Quick hits for Spokane

LOOKING AHEAD

Every year injuries play an important part in determining the Greater Spokane League football chase. This year is no different.

Many of the contenders for the league crown are dealing with serious injuries to key players. Mead has been without returning all-league player Drew Bafaro all season because of a knee injury. The Panthers may have to face Ferris on Friday without another all-leaguer, running back Skylar Jessen, trying to return from an ankle injury suffered last week.

Clarkston lost all-league wide receiver Peter Leonard with a broken tibia early in its game against North Central a couple of weeks ago, although he should return soon. U-Hi lost one of its top wide receivers for the year when Mike Conrad suffered a broken arm against Mead. Clarkston and U-Hi meet Friday, with the Titans hoping to have running back Kris O’Connor back from an ankle sprain suffered in the GSL opener.

The injured will be missing one of the key weeks in the league schedule.

Football

Today at Albi

Central Valley vs. Shadle Park, 4:30 p.m.; North Central vs. Lewis and Clark, 7:15.

Friday

Ferris vs. Mead at Albi, 5:45 p.m; Mt. Spokane vs. Gonzaga Prep at Albi, 8:30; Cheney at East Valley, 7; Clarkston at University, 7; Rogers at West Valley, 7.

Volleyball

Today; 7 p.m. unless noted

East Valley at Lewis and Clark, 5 p.m.; Cheney at Central Valley; Mt. Spokane at Clarkston; University at Gonzaga Prep; Ferris at Mead; Shadle Park at Rogers; North Central at West Valley.

Tuesday; 7 p.m.

East Valley at Cheney; Central Valley at Gonzaga Prep; Clarkston at Lewis and Clark; University at Mead; Ferris at North Central; Mt. Spokane at Rogers; Shadle Park at West Valley.

Soccer

Friday; 4 p.m. unless noted

Clarkston at Cheney; North Central at East Valley; Mt. Spokane at Ferris; Central Valley at Lewis and Clark; West Valley at Rogers; Gonzaga Prep at University; Mead at Shadle Park, 4:30.

Wednesday; 4 p.m. unless noted

Shadle Park at Cheney; University at Clarkston; East Valley at Gonzaga Prep; Mead at Lewis and Clark; North Central at Rogers; Ferris at West Valley; Mt. Spokane at Central Valley, 7 p.m.

Cross Country

Wednesday; 4 p.m.

Ferris and Gonzaga Prep at East Valley; Mead and Clarkston at West Valley; Cheney, University and Rogers at Lewis and Clark; North Central, Shadle Park and Central Valley at Mt. Spokane.

LOOKING AROUND

This and that …

When Becca Noble of Rogers won the girls varsity race in Saturday’s Highlander Invitational cross country meet, her time of 15 minutes, 8 seconds was not second fastest, as reported, but it did place her among the 10 fastest runners in meet history. Her time tied with North Central’s Stephanie Whittaker, who ran it in 2002. Flathead’s Zoe Nelson, with times of 13:52 and 13:57 is fastest. Behind Nelson is Rogers’ Jessica Fry, who ran 14:28 in 1993. In 2002, Jamie Geissler of Mead trailed Nelson in 14:40 and last year Megan O’Reilly of Mt. Spokane and Amie Dahnke of University followed Nelson in 14:43 and 14:53, respectively. Aleah Thome of Eisenhower, Meredith Crane of Davis and Heidi Colpitts of Wenatchee also had faster times than Noble … O’Reilly established the record on a new course and Mt. Spokane won the New Balance Festival of Champions meet at Western Oregon University last weekend in Monmouth. O’Reilly timed 18:01 at the new site. The Wildcats scored 110 points, Clackamas 127.

It was Pullman and Pullman during the Cheney Invitational volleyball tournament last weekend. Pullman’s varsity went 8-0 and the Greyhounds junior varsity was 5-3 to finish ahead of Rogers, Cheney and Deer Park. … In the latest The Harrier magazine national cross country rankings, the Ferris boys are ranked 11th and Mead is 21st.