Unbeaten Lakeside, Riverside Girls Face Important Match

Lakeside and Riverside girls basketball teams will match different defensive styles when the two Great Northern League unbeatens meet Friday night.

At stake is undisputed first place. It also will be the first time since both qualified for state in 1995 that the two teams have met.

“We played them four times that year,” said Lakeside coach Lisa Schultz. “I think this will be a good game.”

The relentless Eagles turn defensive pressure into an offensive weapon. The Rams let a slower pace dictate the outcome of its games.

“Athletically, they are the best team in league,” said Riverside coach Chris Wren of Lakeside. “Arguably they are the best team in the region, regardless of size.”

The two GNL teams have a combined 21-2 record. Lakeside’s lone loss came against Coeur d’Alene’s unbeaten Lake City, by a single point.

“It was a hard pre-season schedule,” said Schultz. “I’m pround of the kids”.

The Eagles are averaging just under 60 points per game and allowing 39.4 to go 11-1 overall.

They are led by veterans Brianne Jolley, 18.8 points per game, and Linsey Heebink, 12.3 per contest.

Junior Nikki Petticrew is just returning to form after a bout with illness and an ankle sprain. She is one of four Eagles to have injured an ankle this year.

Sophomore point guard Julia Vojtech has scored in double figures seven of the team’s last eight games, averaging 11.7 during that time.

“She’s still learning,” said Schultz. “What Julia has is quickness and aggressiveness to score.”

Riverside’s defense has been stingy, giving up just 36.3 points per game while compiling a 10-1 record. The Rams are scoring 47.4 per game, led by senior veterans, point guard Bernice Stime, Abby Wood and Keisha Shorts. Sophomores Jamie Rizzuto and Haley Wood played well during a win over Deer Park.

“We need to improve our offense,” said Wren. “Defensively, I like to think we’re pretty tough. We’ll find out Friday.”

While conceding the importance of Friday’s game, the coaches are not concerned with the outcome.

“It depends on how you win,” said Schultz. “If either wins by much, it sends a message. Clearly, if things continue we’ll be first and second.”

What matters is later in the season when GNL teams vie for three State 2A berths.

“We don’t need to win as much now as at the end of February and beginning of March,” said Wren.

Tomorrow night, he said, win or lose, the game will be a learning tool.

The two schools will likely face each other several more times before the season ends, just like 1995.

Lakeside wrestlers enhance status

Lakeside’s wrestling team continues to enjoy a banner season while on the verge of completing their most exhausting week, .

Tonight, in its last of three Great Northern League matches this week, the Eagles host Colville at 7 p.m. for league dual meet championship.

Saturday, Lakeside turned back a highly-touted 2A field to win the Washington Dream Duals at Auburn.

“The significant thing from the weekend,” said coach Scott Jones, “was we saw athletes we’ll be competing with at State.”

Along the way the Eagles were 28-14 in individual matches while beating Blaine 49-15, Hoquiam 44-21, and Mt. Baker 31-22 for the title.

Mt. Baker featured a lineup with seven state veterans.

However, Lakeside’s Jason Belyea at 115 pounds, Anthony Layton at 129, Jason Christen at 141, Aaron Laughery at 148, Matt Westenfelder at 168 and first-year wrestlerChad Charbonneau at 275 were all 3-0.

Eagle 178-pounder Sean Wheeler had a heart-breaking weekend, losing three times by one point each.

“He’s hurting,” said Jones. “It’s humbling when you’re a team captain and don’t feel you’ve helped. We’ll find out what he’s made of.”

The Dream Dual title goes along with strong tournament efforts by Lakeside earlier this year.

Still to be had is a league title and strong district showing in which three GNL wrestlers per weight qualify for state.

The match will feature both team’s best wrestlers head-to-head in seven weight classes. Lakeside could win as many as 10 contests if things go well.

“It should be just a great match,” said Jones.

Going for the gold

Plenty of Greater Spokane League’s basketball season remains, but Mead’s Friday home games against Central Valley loom large.

With a win, the league-leading Panther girls can prevent a three-way tie for first place in the race for the title.

Following Tuesday night’s win over Shadle Park, the Panthers led Ferris and CV by a game.

Mead’s boys, with help from Rogers, could be part of a four-team first-place tie by beating the leagueleading Bears.

The two Mead teams are among seven North Side schools currently after top six finishes in either the boys or girls leagues.

North Central’s overtime upset of Central Valley, in which Chris Allen and Chris Blotsky combined for 50 of the team’s 64 points, temporarily pulled the team into a share of fifth place at 6-4 with Rogers. A one-point loss to LC dropped them back to sixth a game ahead of Gonzaga Prep.

The athletic, if erratic, Pirates stemmed a three-game losing streak by beating Shadle Park and University behind Jason Ridley’s combined 40 points.

A win by the Pirates at Lewis and Clark, and by the Panthers, on Friday would leave them one game out of first.

Last Tuesday Sam Dempsey played a starring role despite a 71-64 overtime loss to CV. The Pirates, on Dempsey’s 19 points, led by as many as eight points several times, but needed Ridley’s 3-point basket to force OT.

, DataTimes