Quick hits
LOOKING AHEAD
The state wrestling tournament (Mat Classic XVII) this weekend in the Tacoma Dome is one of the highlights of the prep sports year. Wrestlers of all sizes from schools of all sizes gather in Tacoma to see who is best. As in any year, the plot lines run deep with questions. Can University win the State 4A title? Will East Valley be the best in 3A? How many individual champions will come from the Greater Spokane League? Who will come from nowhere to score a major upset and help their team finish higher than expected?
The state gymnastics tournament is running the same days at the Dome’s exhibition hall, with Spokane gymnasts vying for individual honors and Mead and Shadle Park trying for team glory.
Basketball winds down as well, with tonight’s Lewis and Clark at University girls game deciding the GSL title. But the second season, the playoffs, begins as well, with 3A district play beginning at two sites tonight then continuing at Mt. Spokane on Friday and Saturday nights.
The 4A district playoffs begin next week, but Friday night the final spots and seeds will be decided at U-Hi (with two games for boys and girls sixth seeds) and Central Valley (for second place, and an automatic regional berth, in boys).
Basketball
GSL games
Tonight
Lewis and Clark at University girls, 7:30 p.m. 3A district playoffs - Game 1, loser out, boys: North Central at Cheney, 6 p.m.; girls: West Valley at North Central, 6 p.m.
Friday
3A district playoffs at Mt. Spokane High – Game 2, winner No. 1 to regional, girls: East Valley vs. Clarkston, 6 p.m.; boys: Clarkston vs. West Valley, 8. GSL 4A tiebreakers at University, winners No. 6 to district, losers out, girls: Ferris vs. Mead, 5:45 p.m.; boys: Mead vs. Mt. Spokane, 7:30. GSL 4A tiebreaker at Central Valley, boys, winner No. 2 to district, loser No. 3: Gonzaga Prep vs. University, 7 p.m.
Saturday
3A district playoffs at Mt. Spokane – Game 3, winner No. 2 to regional, loser No. 3, Thursday’s winners vs. Friday’s losers: girls 6 p.m., boys 8.
Wrestling
Friday, 10 a.m.
State wrestling tournament, Mat Classic XVII, Tacoma Dome. Continues all day.
Saturday, 10 a.m.
State wrestling tournament continues.
Gymnastics
Friday
State gymnastics meet, Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall. 4A individual events start at 9:15 a.m. 3A/2A individual events start at 7 p.m.; team competition begins at 1:30 p.m.
Saturday
State gymnastics meet continues.
LOOKING AROUND
Not only is the U-Hi girls basketball team ranked No. 1 in the state 4A, it also won the WIAA’s scholastic award with a 3.82 grade point average. The Titans, coached by Mark Stinson, were not the only winners in the Inland Northwest. Wilbur-Creston’s boys team, coached by Tom Johnson, and Curlew’s girls, coached by Ted Torzewski, won the B basketball awards. Lakeside-Nine Mile Falls’ gymnastics team, coached by Missy Binder, earned the 2A award as did Chewelah’s wrestling squad, coached by Kim Hogan. … Pullman High’s Brian Joe was named the 3A swimmer of the year for Eastern Washington, while his coach Nick Sturm was named coach of the year. … Eisenhower has finished its Big Nine season 17-3 and will be either No. 1 or 2 in the boys basketball district playoffs, depending upon Friday’s Davis at Pasco outcome. Pasco is No. 1 if it wins, No. 3 if it loses. Richland, Kamiakin and Moses Lake will round out the boys, though the seeding won’t be decided until tonight. On the girls side, Ike is done at 19-1, with Richland (18-1) finishing tonight at Kennewick (15-4). The Ike girls will be the No. 1 seed thanks to a draw Monday. Kamiakin (11-8) also will be in districts, but the final two spots potentially could involve a five-team three-day playoff. … Mead and Ferris play Friday night for the sixth and final GSL girls district spot. The Saxons beat the Panthers 53-35 a little more than a week ago. “They wanted it more than we did,” said Mead coach Regan Freuen. “We will come out with much better energy and focus. Both of us will come out that way. We’re both used to being in the playoffs. There’s a sense of urgency there.”