Bad Weather Doesn’t Get In Eagles’ Way

Thu., Jan. 25, 1996

Mike Vlahovich Staff Writer

Unlike others in the Frontier League, West Valley’s boys and girls basketball teams have not had a game postponed by this year’s infrequent but untimely snowstorms.

Barring a game-stopping storm in Millwood on Friday, the two schools will be first to reach the mid-point of the league season.

Four games have been postponed to date because of bad weather.

On Friday the Eagle teams are scheduled to host Clarkston, with the boys hoping to reach the turn unbeaten and the girls seeking a break-even record.

Despite their current 2-3 record, the WV girls showed last weekend that come the four-team league playoffs, the district title is probably up for grabs.

After winning in Colville, they lost to league unbeaten Cheney 50-48.

“We felt we pretty much controlled the entire game,” said coach Mark Kuipers of the narrow loss. “We only had one point in the third quarter, but had plenty of shots we didn’t knock down. That was the big difference.”

Keisha Sowers was a prime mover last weekend for WV, scoring 40 points in the two games. She had 26 at Colville, WV rallying in the fourth quarter after blowing a seven-point halftime lead.

“The Colville win was much bigger, they raise their level up there,” said Kuipers. “It was a great win.”

All five WV league decisions have been by six or fewer points against teams with good records and bad. Kuipers was at a loss to explain why.

“The girls believe they can win,” he said. “I’m not too sure we’re not one of those teams that plays to the competition’s level. Which is fine, except it’s bad for my heart.”

WV’s boys, too, were involved in a heart stopper. They improved to 12-1 overall with a 71-69 overtime win over Cheney which had a game-tying shot waved off as time ran out.

WV made 24 of 38 free throw attempts, while the Blackhawks made only 3 of 9 and had three players foul out.

Post players Joe Bonner and Vinnie Pecht combined for 37 points, beating Cheney inside, the night after they riddled Colville 77-58 from without. Guards David Schillinger and Josh Sweet combined for 40 points.

Week of resolution in GSL

Still haven’t figured out things in Greater Spokane League basketball?

Tuesday night didn’t help matters When Central Valley (5-5) lost to Lewis and Clark (6-4) in the fourth overtime game between the two over the last two seasons.

Enigmatic University (4-6) beat third-place Gonzaga Prep (6-4).

Tuesday night’s quintuple header in the Arena was the second two-court night with 16 teams playing each other. There were three pivotal boys and two important girls games.

Ferris broke a first-place tie with Mead. Jockeying for position behind them, LC needed two overtimes to beat CV 55-50.

University stemmed a four-game slump with its 58-49 win over Gonzaga Prep 58-49. The Titans are tied with Shadle Park for sixth.

In girls games, Ferris tied Mead for first by beating the Panthers, but U-Hi’s girls were unable to take fifth place away from Gonzaga Prep, losing 48-42.

The Titan girls had upset Shadle Park 52-50 last Friday and moved to within a game of the fourth-place Highlanders. Adrienne Wilson capped a 17-point, 12-rebound night by scoring with five seconds left for the win.

Friday night, the CV boys and girls twin bill host Ferris in the most recent feature. With a win, CV’s girls would create a tie for second place in league.

Next Tuesday, University hosts the first-place Saxons, a team they beat earlier.

Good week for CV wrestler

Central Valley wrestler Shane Cunanan was up to last week’s challenge against a pair of state veteran wrestlers.

The CV sophomore 115 pounder’s earlier one-point GSL victory over University state vet Jared Osborn assured him No. 1 seeding into next weekend’s district meet.

On Saturday he defeated last year’s AAA 101-pound state fourth-placer Scott Jones of Davis High, Yakima 4-2 during Central Valley’s Quad Dual meet.

Cunanan finished third in state at 108 pounds last year.

SEG to host meet

Spokane Elite Gymnastics will host 180 athletes from throughout the Northwest Saturday in a meet at Lewis and Clark High School, 521 W. Fourth.

Competition begins at 10 a.m. with Level 6 Intermediate girls. Levels 8-10 advanced optional girls will compete at 2:30 p.m. and Level 5 beginning girls at 7 p.m.

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