West Valley’s season-opening win streak ended at seven games in a bizarre and controversial finish to the championship game at its own Holiday Classic.

The Eagles lost 63-60 Friday to Gonzaga Prep in the tournament title game.

WV had a one-point lead and the possession arrow in its favor when a jump ball was called with 28 seconds to go. Protests over posession of the ball erupted and WV was inexplicably hit with two technical fouls that gave Gonzaga the win. Two Eagle players and coach Joe Feist were ejected from the game.

WV has filed an appeal and a ruling is expected before this Friday’s game.

“The kids played hard and competed well,” said Feist, at a loss to explain the events. “I’m not concerned with winning or losing. I just want to make sure kids are treated fairly.”

West Valley opened the tournament Thursday with an 80-69 win over Lakeside. In the championship game against Gonzaga, the Eagles rallied from a 44-38 deficit after three quarters to take the lead in the waning seconds.

David Schillinger scored 49 points in two games. Feist also lauded the tournament play of Vinnie Pecht inside and Josh Sweet outside.

Frontier League competition is next for both WV and East Valley.

The Eagles travel to Riverside Friday to play the 6-2 Rams.

EV will test its scoring punch against two of the league’s favored teams.

The Knights, 2-4, got a combined 41 points from transfers James Spotted Horse and Brad Wilson in their most recent win, an 80-50 romp last week against Lakeland.

On Friday, EV hosts 5-2 Pullman and on Saturday travels to Cheney, which is 2-5 to date.

Busy time for CV basketball teams

Central Valley basketball teams are in the middle of a busy week.

The Bears play four games in seven days, including a makeup non-league game against visiting Kamiakin on Saturday.

CV’s boys were 4-3 overall and the girls 6-1 entering the holiday break. They returned to action following a two-week layoff on Wednesday, play Gonzaga Prep in the Arena on Friday and next Tuesday host Shadle Park.

U-Hi and coach Jay Humphrey beat Cheney and his dad, Denny, 61-40 in a non-league game that improved the Titan record to 4-3. Kelly Hineman and Erik Carlson each scored 14 and the Titans limited Cheney to 14 first-half points while doubling that for a comfortable lead by intermission.

In a makeup of a snowed-out game, the 3-3 Titan girls beat Pasco 55-42, with Syd Perno scoring 19 points and Adrienne Wilson 11.

The boys and girls play Lewis and Clark Friday in the Arena and are at North Central Tuesday in games important for both.

Tourney success for wrestlers

Catching up on two weeks worth of wrestling tournaments:

Valley resident Chris Montgomery, who wrestles for Gonzaga Prep, won the 103-pound championship of the Tri-State Tournament in Coeur d’Alene prior to Christmas, and two others, University’s Andy Roberts and Central Valley’s Bob Perkes made it to title matches before losing.

The Tri-State, although something of a misnomer pitting as it does wrestlers from Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Washington, has long been considered a benchmark for wrestling’s elite.

Sophomore Montgomery won his way into the finals with a pair of shutout decisions and won 9-2 over Cosman Bishop of Snohomish.

Roberts, a Washington state champ two years ago, wrestled three-time unbeaten Idaho champion Brett Lawrence of Sandpoint to a virtual standoff, losing the 125-pound title 4-2.

Perkes, who pinned his way to the 275-pound final, lost 7-3 to last year’s Washington state third-placer Mike Mondt of Auburn in their title match.

WV’s Quinn Sharpe was fourth at 112 pounds.

During the Island Championships at Vashon Island, Freeman picked off a championship and had several other placers.

Scotty Dan Ross, who came to Freeman from Monroe this year, won at 129 pounds. Second at 190 pounds was Greg Dahlstrom.

Jeff Comstock, just returned to action, finished third at 122 as did 215-pounder David Aman. Matt McCormick was sixth at 135.

Central Valley and University have two GSL matches this week. CV is home against Shadle Park and Ferris tonight and Friday.

The Titans are at Lewis and Clark tonight a night after hosting North Central. In addition, U-Hi hosts its Pacific Northwest Classic tournament on Saturday.

Frontier League competition begins Thursday when defending champion East Valley travels to expected title contender Clarkston.

, DataTimes