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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Panther Boys Remain Wary Of Challengers

Mike Vlahovich Staff Writer

Mead has improved its Greater Spokane League boys basketball lead to two games and has beaten most of the logical challengers.

But coach Jim Preston is looking over his shoulder at two other North Side teams.

“Based on past battles, I feel good,” Preston said of last Friday’s win for a season sweep over defending state champion Ferris. “But I don’t think you can afford to be confident in this league. If you do, you make a mistake.”

What keeps Preston wary are the recent surges by Rogers and North Central. Although both teams are five games behind his in the GSL standings, the Pirates are coming off wins over second-place teams Central Valley and Lewis and Clark.

North Central throttled Shadle Park 58-32 in the Groovy Shoes game and is suddenly looming as an upset threat.

“We have to go to North Central, we have to go to Rogers and we have to go to Gonzaga Prep,” warned Preston.

The Mead coach concedes that his veteran team has made strides during each of three years.

Three third-year players went from 3-5 the first half of their sophomore season to 5-3 and the playoffs the second half.

Last year the Panthers upset Big Nine runner-up Pasco in a twoovertime regional playoff game.

“I thought we were playing as well as any team in the playoffs,” said Preston. “That game was draining, and we never recovered.”

This year the Panthers are 8-1 in league and 10-3 overall, including Friday’s 60-46 win over the Saxons. In that game, Mead got 19 points from Jason Smith and 17 more from Damian Long.

But there are still seven games remaining. Friday, Mead is at home against Central Valley, and Preston remains cautious.

“Every coach’s job is to worry,” said Preston. “In a constructive way.”

Panther girls pass tests

Mead’s girls basketball team went unscathed through a series of three games against the GSL’s other championship contenders.

In order, the Panthers beat University, Shadle Park and Ferris to remain undefeated.

“So far, so good,” said Coach Jeanne Helfer. “We got through them alive, even with Chelsea out.”

Junior post Chelsea Clark suffered a stress fracture in her fibula and will be gone four to six weeks. Sophomore replacements acquitted themselves well against the challengers.

“She may be back a touch sooner than the playoffs,” said Helfer. “It allows the young kids to have more playing time.”

Mead’s short-term goal was to finish the first round undefeated. The girls did that and then some.

“We accomplished that and are proud of it,” said Helfer. “Now we need to gain some consistency.”

Take the NEA lead, please

Leading Northeast A League basketball is something boys teams have done reluctantly.

Last week, co-leaders Riverside and Freeman lost to sixth-place team Newport and temporarily fell off the pace.

The next night, however, Medical Lake was upset by seventh-place Kettle Falls, and Riverside is now part of a four-way tie at the top, with the leading teams posting 7-3 records.

Lakeside could have made it a fiveway first-place tie except that on Friday the Eagles were beaten by eighth-place Colfax and remain a game behind in fifth place.

The leaders now begin a series of games in which they play each other through season’s end.

Someone will have to win the league. Probably.

Two AAU tournaments offered

Spokane Regional AAU basketball is hosting two tournaments in late March.

The first Rosauers AAU Boys Basketball Classic will be March 17-19.

The third annual Darryl Bean Memorial Girls AAU Basketball Tournament is March 24-26.

Entry fees are $150.

Boys competition is for teams in fourth grade and up, including three high school divisions.

Girls competition is for fifth grade and up, including three high school divisions.

Teams are guaranteed four games.

For information, call Jan Nottingham at 927-9167 or 928-6005.