Ev, Wv Give Crowd Thrill With Close Game

Last Friday’s boys basketball thriller between East Valley and West Valley was a harbinger of future promise.

This week, however, both must face current reality.

On Friday and Saturday the two schools play back-to-back against Border League unbeaten Cheney, last year’s State AA finalist.

The Eagles travel to Cheney on Friday and the Knights host the Blackhawks on Saturday. Both games are at 6 p.m.

Knowledge that the young teams could be in for some long evenings can’t detract from the hint of things to come generated by the excitement of last Friday’s 65-64 WV victory in its game between cross-Valley rival EV.

Juniors Brad Groh and Ryan Spivey lifted WV to a 19-5 lead. Juniors Adam Sitton and Jesse Quirk had reduced the deficit to two points by late in the second quarter.

When EV went on a 22-2 run to take a 51-36 lead, Knight coach Rich King was quick to point out, “nary a senior was involved.”

Sophomores Andrew Burgess and Blake Horgan combined to score 15 of the points. They finished with 20 and 16, respectively, and 21 of EV’s 31 rebounds.

In the end, however, WV rallied to win it with a 29-point fourth quarter, 15 of those by Groh. Sophomore Kris Sly popped a critical three-point basket for a 57-57 deadlock. Groh hit a trey to tie it again at 63-63 with 16 seconds left. Junior sub Ryan Browning scored the winning basket with two seconds remaining.

“There are no seniors on the team but they’re having a great season,” said Eagle coach Joe Feist, who could have been speaking for both schools. “It’s not about winning and losing. It’s about playing like winners.”

Both could take solace in that after Friday night’s game there is promise of more to come.

Youth also served for girls

Youth also was evident during the EV-WV girls basketball game.

Leading scorers in the Knight triumph were juniors Malea Schumacher and Rebecca Triplett who combined for 29 of their team’s 56 points. Five of WV’s eight players were either freshmen or sophomores.

CV turns it on, U-Hi gets win

If offense were a problem for Central Valley’s boys basketball team last season, it hasn’t been so far this year.

The Bears are averaging more than 63 points per game in the Greater Spokane League, including 152 points during its last two victories.

Part of a three-way tie for first place with Ferris and Rogers, the Bears host the Pirates next Tuesday to complete the first half of the league season.

Last year and early this season the Bears had trouble finding the basket. Not so of late.

Five players finished in double figures, four of them with 10 points apiece, during an 80-67 decision over Shadle Park. The outcome was assured with a 31-9 third-quarter outburst.

Senior Tom Perkes continues to pace scoring, but he’s had ample backing from senior Marc Hinckley and juniors Jake Hebden, Patrick Libey, Bryan DePew and Jason Priebe for the 8-1 Bears. Tuesday night against Gonzaga Prep, Ryan Smith led with 19.

Scoring remains the concern at University, although the Titans finally secured a win last week, over Mt. Spokane.

U-Hi has yet to score 50 points in a game and until Tuesday night had not topped 40 in its last four, including the 39-29 win over the Wildcats.

Brad VanDuyne has 124 of the Titans’ 360 points. The 15-point effort by Phil Renz in Tuesday’s 49-46 loss at Shadle, was only the second double-figures effort by a Titan other than VanDuyne this year.

Bears thrive, Titans make move

Central Valley has no size and little experience, but the girls basketball team continues to thrive.

The Bears can reach the mid-point of the season at 8-1 with a victory next Tuesday against Rogers at home.

Their lone loss to date was by nine points early in the season to GSL favorite Ferris. Until Tuesday’s one-point squeaker over Gonzaga Prep, the average margin of victory in the teams triumphs had been by 20 points.

Included was last week’s 24-point triumph over Shadle Park, spurred by Rikki Jackson’s 25-point effort.

She’s averaging 17.6 points per game, but has had help. Six other players have been in double figures at least once this year, including senior veteran Jenny Coyle and juniors Marisa Liepman, who’s averaging in double figures, and Michelle Grafos.

While the Bears remain a part of a three-way tie for first place in league, University is on a three-game tear and has moved into a four-team tie for fifth place.

Tuesday night’s stunningly easy victory at Shadle Park was sparked by Jaimie Frost who had 16 points and who has scored 28 total points in her last three games.

Small schools continue winning

Valley Christian School and Freeman are past the midpoint of their seasons with the Panthers in the Bi-County driver’s seat and the Scotties still awaiting the start of their league.

The Panthers’ 11-1 overall record and unbeaten league mark included last week’s two league victories in which Michael Spuler scored a total of 45 points.

They have a two-game advantage in the East Division, while in the West, two teams have single losses.

Three Northeast A League teams have winning records to date, including Freeman’s 8-3 mark. D.J. Goldsmith and Matt Miller took turns leading the team last week.

Miller had 18 points in victory over Lakeside and Goldsmith scored 14 during a 44-42 loss to Newport.

, DataTimes