CV Girls Need To Polish Finishes

If high school basketball games lasted 24 minutes rather than 32, Central Valley’s girls team would have a considerably better record.

Five times the Bears have lost games in which they led going into the fourth quarter. Had they held on to win those games, the Bears would be 11-6 or even 13-4 instead of 8-9. Four of those last-quarter losses came during Greater Spokane League play, the difference between third place in the GSL standings and the team’s current sixth-place status.

Coach Dale Poffenroth said CV’s close calls can be looked at two ways.

“A good coach is a guy who wins the close games, so how good is he?” said Poffenroth. “Or he’s a good coach because he takes these kids and gets them close.”

His point is well taken.

CV’s narrow losses can directly be attributed to the team’s youth.

The Bears this year had only one senior, Lisa Lentz. Midway through the league season she reinjured a knee ligament damaged last year and was lost for its remainder.

That left CV with half a dozen sophomores and three juniors, only one of whom had substantial varsity experience.

The team led current Big Nine runnerup Walla Walla into the fourth quarter before losing a nonleague game. It led fourth place University, unbeaten Mead and third-place Ferris after three periods, but lost. The latter game was in double overtime.

In their first game against GSL runnerup Shadle Park, the Bears led by five at the half before losing. Tuesday, the Bears lost the second meeting by a point after being tied through at the end of the third quarter.

“It was one of those deals where we knew going in that we had so many sophomores and would have to adjust,” said Poffenroth. “Then our senior went down and was gone forever and we had to readjust.”

It has taken 15 games for the players to mature and for the coaching staff to find the right combinations.

The Bears have been using all nine varsity players on a regular basis since Lentz was injured and all have contributed in various ways.

Sophomores Crystal Lee and Ginger Clark, along with Carrie Sanders have provided inside points and rebounding. Sophomore Katie Carpenter is now the main outside threat and junior Sandra White has become point guard.

Sophomore twins Angela and Andrea Kallas, forwards Jessica Ault and Marcy MacPhee, the sixth sophomore, come off the bench.

“Carrie is obviously a key,” said Poffenroth, “but of the nine I can’t single out anyone. Everyone has done something, which is why they are fun to be around.”

With three games remaining, CV needs just one more victory to make the district playoffs. Then, the Bears are a win away from a sixth straight regional appearance.

“At the beginning of the season we hoped to make the playoffs,” said Poffenroth. “We could finish third or fourth in league and may go farther than that.”