The senior trio of Angela Overdorff, Farrah Parsley and Anji Blindauer, helped EV get to state, where the team narrowly missed reached the round of eight. Overdorff played with a broken elbow and Parsley with an injured knee. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review
When Central Valley's playoff game with Kamiakin turned into an offensive shootout, the defense was forced into a guessing game.
Too often, said Coach Rick Giampietri, the guesses were wrong.
"We got into a situation where we were going to double cover their receivers," said Giampietri of CV's season-ending 42-28 loss to the visiting Braves. "Then their running game became very effective in the second half."
The weather outside was frightful, and the results weren't so delightful.
But Mead's football team, a 6-3 loser to Big Nine champion Walla Walla in the State AAA football playoffs, can't be overly upset.
"I'm proud of their effort," said Panther coach Mike McLaughlin. "Both teams played well enough to win."
North Central's Tamara Van Engelen makes a save during the state championship match against Lewis and Clark. Photo by Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman-Review
The task before Central Valley's football team today is to neutralize Kamiakin's quickness.
Kamiakin quarterback Scott Mitchell, a 6-foot-4 junior, and running back Nick Freese have combined for 2,300 yards of offense and 28 touchdowns. Receiver Jay Robinson caught 41 passes for 612 yards and five TDs.
Valley football players turned in their share of sparkling statistics during the season.
In addition to Central Valley running back Giorgio Usai's Greater Spokane League leading 1,388 yards rushing and 7.2 yards per carry average (including last week's win over East Valley he had 1,571 yards for the year), University's Tim Buchanan finished fifth in rushing with 606 yards in league (and 760 overall).
A year ago Cheney needed optimum conditions to achieve desired results in the State AA football playoffs.
This year, said coach Tom Oswald, the worse the weather the better.
The Blackhawks host Prosser at 7:30 Friday night at Eastern Washington University.
A week that had ominous beginnings ended with spectacular results.
Injuries to a pair of East Valley volleyball team members that threatened the players' ability to participate in the district tournament, gave way to a shocking state qualification effort by the team in Clarkston.
Runnersup in the regular season, EV swept three straight matches, including two over Frontier League champion Clarkston on the Bantams' home court.
The extension of the regional tournament concept to volleyball and cross country this year was enthusiastically welcomed by Greater Spokane League schools.
The result was that North Central's volleyball team, which shrugged off a 1-3 GSL start to finish fourth in league, is one of three GSL schools playing Friday in the State AAA tournament.
The state champion East Valley girls cross country team. Backed by coach Nick Lazanis are, from left: Cara Smith, Ann Marie Adams, Korinda Godwin, Sally Wulf,Carmen Cook, Holly Weiler, Jen Mills, Angie Simmers and Crystal Cook. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review
North Central's John Caballero, left, and Justin Hill, right, talk with their coach, Jon Knight, before the start of the boys AAA cross country race in Pasco on Saturday. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review
University High's volleyball and soccer seasons came to an end Thursday with playoff losses.
The fifth-place Titan volleyball team had a stronger season than expected in reaching the tournament, but were overpowered in three games by North Central in a loser-out contest.
An age-old problem will go unresolved when distance runners converge today at Hangman Valley Golf Course to qualify for state cross country meets.
Even with an improved regional race for AAA schools, it is difficult to justify sending teams and individuals from other districts to state, who are content to run at the back of a race at the expense of more worthy athletes.
Spokane has such a wealth of team and individual talent that this area is left wanting because enrollment dictates how many runners each district earns.
Central Valley's second Greater Spokane League championship was business as usual for the Butner family.
Mark Butner, a CV assistant coach, was a guard on the 1983 Bear team that was the last until this year to win the title. Little brother Ryan Butner is a defensive back and backup running back on the current champs.
So when members of the first champions rubbed elbows with this year's team Wednesday night at a spaghetti dinner, gathering around the table was nothing new for the brothers.
Post-season athletic competition and Mead High School are synonymous.
This year the Panthers have qualified for district or state competition in all five fall Greater Spokane League sports.
If University High runner Lindsay Daehlin can overcome asthma, the Titans have an excellent opportunity to qualify for state.
Even if she isn't totally healthy, after Wednesday's effort U-Hi's chances aren't bad.
Daehlin, the Titan No. 1 runner for the past two years until afflicted a month ago, finished fifth overall in the season dual finale with only nine seconds separating U-Hi's five scorers.
West Valley and Cheney moved one step closer to an end-of-season Frontier League championship game with easy victories Friday night.
The pair were expected to play for the title in their season finale and after Friday night the prediction was looking good.
Cheney defeated Riverside 22-6 to run its record to 5-0 in league and 7-0 overall. WV dominated Clarkston during a 38-18 triumph for a 3-0-1 Frontier mark.
If nothing else, Mead's football team is made up of survivors.
And if they survive tonight's 7:30 game against Gonzaga Prep at Albi Stadium, the Panthers will make a seventh straight trip to the state playoffs, probably in Walla Walla.
Cameron Hatch, in dark sweatshirt, works out with other members of the Rogers High School cross country team. Photo by Shawn Jacobson/The Spokesman-Review
