Teams Deserve Big Crowds For Big Games

There were more than 3,000 spectators roaring with the ebb and flow of a great high school basketball game Tuesday night.

Just four days earlier, there were more than 100 fans fuming as they listened to the crowd roar during a great high school basketball game.

The Greater Spokane League’s two most recent outings showed everything that is right with high school basketball and what is wrong with Spokane schools.

Tuesday’s game was played at Spokane Falls Community College, which holds about 3,500 fans. That’s where Gonzaga Prep and Ferris moved their two-game series.

The other game was played at Shadle Park, which holds around 1,000. That wasn’t nearly enough capacity for the Highlanders’ game with Prep. Some fans had to listen from the outside. Of course, the first game at Prep was just as uncomfortable because that gym holds about the same, counting those standing 10 deep in the opening to the auxiliary gym.

The Falls games provided an atmosphere unmatched in GSL basketball - don’t bring up those contrived spirit games - and anyone who wanted to see the games could see the games.

The Prep-Shadle games also had an electric atmosphere for those who could get in - and those people were anything but comfortable.

What can the Greater Spokane League do?

What should the GSL do?

Move more games to the Arena?

Yeah, right.

Check out tonight’s Shadle Park-Ferris showdown. Winner finishes second and gets an automatic regional berth. There will be a good crowd and the place will look empty. The atmosphere will —— (fill in the blank for what is acceptable at your breakfast table). Overall, the Arena —— (repeat previous phrase) and we’re not even talking about finances.

At least the fans will be accommodated. They wouldn’t be at Ferris, another school whose gym holds a grand, rafters included.

So, really, what is the GSL to do?

The statute of limitations is probably up for the misguided of yesterday who recommended small gyms for District 81 schools, figuring games would always be played in the now-departed Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Therefore, a public flogging is out of the question.

It’s unrealistic to expect taxpayers to solve the problem, at least immediately. Not that school boards are of a mind to deal with anything related to athletics.

Lewis and Clark is in the process of rebuilding, with a new gym to hold 1,600-1,800.

Rogers got a remodel but kept the same gym at its current inadequate state.

That still leaves North Central, Shadle, Ferris and Rogers again. Therefore, the schools have to take some steps to showcase their best events.

Moving games to SFCC is great. Last year, after a big G-Prep crowd went to Central Valley for a crucial game, Prep moved the rematch to SFCC, sacrificing a home-court advantage.

The GSL must not only be willing to do that, but also be eager.

Always calling on SFCC isn’t practical, so other sources - Gonzaga University, Spokane Community College and, yes, even the Arena (heaven forbid) for additional big games - must be tapped.

The GSL schools must be willing to make additional concessions.

If needed, move a game off the traditional Tuesday or Friday.

Don’t always be politically correct. Look at the schedule, judge the teams and their fan support, then tweak the schedule.

Anyone who witnessed the atmosphere at the Falls, knows the sacrifices are worth it.

Turning one patron away is unacceptable, at least until they’re being turned away at the Falls. Then we adjust again.

The experience for players is good for postseason and a reward.

A big flaw of the GSL is that the schools are not representing a town, and the lack of community spirit shows. Doing everything possible to showcase special events helps make up for that.