Back-To-Back Games Await Lakeside Girls

It’s high noon for Lakeside’s 8-1 girls basketball team.

In a series featuring Northeast A League unbeatens, the Eagles play Newport and Colfax back-to-back.

Lakeside hosts Newport on Friday and is at Colfax on Saturday.

Between them, the three teams have won 23 of 24 basketball games. Each is 3-0 in league.

What makes this weekend significant is that it is the only time that back-to-back games among contenders are scheduled, even though they play each other twice each in league.

Lakeside’s advantage is that the players are used to the pressure, having placed the last two years at state.

“I think our kids are used to winning and having success, but we lost more players than the others,” Lakeside coach Lisa Schultz said earlier this year.

A loss or two right now wouldn’t be critical. It’s how teams are playing at the end of the year that is important.

By a strange quirk, while the boys league still gets two teams to state, the girls get only one berth.

“We may beat up on each other,” said Schultz. “I can’t see anyone coming through unscathed.”

Pivotal games for Highlanders

Shadle Park’s boys basketball team faces two pivotal Greater Spokane League games Friday and Tuesday, when the Highlanders host Central Valley and then travel to University.

Last year the Highlanders had a most difficult time with the Bears. In their first game they trailed by 21 points after a quarter, losing on the road by 30.

Next time, the Bears won by 17 at Shadle, outscoring the Highlanders 36-15 in the second half.

By contrast, the team defeated U-Hi three times, including in a thriller that determined the sixth district playoff qualifier.

U-Hi (3-1) virtually shares second place with the Highlanders.

Currently 4-1 in league, Shadle can put some distance over the rest of the field with victories.

The team returned from the holiday break with a 53-41 victory over Gonzaga Prep and beat Lewis and Clark on Tuesday.

Next Tuesday also brings an important league game for the Rogers girls, who have won three times since losing their GSL opener.

The Pirates host Ferris in a game that will determine how serious is their playoff challenge. It is also prelude to a home game Jan. 17 with unbeaten Mead.

Mead’s girls won their game between league unbeatens with a 61-50 decision over Central Valley.

Going into the week four teams, including the Pirates and Gonzaga Prep, had one league loss.

The Bullpups lost by one point Tuesday to 4-1 CV.

Wrestlers place

During a pair of local wrestling tournaments, numerous North Side athletes took home top four places.

At the Rogers High M2 Mallet Invitational, the host Pirates finished second with Daryl Groom winning at 122 pounds over teammate Anthony Kelp, Nick Fuller winning at 135, Daryn Steeneck at 141 and Kris Clarke at 148.

North Central’s Nick Stewart won at 115 and Shadle Park’s Kevin Eng at 129.

Finishing second were Pirates Brandon Lang at 168 and Marshall Sims at 275. Shadle’s Casey Laughary at 148, NC’s Brian Thatcher at 158 and Brian Burrows at 215 also made the finals.

During the Pacific Northwest Classic at University High, Mead’s Lyle Beerbohm won the 141-pound title. Teammates Jon Rugan at 115 and Joe Collier at 275 finished second.

Also at that tournament Lakeside wrestler Sean Wheeler was second at 158 pounds. The Eagles had one third place and five fourth placers as well.

, DataTimes