Mike Vlahovich

Despite their glossy records – a combined 47-3 mark with all losses coming against each other – nobody said it would be easy for the University and Lewis and Clark girls at this week's State 4A basketball tournament. A look at the draw for the tournament, which begins Wednesday in the Tacoma Dome, offers evidence why. The two Greater Spokane League schools, ranked among the state's top three all season long, have no gimmies on either side of the bracket.

A pair of Great Northern League teams drew "Egg McMuffin" State 2A basketball tournament morning openers and another, the "David Letterman" nightcap, unenviable for two reasons. The tournament begins Wednesday in the Yakima SunDome.

The stage is set today for round three between Greater Spokane League girls basketball heavyweights Lewis and Clark and University. The Tigers were 61-46 winners over Richland on Friday night. The Titans defeated Eisenhower 69-52. The victories qualified both for state, LC for the third straight year and U-Hi for the second.

It took more than two decades and a couple of head coaching positions in two other sports for Central Valley's Barry Poffenroth to, at last, get his own baseball program. Poffenroth, for 25 years a teacher and coach at CV, was selected to replace Steve Rasmussen, who left the school last fall with personal concerns.

The West Valley basketball community, said boys coach Jamie Nilles, travels well. That makes the fact the Eagles are playing in their fourth State 3A tournament in seven years doubly satisfying. "It's great for the community," he said. "We do such a great job of traveling and getting support from the community, it's a good time for everybody."

Lewis and Clark and University opened the 4A regional girls basketball tournament Tuesday with easy wins against overmatched foes on a true-to-form first night of the state-qualifying tournament. The top two teams each from the Greater Spokane League and Big Nine Conference advanced with wins.

Throughout the season, girls coaches mentioned that basketball competition couldn't get any tougher than it is within the Greater Spokane League. They'll find out how right they are tonight with the start of the ConAgra Foods/Lamb Weston 4A Regional Championships.

One game took three overtimes and the other was a blowout, but the end result was the same for Ferris and Gonzaga Prep. The pair will meet in tonight's District 8 4A basketball finals at 7:45 at Central Valley. Both get to stay in Spokane throughout next week's regional tournament, while University and Shadle Park must open on the road Tuesday.

A first- or second-place finish last weekend in district basketball playoffs was a big advantage for Greater Spokane and Mid-Valley league teams, who were assured of playing at home in the double-elimination portion of this week's 3A regional tournament. An even bigger advantage for them would be a victory tonight when the tournament begins.

TACOMA – A year ago, East Valley's Matt Hanson dreamed of reaching the state finals after having gone 0-2 in his first state appearance as a sophomore. Then he got hurt, breaking a hand in the postseason. His season ended, Hanson was forced to watch the state meet from the stands.

TACOMA – One day into Mat Classic XVII in the Tacoma Dome, University's 10-wrestler contingent is on track for its date with destiny. Nine of the 10 are wrestling today, placers assured to stand atop the awards podium. All 10 scored to give the Titans (66 1/2 points) an 18 1/2 -point lead over Auburn, with Lake Stevens a shade back at 46 points.

The preparation is finished and 120 area wrestlers are on the mat this morning in the Tacoma Dome in pursuit of their dreams. Mat Classic XVII, the four-classification, 24-mat state tournament extravaganza, opens its first round beginning at 10 a.m.

It has been written that it takes a village to raise a child. In the development of University stars Jami and Angie Bjorklund as Division I basketball talent, it has been all of that and more. Not the least of it having good genes.

Tonight is the night anyone following Greater Spokane League high school basketball has been waiting for: the Lewis and Clark at University girls game featuring unbeaten teams. But in many ways, to Titan coach Mark Stinson, it's just another game.