Long Trip Pays Off For Bartlett
Shelly Bartlett’s trip to and from Spokane to be at Wednesday’s Sports Awards Luncheon and Banquet was a sleep-depriving experience. But the result made it all worthwhile.
Bartlett, a University High graduate and University of Nebraska gymnastics All-America, was named 1997 Sportwriters and Broadcasters Female Athlete of the Year.
The plane in which she was flying from Lincoln, Neb., had a gauge malfunction and passengers were forced to stay from midnight to 4 a.m. in Minneapolis. She arrived in Spokane at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday and had to be at the luncheon by 11.
Following the night banquet and late-night visit with her family, she left Spokane at 4 a.m. for the return to Lincoln.
The award was made with her parents, Bob and Nina, grandmother, Helen, and uncle, Bill, in attendance.
“She was tickled to death,” said Bob.
The last time Helen Bartlett, a retired Central Valley Spanish teacher, attended the Sports Awards Banquet was 40 years ago. Her late husband Bob and the Lewis and Clark football team he coached were finalists at the 1958 event.
Wednesday was a big day for CV as well.
The Bears football team was Junior Team of the Year, Tyree Clowe was Junior Male Athlete and Rick Giampietri was Junior Coach.
Giampietri and the football team were finalists at the night banquet as well.
The coach thanked his family and coaching staff and saluted the players who made it possible.
“Thanks,” he told the large contingent of football players present at the lunch, “for the memories.”
Another former Bear, 1967 graduate Ron Adams was also honored. He received a 25 Year Award for his contributions as a player, coach and founder of the Spokane Stars girls teams.
Adams averaged 21.6 points per game for the state third-placers and later helped coach a third-place state finishing CV girls team.
For 15 years the Stars have been a fixture at the national AAU tournament, finishing as high as third.
Young teams gird for playoffs
West Valley’s boys are not the only young Border League basketball team.
The Eagle girls are regularly playing three freshmen and two sophomores in their lineup. East Valley’s boys start two sophomores and two juniors. The Knight girls regularly play half a dozen juniors.
The Eagles, who completed their regular seasons on Friday, and Knights, who finish up in Clarkston tonight, will all be involved in the four-team District 7 tournament at Eastern Washington University next week.
Beginning Tuesday, the EV and WV girls play at 4:45 p.m. on Reese Court. Boys games are at 3 and 6:15 p.m. Depending upon this weekend’s outcome the Knight boys will play at 3 p.m. and the WV boys will likely play at 6:15, unless EV finishes ahead of Clarkston in final league standings.
Tournament continues Friday and Saturday with the top two finishers of each gender advancing to regional play at EWU the following week.
We are the champions
Tournament play is next for Northeast A League and Bi-County League champions Freeman and Valley Christian.
The Scotties 14-5 clinched the league title and top seed into next week’s district tournament which qualifies one team to state.
Valley Christian, 17-2, completed its finest season ever and clinched top seed into this week’s Bi-County tournament.
The Panthers play tonight in Reardan seeking a top four finish into District 7 play against Panorama League schools at Spokane Falls and Spokane Community Colleges.
NEA tournament begins next Friday at Mead. Freeman’s girls play at 3:30 p.m., the boys at 8:30.
After storming to a 20-5 lead, Freeman held on for a five-point victory at Kettle Falls. Ryan Snyder and D.J. Goldsmith accounted for 30 of the team’s 53 poionts.
Valley Christian remained in top form during an 86-34 rout of Liberty. Five players, led by Michael Spuler’s 23 were in double figures.
The Panthers play either Almira-Coulee/Hartline or Liberty, who played last night.
Masters of their own destiny
While Central Valley’s boys and girls teams chase Greater Spokane League basketball championships, University’s girls are battling for a top-six finish and district tournament berth.
In each case matters are in the teams’ hands.
If the Titans win their final three games they’ll reach the playoffs. Last night, when they hosted fifth place Shadle Park, was particularly important.
CV finishes up against Rogers and Shadle Park after last night’s games against Gonzaga Prep. Three wins and the girls are champions. Two wins and the boys can do no worse than a title tie.
, DataTimes