shadle Park (0-7) is at University (3-4) and North Central (2-5) goes to CV (4-3). Both are at 7.
IDAHO: The 5A Inland Empire League's two state playoff berths can be decided Friday when second-ranked Coeur d'Alene (6-1, 1-0) visits Post Falls (6-1, 0-1) at 7. A CdA win means the Vikings and Lake City (5-2, 2-0) are in the playoffs and sets up a showdown for the league title and playoff seeding the following week when LC visits CdA. Post Falls, which has beaten CdA the past three years, can muddy things up with a win. Remember the three-way tie for second last year?
* In the Intermountain League, the title can be decided Friday when Bonners Ferry (3-4, 2-0) visits defending champ Timberlake (2-5, 2-0) at 7.
* In the North Star League, Wallace (6-0) can secure the league title when it visits Mullan (0-6) on Friday afternoon at 3.
