Young Bears Need To Mature Quickly

Central Valley

There’s scarcely a senior to be found on either of Central Valley basketball teams. The boys have only three seniors and the girls just one among 22 varsity players.

But that doesn’t mean there aren’t expectations.

“We have four kids returning who have state experience,” said girls coach Dale Poffenroth of last year’s sixth-place 4A finishers.

Despite the fact the Bear girls are junior-oriented — Gonzaga University-bound Raeanna Jewell is the lone senior — they will be considered among the Greater Spokane League favorites, as usual, and perhaps a state title contender, as well.

History is on Poffenroth’s side. In 13 years his teams have gone 266-95, won six GSL titles, two regional championships and placed in the top four at state five times.

The boys team, said coach Rick Sloan, is a work in progress. Only two players, Chris Rodgers and Jeff Liepman, return from last year’s district playoff team. Juniors and sophomores will be asked to mature quickly if the Bears are to remain a playoff force.

“If we can achieve some early success,” said coach Rick Sloan. “Then we could be a very competitive team down the stretch.”

The Bears open GSL play Friday in a doubleheader at North Central.

Keys to success

Two things must happen if Central Valley’s boys are to succeed.

The team needs an inside game and youngsters must contribute.

CV was too perimeter oriented last year, said Sloan. When the shots were falling the team was tough to beat.When they weren’t, CV struggled. He doesn’t want that to happen again.

“This year we’ll get a lot more points out of the inside game,” he said. “We need a couple more guys to pick up the slack from the perimeter.”

Liepman, a 6-foot-3 banger who missed the last half of his junior season because of injury, is one post.

“Jeff is a good athlete who gets after it,” said Sloan. “He has developed more post moves and finds ways to score.”

Rodgers, CV’s leading returning scorer, will start at guard.

They will be asked to provide leadership and teach the younger athletes how to compete, said Sloan.

“As far as who else is going to score points,” he said, “We’re still trying to figure that out.”

Scoring could come from senior Brad Wagner, five athletically gifted juniors, including Motie Curtis and Shadi Nimri, or from four sophomores, including 6-4 post Derek Taylor.

“All of them will be in the mix,” said Sloan. “If our young kids hold up, I think we can make some noise in the league.”

How good can this team be?

As youthful as it is, there still is an aura of excitement surrounding CV’s girls basketball.

“If the sophomores come through,” said Poffenroth, “we have as good a chance as any for the championship.”

The Bears have talent, size and enough experience.

Jewell is a Division I recruit. Katie Rodgers, a 5-11 junior guard, is explosive offensively. Both were alltournament selections at state.

Point guard Jayme Heinen and 6-2 post Felice Moore are also back.

The X-factor is Emily Westerberg, an active and highly touted 6-1 sophomore post.

She is one of three sophomores who have joined the junior returnees.

“They have no experience at the high school level, but they have to contribute,” said Poffenroth.

That said, he added that the Bears have plenty of depth.

“We have kids on the bench who can score, and they can score big if they need to,” he said.