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Lakeside Plays It Tough In Preseason

By Chris Derrick chrisd@spokesman.com(509) 459-5515

Lakeside’s girls prepare to begin the meaty part of their schedule, the Great Northern League season.

In the Eagles’ case, the “meat” shouldn’t be as tough as the “bread,” the top and bottom of a schedule few 2A teams would tackle.

Lakeside opened last weekend with a win over 4A Mead, one of the Greater Spokane League’s favorites, and a one-point loss to Idaho A-1 top-ranked Lake City.

Except for a Dec. 30 game with 3A Cheney, a top team in the Border League, Lakeside’s schedule should smooth out until the state tournament.

The Eagles shot 25 percent from the floor during their slim loss to the Timberwolves, whom Lakeside defeated the last two years.

“This early in the season, the loss isn’t disastrous,” said Eagles coach Lisa Schultz. “It’s a good measuring stick.”

Lakeside opens league play Friday at Pullman. Schultz expects Riverside to join the Eagles as favorites for two of three state berths.

The boys race could be wild, with Medical Lake, Colville, Pullman, Chewelah and Lakeside all potentially strong.

Streak snapped

La Center, the two-time 1A state boys basketball champion, had its 45-game winning streak ended Friday night when Seattle Prep beat the Wildcats 68-62. Seattle Prep scored the first nine points of the fourth quarter to break a 47-47 tie.

Dustin Van Weerdhuizen, a 6-6 senior guard who has signed with Boise State, scored all 15 points for La Center in the first quarter and finished with 40.

Working her way back

High-scoring Selkirk post Molly Carlson has seen limited time in the early season because of a foot injury. Carlson is expected to need another week of healing time.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: League openers The opening of the first Great Northern League basketball season coincides with Bi-County and Panorama league season openers. Defending State B champs come out of those leagues; Ritzville’s girls from the Bi-County and Republic’s boys from the Panorama. Ritzville returns four starters from its championship team, but Republic used a senior-dominant team to win its title. St. George’s and Northwest Christian from the Panorama, and Wilbur-Creston from the Bi-County are preseason choices to give the best chase to Ritzville’s girls. Valley Christian of the Bi-County and Curlew of the Panorama appear to be the District 7 boys powers. The Panorama may have more overall strength, with Selkirk, St. George’s and Republic expected to challenge the Bi-County’s Almira/Coulee-Hartline and Wilbur-Creston for state berths.

This sidebar appeared with the story: League openers The opening of the first Great Northern League basketball season coincides with Bi-County and Panorama league season openers. Defending State B champs come out of those leagues; Ritzville’s girls from the Bi-County and Republic’s boys from the Panorama. Ritzville returns four starters from its championship team, but Republic used a senior-dominant team to win its title. St. George’s and Northwest Christian from the Panorama, and Wilbur-Creston from the Bi-County are preseason choices to give the best chase to Ritzville’s girls. Valley Christian of the Bi-County and Curlew of the Panorama appear to be the District 7 boys powers. The Panorama may have more overall strength, with Selkirk, St. George’s and Republic expected to challenge the Bi-County’s Almira/Coulee-Hartline and Wilbur-Creston for state berths.