Double-duty weekend for Dresback
Jon Dresback is one person who won’t be participating this weekend in Hoopfest. But he has a good excuse.
The June Freeman High graduate is playing in two Washington Coaches Association high school all-star games.
After spending the week practicing in Yakima for Saturday’s 1A East-West All-Star football game, he’ll take a break Friday to practice and play in the 1A Washington Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association All-State games at Gonzaga University.
Friday’s 30th WIBCA All-State games kick off an inordinately busy weekend for local athletes and fans.
The five games are a prelude to Hoopfest. Also, the Seattle Storm WNBA basketball team plays the New York Liberty Saturday night at 7 in the Spokane Arena and the Ironman Triathlon is in Coeur d’Alene on Sunday.
Not to mention the two All-State football games Saturday at 1 p.m., the 4A/3A in Everett featuring nine GSL players, and 2A/1A/B in Yakima, attracting numerous locals, Dresback among them.
He’ll be one of a handful of players attempting to pull double duty this weekend. The Whitworth-bound football player will play wide receiver and be a guard in the 1A basketball game.
“I was going to do football over the basketball one,” Dresback said by phone from Yakima. “I talked to the guy in charge down here (Quincy’s Bill “Alex” Alexander) and we worked something out.”
Spokane’s five WIBCA basketball games mark one last high school gathering for more than 100 of the state’s best players. They begin at GU with the Class B games at 11 a.m. followed in succession at 2-hour intervals with the 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A city vs. state contests.
Among the higher-profile participants are Eastern Washington University recruits Rodney Stuckey from state champion Kentwood, Jacob Beitinger of South Kitsap and Eastlake’s Nick Livi in the 4A game that is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Incoming Gonzaga University players Josh Heytvelt from 3A Clarkston and David Pendergraft from 1A Brewster will be also showcased. Others of note from outside Spokane are West Valley-Yakima’s 6-foot-8 standout Andrew Strait, Seattle Prep’s Michael Knight among the 3A players, Richland’s James York from 4A and most of State 2A champion Hoquiam’s team.
But there are will be plenty of local representation, Dresback among them.
After practicing twice a day all week in Yakima, he’ll drive up here with family for a 10:30 a.m. practice Friday in The Kennel. Following the game it’s back to Yakima for football.
But there’ll be no Hoopfest.
“I’ve played just about every year since third grade,” Dresback said. “I kind of found out about football early so I didn’t sign up.”
Basketball rosters will be finalized by today. North Central’s Antwan Conway, Lewis and Clark’s Greg Spurgetis, Mt. Spokane’s Mike Dorr and Central Valley’s Josh Leyk are expected to represent the GSL.
Among the Class B athletes are Selkirk’s Phillip MacArthur, Davenport’s Andy Semprimoznik, Odessa’s Eric Walter and LaCrosse-Washtucna’s Ryan Dorman.
Tickets for the all-day basketball-fest are $5.
On Monday the WIBCA will induct four men with local ties into its Coaches Hall of Fame at the Red Lion Inn at the Park. It begins at 5 p.m.
The late Jack Cleveland, who had a successful career at five schools, including Endicott, Medical Lake and University; Denny Humphrey, one of the state’s all-time winningest coaches at LaCrosse, Chewelah, Ritzville and Cheney; Terry Irwin, the successful coach at Gonzaga Prep and Central Valley and former North Central athletic standout and longtime Ephrata coach Marty O’Brien will be installed.