U-Hi, CV Split Stinky Sneaker Games

It was Star Wars vs. James Bond during the annual Stinky Sneaker spirit basketball games between University and Central Valley last Friday at CV.

And the teams pitched in with thrillers adding to the frenzy. Both boys and girls games were decided on the final shot or nearly so, the Titan boys staging a minor upset and the Bear girls just escaping one.

CV’s boys had won the last four meetings and 11 of the last 14 games between the two schools, but succumbed 47-41 to the Keith Christensen-led Titans.

The Bear girls won for the 13th straight time over their district rivals when senior reserve Angela Wagner’s 12-foot jump shot with 10 seconds left gave them a harrowing 51-50 victory.

After the last ounce of emotion was wrung following games before a deafening capacity audience, it was left for the Stinky Sneaker spirit award to break the tie.

The shoe fit 007, University winning over The Force of CV by a score of 1,245 to 1,214.

Titan whirlwind subdues CV

At the beginning of the season, Christensen wasn’t a sure varsity player. But the perpetual motion machine, listed at 5-foot-8 in the program, unsettled the Bears.

His aggressiveness on defense disrupted CV out front. His quickness on offense led to assists or baskets that put the Titans ahead by seven points late in the game and helped them weather a Bear comeback.

“It’s weird,” said Mark Hein, who earned a win over CV in his first try as Titan coach. “Keith didn’t play this summer or anything like that. At the beginning of the year, to be honest, we played eight guys on varsity at the jamboree, and he wasn’t one of them.”

Then Kyle Gazaway left the team, transferring to West Valley, and Christensen got his chance.

“He brings a lot of intensity,” said Hein. “My concern was his size because we were already so small. He’s more than made up for it with his defensive play.”

University rallied from an early 8-2 deficit and the game remained close until Andrew Moore hit a pair of fourth-quarter 3-point baskets and Christensen did his thing.

Cameron Walls, with a pair of baskets, cut the U-Hi lead to two points with 50 seconds to go. But the Titans held on when Brandon Benefield made four straight free throws.

“I think it was our biggest win so far this year for a variety of reasons,” said Hein. “The Stinky Sneaker is a big deal. In the playoff picture it was extremely critical. For the program’s sake it’s always big whenever you play CV. Primarily it was just for the guys.”

And it happened because the Christensen whirlwind blew through Bill Ames Memorial Gym.

“Keith was the big difference at the end,” said Hein.

Little-acclaimed Bear saves day

Wagner, who had scored just 25 points in 10 previous games joined the varsity late last season.

And while U-Hi did a stellar job on defense, it conceded the big shot to a little-acclaimed player.

“That’s what basketball is all about,” said second-year Titans coach Mark Stinson. “You can’t take away everything. They went to the open person and she buried it.”

The Titans’ defense flustered one of CV’s other veterans for most of the game. Senior Megan Owen defended CV junior Raeanna Jewell, holding her to 12 points, seven below her average entering the game.

“I knew before I came in it was going to be rough,” said Jewell, who pulled down 14 rebounds. “I tried not to let Megan get into my head because when that happens, I lose it, I’m done. I just tried to not rush things and stay in control.”

It could’ve happened, Jewell admitted. She said she was more nervous Friday than for any athletic contest in her life.

The rivalry game in front of a nearcapacity crowd had something to do with it. CV coach Dale Poffenroth said many of his players had never played in front of more than about 50 people before.

Complicating things, Jewell and sophomore Katie Rodgers, who finished with 16 points, picked up their fourth fouls late in the third quarter and sat out. They ultimately were responsible for CV’s late surge.

Sara Steblaj, who scored a gamehigh 19 points, made a 3-pointer at the 28-second mark to put U-Hi ahead by one.

But ultimately, it became another close loss for the Titans. Four of five have been by a total of 7 points. On Tuesday night the tables turned. U-Hi beat Gonzaga Prep 61-59, a team that defeated the Titans by two points in triple overtime earlier.