GSL basketball … let the (counting) games begin

Gonzaga Prep’s girls took the road to Seattle during Christmas break and throttled defending 4A state basketball champion Roosevelt 75-48.

Mt. Spokane’s girls beat two other Seattle-area teams, Kentridge 62-38 and Kennedy 54-47, for an unprecedented holiday tournament title.

Their reward? A return home to begin play tonight in the rugged Greater Spokane League, where there is no guarantee of such heady success.

Mt. Spokane coach Jeanne Helfer said the break-through effort by her team was huge.

“I thought it was a growth step for the program,” she said. “My assistant said it best as we were winding down the championship game when she said, ‘I think the girls have come of age.’”

That said, Helfer was quick to point out that getting out of the GSL for a shot at the postseason is perhaps more difficult than winning that tournament. Bullpups coach Mike Arte concurred.

“Their coach, Bill Resler, told me, ‘Holy God. How are you picked for the mid-pack of your league?’” said Arte, following the 27-point victory.

But at 5-2 after preseason, Gonzaga Prep has just the fifth best record among GSL girls teams and its first two games of the 13-game schedule come against a pair of unbeatens.

The Bullpups host 3A North Central (off to a best-ever 7-0 start), then Thursday are at unbeaten University.

After beginning the GSL tonight at winless West Valley, Mt. Spokane (6-1) plays host to Clarkston (4-2), which finished a point away from last year’s 3A state title game, on Friday.

“We have to do the best we can,” said Helfer. “We have to keep trudging on.”

U-Hi and Lewis and Clark (7-0) are heavily favored to battle for the girls GSL title, though the star-crossed Tigers will begin the league portion of their season at less than full strength.

The latest in a litany of injuries came when fourth-year standout Briann January sprained her left shoulder during a holiday practice.

“Bri will be back, it’s just a matter of when,” said coach Jim Redmon.

She vowed Monday that she’ll be ready for Friday’s annual Rubber Chicken spirit game against Ferris in the Spokane Arena.

The other 4A GSL teams will try to prove they belong in that company as part of at least seven teams chasing six district playoff spots. Making life more difficult will be 3A teams like NC, Clarkston and East Valley, which can impact the final league standings.

“One of us is not going to make the playoffs,” said Arte. “It will be nip and tuck right to the end. One slip-up can kill you. It’s crazy, but will make for a fun seven weeks.”

West Valley’s 3A boys (7-0), Ferris and surprising Central Valley (both 6-1) and University (5-2 and winners of five straight) had strong non-league efforts. Still, coaches believe the league portion of the schedule will be entirely unpredictable.

“Any night, any play, a shot here or there, a free throw here or there,” said Shadle Park coach Tim Gaebe, whose team has been involved in four of numerous boys nail biters, one decided on a floor-length shot.

Mt. Spokane’s Bill Ayers said he learned years ago that you can experiment during non-league and sacrifice a game for the sake of establishing a foundation and identifying player strengths. So who knows what the five non-counting games against other GSL teams really proved?

“You don’t want to be too philosophical,” he said. “When you lose your first two games you try to win.”

And now that the winning really counts, he said, things like seven home games vs. six, having four in a row on the road, and whether you play late or early on Tuesdays can all factor in.

“All that stuff’s going to come into play,” he said. “I think every night’s going to be an adventure. There’s nobody in the league that can’t step up and surprise. It’s going to be an interesting 13 days.”