U-Hi’s potential shines at tri-state tourney

Prior to the season there was a buzz in wrestling circles about the potential at University High.

Coach Don Owen called the Titans his deepest team ever in a program that has annually been among the Greater Spokane League’s best, including three league titles.

“We have top-flight individuals but are balanced with two deep in most weight classes,” Owen said in his preseason questionnaire.

His brother John, coach at Central Valley, predicted in his questionnaire that the Titans and Lake Stevens would be “in a dogfight for the state title.”

The dogfight began at last weekend’s prestigious Tri-State Tournament at North Idaho College, where the Titans shared their first title with – Lake Stevens. U-Hi and Lake Stevens tied with 189.5 points, the Vikings awarded first place by criteria.

U-Hi had seven top-six placers, including champions Jeremy Montang, a senior who placed third in the Washington State 4A meet last year, and freshman Brian Owen.

Montang, at 140 pounds, pulled out a dramatic 6-4 overtime semifinal victory, fighting off a takedown attempt to scoot for one of his own. In the title match he won handily, 12-3.

Owen, who beat eventual third-placer Joey Plumb of EV along the way and fifth-placer Danny Matthews of Freeman in the semifinals, won his initial Tri-State title 3-0 in the final.

They were among five U-Hi semifinalists, Cory Fish, Trevor Robb and Tyler Goss the others. Several other Titans won their initial two matches to make the quarterfinals.

Fish, ran into a buzzsaw in eventual champion Joey Fio from Sandpoint. The California transfer won 11-3, but Fish rebounded to take third in the tough 119-pound weight class. Robb was fourth at 135 after losing in the semis to Lake Stevens champion Brown.

Jon Sahlberg finished fifth at 171. Goss, at 135, and Matt Machala, 130, finished sixth. And in a preview of U-Hi’s depth, Mike Malsam reached the 119-pound quarterfinals before losing to teammate Fish.

There were points to be had along the way that could have given U-Hi the outright title and there likely are more wrestlers like Malsam to come when the Titans prepare for battle against Lake Stevens again in the postseason.

East Valley had a finalist and two third placers to finish fourth in team scoring with 111.5 poins. Jared Imes stormed into the title match at 130 with pins in both the quarter and semifinals before being pinned in the finals.

After losing to Fish in the quarterfinals, Plumb bounced back in consolations by pin in the match for third and fourth. Fred Arnold lost to Inglemoor defending state champion and eventual Tri-State winner Mikey Sewell in the semifinals. Arnold won his final two matches to place third.

Also a finalist was Central Valley’s Camren Ebat, who finished second at 152 pounds.

Basketball over the holidays

Central Valley’s boys, University’s girls and East Valley’s boys and girls have completed their nonleague basketball schedules.

A handful of other Greater Spokane League teams will do so during the Christmas break.

The Bears boys went 6-1 in preseason, an encouraging start for a team that has an entirely new starting lineup and much youth on its roster.

Senior Braden Jensen, who scored 22 in Monday’s 60-49 win over Gonzaga Prep, including 12 of 14 free throws, leads the team with a 12.8 average. Sophomore Nick Ambrose is scoring 10 points per game, and Tommy Kadoya off the bench is adding nearly that many.

“This has been a fun group to coach,” said coach Rick Sloan. “It’s one of those teams that plays real well together. They know our strength is our team and not just one guy trying to take it over.”

CV’s success has been a combination of patient offense and a stifling pressing defense.

“We’ll push the ball and create a little uptempo with our press,” said Sloan. “At the same time we want to take good shots, and I thought we did that (against Gonzaga Prep).”

University’s girls finished the preseason at 7-0, Angie Bjorklund averaging 17.3 points and Jami Bjorklund 16.3 per game. Emily Kuipers is scoring at a 10.7 clip.

East Valley’s boys and girls completed their nonleague slate Tuesday night with games at Lake City. The boys have been particularly high-powered offensively with four players averaging in double figures. Dylan Sattin is at 18.2 points per game, Nick Atwood at 14.3, Jared Smith at 13.2 and Jye Lanphere at 12.4.

West Valley’s boys (6-0) and girls (0-6) complete their preseason at home next Thursday against Lakeside, and Central Valley (4-2) has a New Year’s Eve afternoon game at Lake City.

The Bears pulled off a one-point win over Gonzaga Prep on Monday, Salena Leavitt and Katee Nauert with their first double-figures efforts of the season.

Freeman’s boys (5-2) and girls (4-2) are beginning to hit stride in time for their Christmas Tournament next Tuesday and Wednesday.

Valley Christian’s boys (6-1, 5-0) are atop the Bi County League and idle until Jan. 4, when they host Northwest Christian (5-0, 4-0) in a showdown in more ways than one.

The Crusaders feature four former players, all regulars on last year’s Valley Christian champions. Two were Valley’s top scorers.

In their absence, youngsters Nick Crooks (10.9 points per game), Seth Altmeyer, Justin Altmeyer and Vitaliy Kozubenko (10.7 ppg) have joined veterans Andrew McNamara and Josh Pope (13.7 ppg) in helping new coach Rick White keep the Panthers ship steady.