Mike Vlahovich

The Level 9 girls team from Spokane Elite Gymnastics in the Valley will compete in the state meet in Tacoma April 7-9. Members of the team are Lindsay Brandle, Tara Hulbert, Jaime Brunner, Gail Larsen and Brooke Bishop.

Central Valley sprinters seem to race their shadows down the track during a late-afternoon practice. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Winning 9 of 10 games last year, West Valley pitcher Darcy Sohns is key to the Eagles prospects. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

There are two kinds of high school tennis programs, says North Central girls coach Jack Shagool: those with club players and those without. "We're one of the teams without," he said. Shagool's plight exemplifies the Greater Spokane League, which is divided by the haves and have-nots.

Shadle Park tennis coach John Gant works with this team during a preseason practice last week. Photo by Shawn Jacobson/The Spokesman-Review

An abnormally wet March rained on area tennis players, and Valley Greater Spokane League teams were no exception. The record-setting moisture has hampered practice planning by coaches, as well as determining lineups. "We haven't had a chance to get outside," said CV girls coach Stan Chalich. "I thought we would get rained out (of a match) the other day and had (practice) in the gym at 5:30 a.m. Sure enough we played, so it was a long, long day for them."

Catcher Scott Asan has home plate covered for University High. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Mead's Ray Hattenburg gets a glove on the ball during a pepper drill during a recent practice. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review

Kristen Conklin of the University High School softball ream makes the play on a ground ball. The senior second-baseman will be one of the best in the league, according to coach Ken Van Sickle. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Washington Redskins quarterback John Friesz and former Seattle Seahawks receiver Paul Skansi will sign free autographs at the University City mall on next Saturday. The current and former professional football players will be part of the Home Plate Productions sports card and memorabilia show at U-City. The show runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. next Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 12.

The Grizzlies of Evergreen Junior High practice before a game. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Angella Bieber has her eye on a rebound for the University High team last year. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review

Considering the dismal game Brian Lindley had in West Valley's district basketball loss the previous night, it was inevitable that he would be spectacular in the Eagles' victory Saturday afternoon. He was limited to 3 of 13 shooting and seven points during the tournament-opening 73-65 loss to Cheney on Friday. In the loser-out contest Saturday he lit up Pullman for 31. That is how it is for the scrappy Eagles, who played again last night for the right to continue on in the tournament.

Northeast A League girls basketball teams Lakeside and Riverside are in Tacoma this week for the State A tournament. Four other North Side schools are attempting to qualify for the State AAA events the following week. During last weekend's completion of the league playoffs, Lakeside's 20-3 girls ran their winning streak to 14 straight games in winning the school's first district title. Included were 15 victories in a row over Northeast A opponents. Their last league loss came Dec. 13 against Riverside, which claimed the league's second state berth on Saturday. Lakeside beat Riverside 41-33 in a taut district final led by sisters Lora and Brianne Jolley. The Rams (19-5) beat Colfax 51-41 the next night for the second berth to state. Alana Carlander had 32 points combined in the two games. The 16-team State A tournament began Wednesday and continues through Saturday. The four North Side AAA teams district champion Mead and Rogers on the boys side, and district champion Shadle Park and Mead on the girls side - continue their state quest in the Tri Cities Friday and Saturday. Rick Mergenthaler liked the matchup with Big Nine regular season champion Richland and he was right as Rogers shocked the Bombers Tuesday night 56-53, the only GSL boys victory. Mead's last-second loss to Eisenhower 69-67 prevented a guaranteed North Side state participant. Shadle and Mead's girls do play each other in the semifinals, and one is assured a state trip. The Highlanders routed Walla Walla 70-31, while the Panthers beat Wenatchee 47-31.

Former Rogers basketball coach Dick Kinzer cheers on the Pirates during their win over Ferris. Photo by Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman-Review

This year's Rogers High School boys basketball team is a jigsaw puzzle made up of pieces from various places. Six players have shared starting assignments this year. Two are third-year starters.

Deer Park's Alex Schulz, left, battles Ridgefield's Ryan Chard during semifinal action Saturday in Tacoma on the way to his second straight state championship. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

Lakeside's Carrie Waddell, left, will be following in the steps of teammate Stephanie Guenther. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review

Dusty Roberts, left, squares off against Central Valley's Shane Yackel last month. Yackel was one of Roberts' 33 victims this season.

It was all a matter of interpretation. But it was the difference between West Valley's Quinn Sharpe perhaps winning a state championship and finishing third at the State AA wrestling tournament. Sharpe was leading White River's eventual champion Scott Tugby 5-2 on a near-fall move that came close to, if not being, a pin.

Deer Park's Clint Umbach got off the mat to defeat Nathan Cornish of Forks. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

Troy Campbell conditions himself by running through the halls of East Valley High School before practice begins. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

AA wrestling West Valley 135-pounder Jeremy Thornton has been told he wrestles like the NBA Cleveland Cavaliers play basketball. "It's ugly, but effective," the Eagles senior said.

Geoff Courchaine goes over North Central player in a game earlier this season. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review