CV Girls Hurl Lots Of 3-Pointers

Central Valley won the Stinky Sneaker by three points over University, which was apropos.

A barrage of three-point scoring by the CV girls basketball team took some of the spirit out of the Titan crowd.

The Bears stormed to a 49-12 halftime lead in a game that figured to be much closer, 33 of the points coming on 11 baskets.

“People expected a close game and should have,” said coach Dale Poffenroth. “They had lost to Ferris by one point and Mead by three.”

However, during the stunning 86-46 romp, CV players made a dozen 3-point baskets, six by Rikki Jackson and three by Jenny Coyle, and two 3-point plays.

“The kids can shoot, that’s not a surprise,” said Poffenroth, “maybe better sometimes than others.”

Poffenroth had another explanation for the amazing display by quoting CV teacher Ernie Tate.

He told Poffenroth, “I think it was because of their hair-do’s. It stretched their scalps so much it readjusted their brains.”

Many on the team, including Jackson and Coyle, got into the spirit of the Sneaker by banding their hair into numerous tiny tufts.

The apparant result was that the noisy audience nearing 2,500 didn’t effect their performance as much as it did the Titans.

The Bears appear set on defending their Greater Spokane League girls championship.

“That was our goal and has been for every year but one,” said Poffenroth, “We want to be league champs and get to state.”

The 12-2 Bears are part of a three-way tie for the lead with four games remaining. They must still play winless Mt. Spokane, Gonzaga Prep and Rogers, both 6-8 in league, and fourth-place Shadle Park, which is 7-7.

Like the girls, Central Valley’s boys team is at the top of the league after successfully negotiating an emotional week.

On Tuesday they broke a first-place tie with their 70-52 win over Lewis and Clark, and stayed alone atop the league at 12-2 with Thursday’s 67-42 win over the Titans in the Stinky Sneaker nightcap.

“It puts us in a pretty good position if we take care of our own laundry,” said coach Rick Sloan.

But he added a precautionary note.

“Three games actually scare me,” he said. “Gonzaga Prep has won five in a row. Rogers at their place is always tough. Shadle can shoot and is a scrappy bunch.”

All-in-all, though. he was pleased with the week.

“A lot of times when you win a big game for first place it’s typical to have a letdown,” said Sloan. “there was a lot of emotion what with a big game against LC and spirit week. Overall I think we did a good job of maintaining focus.”

The Bears jumped on the uptempo Tigers early, weathered a comeback and pulled away.

Back-to-back 3-point baskets by Jake Hebden at the end of the third quarter and start of the fourth put the team ahead by 18 points.

He hit another after LC got back to within eight late in the game and finished with 15 points.

In the Stinky Sneaker, the pace was more deliberate and the Titans led late in the first quarter.

But they went cold scoring just four points over the next 13 minutes and trailed 41-17 midway through the third quarter.

Inside players Tom Perkes, Marc Hinckley and guard Ryan Smith did most of the offensive damage, offsetting the work of Titan Brad VanDyne.

U-Hi ran off 11 straight points and trailed 49-38 early in the fourth quarter, but the Bears ultimately pulled away to win the game.

And the Stinky Sneaker.

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