Summer Heat tourney set to tip off

The fifth annual Summer Heat Showcase girls club basketball tournament is Thursday and Friday in Spokane.

It’s an NCAA-certified showcase, allowing club teams exposure to dozens of college coaches.

Because it’s a showcase event, no champion is crowned. All teams in the elite and high school divisions are guaranteed four games.

Most of the games will be played at the Warehouse near Gonzaga University.

The top area teams competing are the Spokane Stars Blue elite, Spokane Sandpipers Black and North Idaho Elite.

Play begins Thursday at 9 a.m. and Friday at 8 a.m., concluding around 2 in the afternoon. Admission is $9 for a day pass and $16 for a two-day pass.

Schedules can be found at www.warehouseathletics.com.

• The Spokane Stars Blue competed at two tournaments in recent weeks – the End of the Trail tourney in Oregon City, Oregon, and the Nike National Invitational in Chicago.

At Oregon City, the Stars, 25-4 overall, went 4-1, losing to Cal Stars Nike Elite, 67-40 in the Platinum bracket title game. Cal Stars are 41-0 and ranked No. 1 in the nation.

“They were like playing a WNBA team,” Stars coach Ron Adams said. “We played well but they were too big, too strong and too talented. It’s the best team any of my teams have played in 35 years.”

Twins Lacie and Lexie Hull of Central Valley were named all-stars in their bracket. Jessie Loera of Moses Lake, who gave Gonzaga University an oral commitment last month, was named most valuable player.

Lexie Hull averaged 14.2 points and Loera averaged 10.1 points, six assists and three steals.

In Chicago, the Stars played in a showcase tourney featuring 577 teams and 717 college scouts.

The Stars won their pool, going 5-0. They lost to Chicago All-In 55-47 for the overall title in their pool.

Lexie Hull led in scoring, averaging 14.2 points and 7.1 rebounds. Lacie Hull averaged 10.4 points and 5.6 rebounds.

Other Stars team members are: Jamie Loera of Moses Lake; Hannah Burland of East Valley; Kaiti Pannell and Brooke Bailey of University; Joy Akaegbu of Gonzaga Prep; Shyler Sullivan of Southridge; Jaidyn Lyman of Mt. Spokane; and Darbi Pink of Chiawana.

• The North Idaho Elite team, coached by North Idaho College women’s coaches Chris and Carey Carlson, recently won the elite bracket at the MSNM tournament in Everett.

North Idaho defeated Emerald City Basketball Academy 44-36 in the championship game.

The team members are: Nina Carlson, Kate Maryon, Olivia Maryon, Whitney Meier and Keara Simpson of Lake City; Bayley Brennan and Melody Kempton of Post Falls; Allison Kirby and Keelie Lawler of Timberlake; and Tiana Johnson of Flathead in Kalispell, Montana.

Gymnastics

A pair of Spokane athletes competed last week in the Trampoline and Tumbling Nationals in Fort Worth, Texas.

Reagan Gibbons placed 16th in tumbling in her age and level division, finishing with 52.5 points on two attempts. The winning total was 56.1.

Gibbons also competed in the double mini category, placing 22nd with a total of 56.3 on two attempts. The winning score was 58.0.

Sydny Pederson was 25th in the trampoline in her age and level division, scoring 23.5. The winning total was 27.8.

Baseball

Eight Spokane-area American Legion teams qualified for AAA, AA and A state tournaments over the weekend.

In AAA, the Spokane Bandits won a regional tournament it hosted, defeating the Kennewick Outlaws 6-5.

At a regional in Selah, the Spokane Northstars qualified by defeating North Thurston twice.

The AAA state tourney is in Bellingham, beginning Friday.

The Bandits team members are: Brock Bayley, Griffen Davis, Josh Foster, Dylan Steen, Cole Flett, Cole Beemer, Jermaine Ducham, Hunter Lieberg, David Mickey, Scott Morse, Tanner Parker, Jake Ochoa, Johnny Sage, Jordan Summers, Michael Thew and Dawson Pate.

The Northstars team members are: Brian O’Rourke, Riley Robinett, Kyle Szep, Daniel Munoz, Drew Clark, Evan Rice, Brayden Olson, Zach Day, Robby Dierks, Trystan Rosman, Evan Norden, Michael Walker, Cody Risinger and Jacob Slauter.

• In AA, the Mt. Spokane Wild and Gonzaga Prep qualified for state, which begins Friday in Lacey. Mt. Spokane defeated Gonzaga Prep 12-2 in the title game Sunday at A.K. Jackson Field.

• In A, five teams from the Spokane leagues qualified for state.

Coeur d’Alene and Sandpoint qualified automatically based on league play. CdA went undefeated.

At district, Lewis and Clark defeated Whitman County, also a qualifier, in the title game.

Mt. Spokane came back through the consolation bracket, defeating University to earn a fifth spot to state.

State will be held at Walla Walla.