Wv And EV Have Golden Opportunities
The boys basketball teams from West Valley and East Valley have considerably different goals when the regular season comes to an end with Friday night’s Golden Throne spirit game.
The Eagles, winners of five straight Frontier League titles and seven in the last eight years, can win a fourth undisputed crown.
East Valley is seeking merely to avoid a winless season.
The Golden Throne festivities begin when the girls teams open competition at 6:15 p.m. WV has qualified for the girls playoffs and can finish third in league. EV, last in league, is after a sweep of their season series.
West Valley’s boys were assured a title tie and top seed in the league playoffs with a dramatic one-point victory over Cheney after losing their first league game in Colville the night before.
The Eagles were whistled for 55 fouls and the opposition went to the line 63 times in the two games. It left WV coach Joe Feist dispirited after the weekend.
“After watching films I thought the officiating was extremely inconsistent,” he said. “They allowed them to bang and we not and I don’t know why.”
Cheney had every opportunity to win and led five points with 30 seconds to go. However, WV rallied behind David Schillinger’s baskets and assist to sophomore Vinnie Pecht for the winning basket with seven seconds left.
“I thought we did a great job of not giving up in the last 30 seconds of the game,” said Feist. “That’s where the three-point basket comes into play. A team can make its free throws and still lose the lead.”
WV had 11 treys, Schillinger and Greg Jones getting a pair late in the game to shave Cheney’s advantage.
Still it didn’t detract from Feist’s concerns with district play coming up.
“I thought we did a tremendous job inside and am a little confused why we were not at the free throw line,” he said. “I expect fair and consistent officiating and question that at times.”
Emotions high on basketball court
The emotions of WV’s bitter rivalry with Cheney and Central Valley’s important game at Rogers brought out heated exchanges between coaches at the end.
Bear coach Terry Irwin reacted to what he said was taunting by Pirate players after a loss that denied CV a chance to finish second in league. He had words with Rogers coach Rick Mergenthaler as a result.
They talked by phone afterward. “He was apologetic,” said Irwin. “I guess enough said.”
Tempers flared between Feist and Cheney coach Denny Humphrey after their game as well.
CV begins district play Tuesday in a loser-out game against Ferris, Lewis and Clark or Gonzaga Prep.
“By losing it didn’t hurt us,” Irwin said of his Sports notebook, cold-shooting team’s setback. “We could have conceivably finished second but probably would have been fourth or fifth anyway.”
What matters more to him is the opponent. The Bears match up better against Ferris or Gonzaga Prep than against LC.
Rivals possible foes at district
The GSL girls playoff picture is also unclear with the possibility that three teams - CV, University and Gonzaga Prep - could end up tied for fourth place.
It could mean that when district competition begins on Tuesday, the two Valley teams will meet each other.
After winning last Friday in Colville, West Valley’s girls will likely finish third in the Frontier League and would play Pullman in district.
“The win in Colville was big,” said coach Mark Kuipers. “It got us into the playoffs and that was our goal.”
Nearly identical results
Valley schools qualified nearly identical numbers of wrestlers to this weekend’s Mat Classic VII in Tacoma.
University, West Valley and East Valley all have four entrants into the state tournament and Central Valley sends three to state.
Titan Dusty Roberts is unbeaten at 148 pounds and a three-time regional champion.
Central Valley’s Joel Gehrett was district champion a year ago but upset in regionals. This year he was third in district and a regional finalist.
East Valley’s Troy Campbell, who also missed state last year, this time finished second in regionals to qualify.
Other Titans are Josh Knowles and Scott Garcia, third at 115 and 141 respectively, and Jared Osborn, fourth at 101.
From CV, third-place Rick Giampietri at 158 is a repeat state qualifier and freshman Shane Cunanan is making his first appearance at 108-pounds.
East Valley sends Casey Stookey at 122, Justin Walker at 108 and Matt Eastman at 129.
Two-time third-place state placer Aaron Lehinger is one of four West Valley qualifiers. He was third in regional at 115 pounds.
Other WV qualifiers were Quinn Sharpe at 101, Jeremy Thornton at 135 and Paul Pfeifer at 190.
Freeman 190-pounder Dustin Reed also qualified for state.
Gymnasts remain dominant
The University and Central Valley gymnastics teams both qualified for state with one-two finishes during regional competition.
The Titans scored 169 points to CV’s 166.2 to earn the team berths to this weekend’s meet in the Tacoma Dome.
Leading the way individually was CV’s Angie Giroux who was second all-around. She finished second during floor exercise was sixth on beam, fifth on bars and fourth on vault for a 35.05 total.
Teammates Michelle Gharst and Bethany Porter finished fourth and eighth overall, Gharst taking third on beam and bars. Porter and Lindsay Linerud were top 10 placers in two events each.
Unbeaten until regionals, U-Hi’s Kim Meyers placed third all-around and her teammates, Amber Hulbert and Kalie Cossette finished among the top 10.
Coleen Pierce was second on beam and eighth on floor. Rachelle Quinn placed among the top nine in three events, including fourth on bars.
xxxx Coming up
Today Basketball: University hosts Ferris and Central Valley is at Gonzaga Prep, 6:15 p.m. (girls) and 8 p.m. (boys).
Friday Wrestling: Valley wrestlers are at Mat Classic VII, the state meet, at the Tacoma Dome. Basketball: East Valley hosts West Valley in the Golden Throne game, 6:15 p.m. (girls) and 8 p.m. (boys). Freeman boys play Lakeside in the Northeast A League tournament at Mead High School, 9 p.m. Gymnastics: University and Central Valley are at the state meet at the Tacoma Dome.
Saturday Wrestling: State meet concludes at the Tacoma Dome. Gymnastics: State meet concludes at the Tacoma Dome.