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

GSL basketball gears up for second half

Friday marks the midway mark of the Greater Spokane League boys and girls basketball seasons.

The second half begins Tuesday, concluding in mid-February.

What have we learned so far?

The upper half of the boys and girls leagues, as usual, is competitive. The boys (Central Valley) and girls (Gonzaga Prep) pacesetters are darn good.

Per usual, margin of victory in the second half will tighten up compared with scores in the first round of play.

Four teams are alive for the league title in both boys and girls. But the CV boys (9-0) and G-Prep girls (9-0), which each have two-game cushions, will have to stub their toes a couple of times for a serious chase to ensue.

Going into the week, it appeared the Mead girls (6-3) and Ferris boys (7-2) would serve the most difficult challenges to the leaders in the second half.

Mead’s girls posted their most impressive victory to date when they knocked off LC (7-2) last Friday. Then CV (7-2) went to Mead on Tuesday and came away with a key victory.

The Ferris boys were upended by G-Prep (7-2) on Tuesday.

This much we know: No boys or girls team can take anything for granted when second-half play begins.

• The Coeur d’Alene and Lake City boys face off Friday in a showdown at CdA. Tipoff is at 7.

CdA (9-1 overall, 2-0 league) went across town earlier this month and scored a 58-54 win. The Vikings followed it up with a 44-41 win at Post Falls on Tuesday.

Running abroad

Tanner Anderson and Kai Wilmot of North Central and John Dressel of Mt. Spokane ran within 17 seconds of each other last Saturday the at the Edinburgh, Scotland, cross country meet.

Anderson was tops among his friends, finishing fourth in a time of 19 minutes, 6 seconds.

Wilmot was sixth overall, 5 seconds behind Anderson, and Dressel was 12th overall and 17 seconds behind Anderson.

Basketball honors

Seven area standouts are among 44 high school players in Washington nominated to play in the McDonalds All-American Game.

They are: Cody Benzel of Ferris, Beau Byus of Central Valley, Matt Hubbard of Colville, Race Martin of Pullman, Dalton Patchen of Colton, Dexter Sienko of St. George’s and Jake Straughan of Colton.