Greg Lee

Nothing demonstrates how selfless Mead basketball standout Sue Winger is than Senior Night. Winger, who had started every game since the second one her freshman year, knew Panthers coach Quantae Anderson would be in a pickle with six seniors. Traditionally, coaches try to start their seniors on Senior Night, but only five can start.

It’s seemingly unhealthy to be in sole possession of first place in Greater Spokane League boys basketball. Just ask Central Valley.

"I’m a true newspaper guy. That’s my extent of social media. When I travel I buy every newspaper at airports. I have no use for social media."

Call him a late bloomer. Say he's making up for lost time. More than anything, though, Central Valley basketball player Michael Hannan is making the most of his opportunity – and then some.

Melik Hampton didn’t know it was coming, but it didn’t surprise him either. His Rogers basketball team had the ball coming out of a Central Valley timeout with the score knotted 58-58 with 19.5 seconds to go in overtime Tuesday. The Bears let almost seven seconds elapse before Max Sykes purposely fouled Hampton, who entered the game shooting 51 percent from the free-throw line.

It’s the type of game the No. 1-ranked Gonzaga Prep girls basketball team needed. Central Valley also needed it Thursday.

You could hear it in Kelly Graves’ voice. The former Gonzaga women’s basketball coach, in his first year in a major rebuilding project at Oregon, can’t wait for the arrival of Gonzaga Prep standout Otiona Gildon next year.

Sometimes the youngest in a herd of sizeable siblings turns out to be the best athlete. University senior Tate Orndorff has the big-bone build of his father, Dave, who was a two-sport standout in football and wrestling like his son. After two years at a junior college and a two-year mission with the LDS church, dad went on to be an All-American in wrestling, placing second in the NCAA tournament at heavyweight his senior year at Oregon State University.

Of the Rogers boys basketball team’s seven Greater Spokane League-leading victories, five have involved games that weren’t decided until the final minute. Form held Tuesday. But the Pirates had to find a different way to pull out a 71-67 double-overtime win over the visiting Ferris Saxons.

Ask Rogers boys basketball coach Joel Soter if he expected his team to be atop the Greater Spokane League early in 2015 and he gives the quick answer. It’s a two-letter word.

Remember this name – Spencer Matt. And remember his basketball team – University.

Madison Hovren is a self-admitted perfectionist. So if you see the Central Valley senior drop her head in disgust on the basketball floor, there’s a good reason why.