Panthers Open First B Appearance With Bang

By sharing the wealth, Valley Christrian basketball players have reaped the reward.

The Panthers are assured a trophy in their first State B Basketball Tournament appearance. Details of the worth of today’s prize, game time and opponent are in this morning’s sports page.

Five different players scored in double figures and each provided valuable input at times during the first two days of the tournament. Included were 70-43 and 63-46 victories over Darrington and DeSales.

Moves by Brian Sears around the basket produced a combined 38 points during the two wins.

Sophomore Jared Evans had 14 against Darrington and his early rebounding and scoring helped stake Valley Christian to a 10-point halftime lead over DeSales.

After the Irish rallied to within two points with 4:48 remaining in the third quarter, Michael Spuler and Derek Sandin ignited a 38-29 lead.

Then freshman Brent Decker’s shots from afar kept DeSales at bay. He hit three successive 3-point baskets for a 50-35 lead.

DeSales tried to engage the Panthers in a 3-point war and lost. While Valley Christian was making half of its 16 long-range shots, the Irish hit just 3 of 16.

As likely as not, in the fourth quarter, Jeremy Decker or Sandin were corralling their errant attempts.

Sears, Brent Decker, Sandin and Spuler were all in double figures to push Valley Christian into the semifinals.

Hockey team to regionals

In its first year of existence, the Inland Empire Amateur Hockey Association has a reqional qualifier.

The Pee Wee A team, coached by Mike Sherman and Doug Lytton, went 5-0 during state action at Eagles Ice-A-Rena to advance to the March 20 tourney in Tacoma.

“It was not a surprise,” said Sherman. “We went in as favorites even though we were one of the youngest teams.”

The team included centers Brett Gorman, Bryad Lytton, and Leif Sherman, right wings Aaron Roberge, Derek Knox and Brad Roth, left wings Curtis Peters, James Lytton and Brian Side.

Defensemen were Colin Reed, T.J. Clark, J.C. Thomas, Brandon Price, Wade Hendricksen and Gideon Stotts. Goalkeepers were Zach Cardella and Ryan Skier.

Each pulled a shift during the season, said Sherman, which included a 39-22-5 overall record.

The I.E. association is affiliated with the Ice House at Mirabeau Point in the Valley. The Pee Wee A team is one of three rep teams, including Pee Wee B and Mites.

“We want to have a Bantam and hopefully even a Squirt rep team next year,” said Sherman.

There were also house teams for 56 other players who are participating in a season-ending house tournament at the Mirabeau rink this weekend.

Sherman’s Pee Wee team will not be favored during five-team regional competition that will include squads from California and Nevada. Winner advances to the nationals in Anaheim April 1-4.

“It was pretty amazing just to win a state championship,” he said.

Go for the show alone

East Valley and West Valley faculty are playing their own version of the Golden Throne basketball game Wednesday .

Game time is 7:30 p.m. at EV. The $4 ticket price goes to support both schools’ Senior All-Nighter graduation parties.

The Knight team includes Molly “McButter” McLaughlin, Darsi “Freeze Frame” Frazier, Corey “Brothers” Gibb, Ron “Junior” Barsness, an ex-Eagle, Dick “Sergeant” Schultz, Richard “Larry Bird” King, Bret “Special K” Kiefer, Jim “Tark the Shark” Dorr, Kurt “Smooth” Krauth, Mark “Ice Man” Chalich, John “Big House” Phelan, both listed at 6-foot-6, and Jeff “Teddy Bear” Miller, who is 6-8.

West Valley will counter with its lineup of Joe Feist, Cassandra McCarthy, Tom Adams, Jamie Nilles, Kyle Brock, David Schultz, Cleve Penberthy, Shelley Totten, Glen Williams, Mark Kuipers, Carol Preston and Cameron York.

Seeing aging ex-collegiate players trudging up and down the court will alone be worth the price of admission.

EV boys hoop coach resigns

East Valley School District this week announced the resignation of Richard King as basketball coach.

King had coached the Knights for four years, compiling an overall record of 15-68.

His resignation comes at a time when Knight basketball appeared on the upswing despite this year’s 5-18 record.

The team’s top three scorers are among seven varsity players expected to return.

Magazine lists EV runners 11th

A national road running magazine, The Harrier, has listed East Valley’s girls cross country team the 11th best in the nation.

The girls were also ranked fourth in the West Region behind schools in California, Wyoming and Utah.

Recognized individually was EV’s Melanie Frostad who placed 22nd in the Foot Locker Regionals west championship.

University’s boys were ranked sixth in the West Region.

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