Trout Lake Goes Angling For Trouble

Trout Lake may be a fish out of water.

The District 5 eligibility committee ruled Tuesday that Trout Lake’s 6-foot-10 forward, Mark Gottschalk, is ineligible for the rest of the basketball season.

Gottschalk transferred to the Class B school this year from nearby White Salmon. He and his father lived in Trout Lake while the rest of the family remained behind, including a sister who plays basketball at White Salmon.

District 5 ruled that the school never cleared Gottschalk through an eligibility committee. The Gottschalks argued that the transfer was a hardship case, but the committee saw no evidence of that.

If the finding sticks, the third-ranked Mustangs would forfeit 17 wins and drop from 18-1 to 1-18. They wouldn’t qualify for the district tournament, which begins Tuesday.

The family and school plan to appeal directly to Washington Interscholastic Activities Association executive director Mike Colbrese.

Panorama girls tourney

NWC 49, Republic 43

Allyson Clouse and Sara Montague combined for 16 rebounds as the Crusaders (10-14) eliminated the Tigers (11-13) at Springdale.

Joleen Hover scored eight in the fourth quarter as Republic attempted a rally.

NWC plays Bi-County League No. 4 at 1 p.m. Saturday at Mt. Spokane High for a berth in the District 7-B tournament.

Sprague-Harrington (14-8) and Davenport (9-13) play tonight at Reardan to determine Bi-Co Nos. 3 and 4 to district. The loser will meet NWC.

NW Christian 13 2 17 17 - 49

Republic 6 8 6 23 - 43

NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN - Silver 11, Cofer 0, Moen 2, Pilling 0, Ogle 12, Montague 10, Casimir 5, Strandy 0, Clouse 9.

REPUBLIC - Campobasso 3, Hover 14, An.Merrit 0, C.Merrit 2, Am.Merrit 12, Sattler 0, Wilson 10, Young 2.

, DataTimes