Tough Week For Valley Teams; And Even Stinky Sneaker Was A Tie

Central Valley’s boys basketball team passed two tests last week.

Tuesday’s 58-39 victory at Rogers kept the Bears unbeaten and steaming toward its first place showdown Tuesday at home against Ferris.

The Saxons and surprising Gonzaga Prep, led by league scoring leader Greg Johnson remain a game behind.

Last Friday, Central Valley’s boys weathered the chaos of the Stinky Sneaker spirit game, holding off rival University, 54-48.

The Bears led by as many as 16 points, 40-24 early in the third quarter. When they quit attacking the basket, a strategy that worked for easy scores against Lewis and Clark early this year, it nearly backfired.

Brandon Benefield drove U-Hi back into the game with 11 fourth-quarter points and 17 overall.

But CV kept the team at bay on free throws by Bryan Depew, who led scoring with 21 points.

Jake Hebden had his best outing of the year with 13.

The Bears were without injured Jeff Priebe, but Bob Gosney came off the bench and hit two early baskets.

He scored at the end of the first quarter to put CV up 11-9. Then he hit a 3-point basket with two seconds remaining for a 26-20 halftime lead.

The Bears built on that in the third quarter, only to watch it dwindle to three on a Benefield steal and basket with 2:55 remaining in the game.

CV girls keep pace

Central Valley’s girls basketball team moved into a tie for first place with two victories last week.

Included was its 54-42 win over rival University during the Stinky Sneaker spirit game. The spirit competition ended up in a tie. The halftime routines during a five-hour spirit night were excellent and the fans were vocal, even if they expressed disappointment with the outcome when the tie was announced.

Be that as it may, CV’s girls built a 13-point halftime lead on clutch shooting by Courtney Phinney, then survived the din in the crowded and steamy gym with inside scoring by Marisa Liepman.

The Bears have a 10-1 overall record and share the GSL lead with Mead and Gonzaga Prep. University is 4-5 in league and faces an important positional game against Lewis and Clark in the Spokane Arena Friday at 5:30 p.m.

The Titans are part of a three-way tie for fifth place.

Knights back in tie for lead

Rebounding on the road from their first league loss, East Valley’s boys found themselves back in a tie for first place.

West Valley lost in overtime on Saturday to Sandpoint for its first loss of the year.

Andrew Burgess scored a season-high 32 points, improving his average to 19.5 per game during EV’s 60-40 win in Moscow.

The two Valley schools share the Border League lead 8-1 records, two games ahead of Lewiston.

The Eagles have two tough road games this week, in Lewiston tonight and at Lake City Saturday.

The Knights play a pair of 3-8 teams, hosting Post Falls tonight and in Coeur d’Alene Saturday, with a chance to improve further on an already sterling 9-2 overall record.

Knight girls facing the best

East Valley’s bid to gain ground in Border League girls basketball was foiled in the first of three straight games against Idaho title contenders.

The Knights lost 51-29 in Moscow, a team which shares the lead with Coeur d’Alene and is a game ahead of Post Falls.

Tonight EV, which is 5-4 in league and 7-4 overall, hosts Post Falls, The team is at Coeur d’Alene on Saturday.

Panther boys still perfect

Winning continues to be contagious for Valley Christian’s boys basketball team, which won twice more for a 12-0 season mark.

Last weekend was Eric Smith’s turn to lead the way in victory over Ritzville and Lind. He scored a total of 37 points, upping his season average to 15.3 for the year.

Jared Evans contributed 32 points to improve his season mark to 13.9 per game.

Although defenses slowed Brent Decker, he continues to lead Panther scoring with a 16.8 average.

Valley Christian’s girls lost to record-setting Ritzville, unbeaten in 52 straight games, but defeated Lind to remain fourth in league.

Kristen Lanker scored 12 points in victory. Carli Smith had a pair of 10-point games and Sarah Teterud scored 10 against Lind.

Freeman opens with key win

Freeman High boys set about defending their Northeast A League basketball championship with last week’s 47-39 triumph over Reardan.

The Scotties outscored the Indians 15-7 in the fourth quarter to break a tie. Ryan Love and Bill DePell led scoring with 13 and 10 points each.

Next up for the 9-5 Scotties is a trip to Kettle Falls on Saturday.

Freeman’s girls team was also victorious in its NEA opener, beating Reardan 51-37. Laura Halverson scored 12 points, Heather Wilkerson and Kim Davey 10 apiece during the win.

Correction

Central Valley sophomore wrestler Andy Brownson is once beaten at 148 and 158 pounds so far this year. It was incorrectly published Saturday that it was his twin brother Zach.