Titans, Tigers stand tall in talented GSL

The hurt lingered long after Lewis and Clark and University girls basketball seasons ended in non-placing disappointment at state.

LC, in particular, had made a return trip to Tacoma for the 4A tournament, expectations high after having placed a surprising fifth the year before.

“We were rated No. 1 most of the year and I think the scenario going in, especially after winning regionals, was that everyone, including ourselves, felt we would do well,” said LC coach Jim Redmon.

Circumstances intervened. Illness, team issues and an upset (at the time) loss to eventual state titlist Roosevelt sent the Tigers spiraling downward, their otherwise splendid 24-4 season ending bitterly the next day.

“After state it took me at least two and one-half to three months to talk about it. I kind of hid out,” said Redmon. “The kids had to go to school and take the questions about what happened.”

U-Hi’s situation wasn’t quite so dire. The team, which finished 23-6, had qualified to state for the second time in school history. The Titans’ losses came to Central Valley, which finished 25-4 and seventh in state, LC and state runner-up Garfield.

As Titans coach Mark Stinson pointed out, “I don’t know if there was any one thing we took from last year specifically. Every team we lost to was a good team. There had to be a maturation process. Confidence means winning close games against good teams.”

Both the Tigers and Titans are back, a year older, stronger and wiser, heavily favored to finish 1-2 in this year’s Greater Spokane League and determined to grab the trophies that eluded them.

Both are approaching this opportunity for a second chance with zeal. The two coaches have kept in close contact and last summer their teams played five times, U-Hi winning three, and waged spirited battles.

One, for the championship at Gonzaga University, exemplified both teams’ determination, said Redmon.

“It was probably one of the most enjoyable games I’ve watched,” he said. “The kids like each other. There’s a respect factor. They know there’s great talent on both sides of the plate.”

Some played together on the national champion Spokane Stars. But, like sisters, when they went against each other, said Redmon, they worked hard at one-upmanship.

Whether the disappointment of last March and the efforts of last summer are fuel enough for a state-trophy season remains to be seen. This is one of Washington’s most talented athletic groups collectively, with a wealth of big school college talent on both sides of the state. Half a dozen teams could contend for a title.

The GSL itself is better as a whole, with any of seven 4A teams capable of going deep into postseason, as well as a 3A school or two.

One team that shouldn’t be counted out is CV, which returns all but one player, albeit a major one in Arizona State University’s Reagan Pariseau, from its state-placing team for new coach Judy Walter.

“It’s almost nice not to be the favorite,” said Walter, a longtime Bears assistant. “I hope they rule us out, but don’t think they can.”

Still, opposing GSL coaches are emphatic when asked to talk about the talented Tigers and Titans.

“University and LC are special,” said Mt. Spokane coach Jeanne Helfer, who knows something about that. At Mead she coached three state titlists and is hoping this is the breakthrough season for her Wildcats. “The rest of us hope to get better and better and learn to play four quarters.”

Reagan Freuen, now coach of Mead, is a former Division I player who helped Helfer to one of those state titles.

“I think when you have legitimate Division I players on a team it makes a big difference,” Freuen said.

The Tigers boast ASU recruit Briann January and future D-I player Heather Bowman, both immensely improved, said their coach. U-Hi’s stars include hard-working sisters, Gonzaga University-bound Jami Bjorklund and sophomore Angie.

“Briann and Heather are definite impact players,” said Freuen. “Jami’s a good scorer and Angie is one of the best players her age in the country in my opinion.”

But, as a former Division I player herself and standout on a Mead state titlist, Freuen knows that with high expectation comes with a companion burden.

“They have the bull’s-eyes on their backs. I’ve been there before and it’s tough,” she said. “Experience-wise they are head and shoulders above the league. They’ve been to state and played at a high national level in the summer. But they can have an off night. The league is so tough they have to be ready, too.”

This year’s GSL will be good training ground for any team that aspires to postseason success. Redmon pointed out that to earn it is a long-term process and believes what former CV coach Dale Poffenroth (now at Coeur d’Alene) told him: There needs to be a little luck thrown in.

But his LC team and U-Hi have additional motivation because of last year’s unfulfilled state finishes.