U-Hi girls aim for undefeated GSL season
The stage is set for the showdown as University’s girls basketball team tries for its first undefeated Greater Spokane League season since 1979.
On Thursday the Titans will host fellow unbeaten Lewis and Clark in the only show in town. Other league teams, boys and girls, complete their regular seasons on Tuesday.
The Titans beat East Valley 61-34 Thursday night for a 19-0 overall record and assured itself a top-two league finish and regional playoff berth.
GSL scoring leader and U-Hi sophomore Angie Bjorklund scored 26 points, the Titans racing to a 26-1 first quarter lead. Bjorklund is averaging 18.5 points per game overall and her senior sister Jami, who added 17 points, is scoring at a 16.4 clip.
Jami Bjorklund, incidentally, has become the eighth person in GSL history to surpass 1,000 points in her career. She has 1,043 to date.
EV’s loss left it at 5-7 in league, 9-10 overall, but the Knights are virtually assured a top-two finish among 3A schools and a berth in regionals. Eleaya Schuerch, who had 13 points, scored in double figures for the third time in her last four games.
The Knights and Clarkston play in next week’s district playoffs. North Central and West Valley will probably qualify.
Three teams are already assured spots in the six-team 4A district girls tournament. Final two GSL games and maybe a playoff will determine the other three.
Central Valley (12-6, 7-4) needs two wins or a win and a loss by either Mead or Ferris to get in. Heidi Heintz remained the GSL’s third-leading scorer at 16.3 per game overall.
Eagles boys in regional
West Valley (15-3, 8-3 before Friday) shared the best overall record in the Greater Spokane League before hosting Central Valley. Until U-Hi’s 68-53 Thursday win over EV, the Eagles were part of a three-way tie for second place in the conference.
One thing coach Jamie Nilles knows for sure is that his team is in regionals. Three teams qualify against five from the Mid Valley in the tournament that begins Feb. 22.
West Valley will play one of three teams, Clarkston, North Central or Cheney for the league’s No. 1 berth to regionals during next week’s district tournament.
“It’s important to be one or two and you want to be one because you host,” said Nilles.
The Eagles continue to be led by Tyler Hobbs (15.2 points per game) and E.J. Richardson (13.7) in scoring. But Nilles said WV’s program is about team.
“They believe in the system and believe in each other,” he said. “That helps us win games. We didn’t expect to be 15-3 this year, and our three losses have been by a couple of points each, so I’m very pleased.”
By beating EV, University (14-5, 9-3) qualified for districts. Top two GSL finishers qualify for regionals.
A win Tuesday against Lewis and Clark would assure at least a tie for second place in the GSL. Any ties for second or sixth will be played off next Friday.
Central Valley (12-6, 6-5) is one of five teams seeking the remaining four district berths. The Bears need one win in their final two games, including at North Central on Tuesday, to get in.
Nick Ambrose is averaging 12.9 points and Braden Jensen 12.1 per game.
Titan Calvin Jurich burned the Knights for 29 points in Thursday’s win and is averaging 17.3 for the year. Sunny Khehra scored 14. Inderbir Gill is averaging 13.3 for the year.
Jy Lanphere scored 21 points to up his average to 11.4 for the season. Dylan Sattin leads the Knights (5-14, 2-11) at 13.5. Both are juniors.