Wv And EV Gunning For Two Frontier Berths
Boys basketball
The Frontier League this year has two state basketball berths available.
Good thing, too. The league in its present incarnation will be no more next year.
When three teams leave, West Valley, East Valley, Cheney and Clarkston will be the remaining members. The Frontier’s post-season status will be left up in the air.
This year offers teams a last double chance to visit Tacoma.
The league’s seven teams this year are tall and experienced, which makes the task difficult.
“I think the league will be tougher this year for us than last year,” said Knight coach Richard King.
West Valley, however, is defending its sixth successive league title and eighth in nine years.
East Valley is hoping for continued improvement after a six-win season.
Enviable WV record thing to uphold
West Valley’s record of success is a wonder to behold and something for present players to uphold.
In Coach Joe Feist’s decade at the helm, the team has gone 184-71 and dominated the Frontier since 1988.
This year’s Eagles, however, have questions to be answered.
The roster is evenly divided between seniors and sophomores. The team is untested at point guard. At issue is how ready mentally the new players are to compete.
“We’re not as quick and not as athletically talented,” said Feist. “We’re probably a little (physically) stronger.”
One important ingredient, Ty Gregorak, will miss three non-league games because of football recruiting visits.
“I’m anxious to get him back because he’s a big part of the team,” said Feist. “He’s been playing very well right now.”
Two third-year players, the 6-foot-3, 250-pound Gregorak and 6-6, 235-pound Vinnie Pecht, are an imposing defensive tandem.
Gregorak at the high post will open up Pecht’s inside game on offense.
Starters Josh Sweet and Austin Gerrells, a 6-3, 205-pounder, return, as do letter winners Aaron Mortensen, Ryan Stockton and Jade Cardwell. Cardwell gets his turn at point guard this year.
The sophomores are Eric Deno, Brad Groh, Ryan Spivey, Sean McLachlan, Chris Hilsabeck and Chris Sorensen.
“It’s really open for playing time,” said Feist. “One positive of Ty missing is that I get to look at the younger kids, and maybe some will set themselves apart.”
Smallish EV will keep pressure on
When King took the Knight basketball job, his intention was to play an entertaining up-tempo game.
This year’s team gets its chance.
“We have no height, but we’re quick,” said King. “We’ll pick up the tempo. I love playing that way, and the kids do, too.”
Most of last year’s team is back, includingJames Spotted Horse, who scored 60 points in the last game of the season.
“I hope people don’t expect that again,” King said. “He was not just in a zone, he was in a universe that night.”
EV’s other leading scorer, Brad Wilson, has improved his level of play.
Joining them are junior point guard Mitch Johnson, junior center John Unser, and seniors Troy Hansen, Jon Anderson and Barry Sams.
Up from junior varsity are senior Aaron Harris and juniors Bryan McCarty, Jim Rigg, John Shogren, Brandon Blize and Garrett Smith.
“We have two goals,” said King. “One, we want to win more than six games. Two, we want to make the playoffs. Hopefully we’re quick enough to make a difference.”
, DataTimes