Mike Vlahovich

Mead's Terry Donovan moves against Rogers in a game a year ago. File/The Spokesman-Review

The boys basketball teams from West Valley and East Valley have considerably different goals when the regular season comes to an end with Friday night's Golden Throne spirit game. The Eagles, winners of five straight Frontier League titles and seven in the last eight years, can win a fourth undisputed crown.

From left, Beau Bradley, Mike Amend and Dustin Reed give Freeman High its largest regional contingent ever. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Playoff-bound Freeman's bid for a sweep of Northeast A League champion Riverside was derailed at the buzzer Tuesday. But Scotties coach John Nelson said the outcome was determined, 20 seconds earlier. It was then, he said, that his team failed to block out on a rebound, allowing the visiting Rams three shots for the tying basket.

Pre-season predictions of league standings make great conversation and are often uncannily correct. But coaches are fond of saying that results come on the playing field, not on paper.

Preseason predictions of league standings make great conversation and are often uncannily correct. But coaches are fond of saying that results are produced on the playing field, not on paper.

1. Jim Mace, who injured himself in a climbing accident last September, is greeted by friends on his first day back at University High. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review 2. Mace and some friends gather in his Pacific Rim economics class. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review 3. Mace shares his ready smile with his friends on his first day back at school. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review 4. Mace's education assistant, Tyrone Walser helps with his assignments and daily chores and activities. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review 5. Tyrone Walser, Mace's father Ed and friend Dale Bouge tinker with Mace's chair in the school parking lot. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

The close-loss affliction that has visited Central Valley's girls basketball team has rubbed off on the CV boys.

New Inland Northwest Sportswriters and Broadcasters 25-Year Award winners George Chalich and Jack Spring have something in common. Both have been finalists for Athlete of the Year at Spokane's annual Sports Awards Banquet that has been in existence for 47 years.

Central Valley girls basketball coach Dale Poffenroth leads a very young team. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Rich King (before his new beard) watches his East Valley basketball team work out. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Mead and Rogers are expected to advance several wrestlers from this weekend's district tournament into the Region IV state qualifier. The Panthers host the two-day district event, which begins Friday. After edging Rogers by two points to finish second in the Greater Spokane League, Mead is now in position to advance a dozen or more athletes from district into the regional at Central Valley in another week.

Rachelle Quinn, Amie Tonani and Amber Hulbert could become University High's first four-year state meet participants. It would take a top-four team finish at Friday night's Greater Spokane League district meet at North Central, and a top-two team finish at regionals to do that.

Greater Spokane League wrestling champion University High School will be among the teams expected to advance a large number of competitors from this weekend's district tournament. The Titans, like Mead and Rogers, could advance as many as a dozen athletes from district to the Region IV tournament, which is hosted Feb. 10 and 11 by Central Valley High School. District competition begins Friday night and continues through Saturday at Mead High School. The top four finishers in each of 13 weight classes advance to the state qualifying regional event.

Forgoing an appeal hearing, fired Greenacres Junior High teacher Tony Benson and the Central Valley School District have reached a termination settlement. Benson was fired last July. He was accused of "using extremely poor judgment" in his comments to and actions with students, and of insubordination. CV attorney Paul Clay said the school district will pay Benson $30,000. He cannot apply for reinstatement and has agreed to stay off school grounds during class hours.

Kit Moffitt, a 178-pound senior, made a dramatic turnaround in his high school wrestling career. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

A pair of University High School athletic teams Thursday night completed unbeaten Greater Spokane League seasons. The Titan wrestlers, who defeated rival Central Valley 34-21 for an 8-0 season, won their first GSL title.

The domination by both the Central Valley and West Valley boys basketball teams continued in games last week against area rivals. In a pair of thrillers, however, girls victors won by upset.

The Central Valley Bears are all that stand in the way of a perfect Greater Spokane League wrestling season for the University Titans. And CV officials are inviting all area alumni of the two programs to be in attendance when the Bears host the Titans next Thursday. "We want to honor the alumni," said CV activities coordinator Jay Rydell. "When they arrive they will check in and put information on a card, get a name tag, and we will introduce them during the match."

Whenever they were needed, Central Valley got contributions from different sources during a 59-40 boys basketball win over University. The win and Stinky Sneaker spirit award gave the Bears a sweep of the night's competition. In the opener, Central Valley's girls gained a split of their season series by handing the Titans their fourth straight loss, 44-43.

The appeal hearing for fired Greenacres Junior High School teacher and coach Tony Benson is scheduled to begin Monday. The closed hearing at a neutral site was requested by Benson who was dismissed for alleged improprieties. "Depending upon the case, the hearing usually goes on for a matter of several days," said Central Valley School District personnel director Wally Stanley.

Misty Stark practices her shot on the shooting machine in Freeeman High's gym. The drills help her hit double figures nearly every game. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

David Schillinger, right, led the West Valley Eagles to victories over Colville and Cheney last weekend. Schillinger contributed 23 points in each game. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Randy Cornwell has changed little in appearance from when he quarterbacked Central Valley's unbeaten football team and was a guard on the state's fifth-best basketball team. And 21 years later, the son of Becker Buick vice president Dale and Georgia Cornwell still is involved in sports. Cornwell was on the bench at West Valley Friday evening, coaching Colville's girls to a 60-57 victory.