Recent results prove nothing’s certain in GSL basketball
Greater Spokane League boys basketball coaches have been saying it for two years, and the players are proving it: Nothing is for certain in their league.
West Valley, the overwhelming coaches’ choice to win the GSL, proved that in last Friday’s nonleague loss at North Central followed by a huge win Tuesday, 71-33 over previously unbeaten Mt. Spokane.
East Valley, behind Dylan Sattin, won in a difficult setting in Clarkston over a team that had defeated Cheney to begin the season.
And Cheney has beaten Gonzaga Prep and hung close to unbeaten Ferris. Prep defeated University 70-45 on Tuesday.
West Valley was forced to rally from a seven-point deficit after three quarters and was five seconds away from victory against NC before losing 63-58 in overtime. The Eagles rebounded Tuesday with an easy win against Mt. Spokane.
Greg Bradley scored 30 points with seven 3-point baskets, E.J. Richardson scored 40 points and Tyler Hobbs 25 in the two games.
Sattin scored 27 points, including six 3-point baskets in leading the Knights to their first win, 65-56 over Clarkston.
“It was the second time we were buzz-sawed (by a guard),” said Clarkston coach Brendan Johnson. “We gave him wide-open rhythm jumpers, and he really shot it well.”
And Sattin, averaging 18.3 points per game for the Knights (2-2), scored 16 more on Tuesday in a 39-37 win against Cheney, another 3A foe.
Central Valley (4-10) lost for the first time in an outside game against Coeur d’Alene, but has won four non-league games against GSL foes.
Luke Clift scored 46 points during the Bears last three games, including 22 against the Vikings in the 65-52 setback. They beat Gonzaga Prep 57-51 on Tuesday, Kevin Cameron with 23 points.
University (1-4) is still seeking its inside-outside identity. The Titans have yet to hit on all cylinders after losses to the Bullpups and on Tuesday to Rogers 46-34. Kyle and Tyler Olson combined for 33 points in a 47-46 win at Post Falls.
Youngsters learn in loss
University’s girls basketball team lost its first regular season game after 23 straight victories, 62-53 to Gonzaga Prep.
But coach Mark Stinson was not dismayed.
“We missed a lot of open shots, but they were by kids not normally used to shooting them,” he said. “That’s good for us. I think we got better tonight.”
Because of injuries, new players like sophomores Kelsey Mitchell and Kasey Jurich have been thrust into the fire, and their game was being tempered against a team that took third in the GSL last year and was a regional participant.
Junior Dara Zack didn’t have a typical night despite scoring a dozen points, so it fell on Tonya Schnibbe and Janna Erickson to rally the team from an 18-point first-half deficit.
Floor leader Schnibbe, now the offensive threat anticipated when she came on board as a freshman, scored 17 points.
Third-year player Erickson, whose previous best was 10 points, scored a career high 20. They combined for 23 of their points in the second half.
Erickson had 19 more when the Titans (3-1) rebounded Tuesday with 64-45 over Rogers
Central Valley (3-2) took the Bullpups to overtime on Tuesday before losing 62-59. Heidi Heintz is averaging 19.0 points per game after scoring 22.
East Valley (3-1) won twice over 3A teams, including a confidence-building road game, 43-42 at Clarkston, and a 54-44 win over Cheney. West Valley (0-4) is still looking for its first win but led Mt. Spokane late in the first half Tuesday before losing 57-47. Krystal McCarthy scored 17 points and Melissa Mauro 11.
Numerous wrestling placers
A number of Valley wrestlers earned top-six finishes during last weekend’s Inland Empire Classic tournament at Central Valley.
University and East Valley finished first and second in the meet with 215 and 166.5 points, respectively.
And fourth-place Central Valley, 124 points, would have been third but was without 2005 state champion Lucas Chesher.
West Valley scored 70 points with four strong efforts.
Weight class champions were Knights Anthony Rivera, 112 pounds, Clete Hanson at 171, Dan Michalski at 189 and Tyler Jolley at 275. Jimmy Martin finished second at 215.
“Football has a lot to do with it,” said coach Craig Hanson of EV’s recent run of upper weights talent. “I know Jimmy has gained a lot of confidence. He made a comment today how high school wrestling looks way different to him now.”
Titans Chase Fish and Trevor Robb won at 125 and 152, respectively, and had finalists Nick Zumwalt (171) and Dono Totten (275).
“Dono’s on the edge where he could really kick it up,” said coach Don Owen. “And Zumwalt didn’t wrestle bad. That was a great takedown by Clete (Hanson won 3-1), and Nick almost had a takedown.”
Bears champions were Chase Ferrozzo (119) and Camren Ebat (160). Nick Cambron (103) finished second.
All told U-Hi had a dozen placers. Mike Malsam was third and Craig Byers fifth at 130. Finishing fourth were Ryan Williams (135), Elliot Nay (140), Danny Jordan (160) and Billy McGlasson (215). Sixth were Pat Belknap (103) and Brian Owen (119), a likely champion who had to default because of a back injury in the semifinals.
“We had a couple of surprises,” said Owen. “That was Belknap’s first tournament. Elliott’s fourth was not too bad, and McGlasson did some good things this weekend.”
East Valley had three additional placers, Caleb Alvarado (fourth at 152), Foster Orton (fifth at 160) and Aaron Start (sixth at 135). State placer Bryce Fisher got a tough draw, losing to the 145-pound champion and third-place finisher.
“I was really happy with Caleb,” Hanson said. “His progress has been tremendous, and he wrestled with a lot of heart.”
Other Central Valley placers were Jeff Croskrey (140) and Nick Walker (145), both sixth.
West Valley was led by Jesse Swenson, who reached the 145-pound semifinals and finished fourth. Eagles fifth placers were semifinalist Ryan Rose (189), Zack Thomas (103) and Tim Pring (171).