U-Hi downs CV at Bone; will meet again

“Bone Appetit,” read the shirts worn by University High fans at the Battle of the Bone.

And the Titans feasted on Central Valley, 61-3 in the most lopsided wrestling match in the 10-year history of the trophy match.

“We got maximum mileage out of about everybody in the program tonight,” said Titan coach Don Owen Thursday night. “They wrestled really, really well.”

U-Hi’s shirts featured a Bear in a pot with a bit of the old cheer, “what do we eat, what do we eat…” (get it? “Bear meat”) embossed on the front.

Central Valley’s shirts, “CV/HS Bone in Black” was a takeoff on the AC/DC “Back in Black” album cover, complete with a list of wrestling terminology-based songs on the back of the shirt – ie., “Have a Pin for Me” – that mimicked the album’s tracks.

But the Bone trophy stayed with U-Hi for the fourth straight year and eighth overall during the decade.

U-Hi, CV and East Valley compete today in the Dream Duals at East Valley. CV could meet the Titans in the 4A Dream Duals today, but definitely gets a rematch Wednesday.

National Division champion U-Hi is home against American Division runner-up CV in the Greater Spokane League dual championship semifinals. American Division champion East Valley is home against National runner-up Clarkston Wednesday. Both start at 7 p.m. Winners meet Saturday at 7 p.m. at U-Hi for the GSL title.

If U-Hi and three-time champion East Valley advance to the finals it will match two undefeated teams.

The two teams have comparable strengths in several middle weight classes, EV has an advantage from 160 on up and U-Hi the advantage low. Most intriguing matches appear to be at 112 and 135 pounds.

“If we end up meeting U-Hi it’s just going to be a good one,” EV coach Craig Hanson said last week. “It’s one of those ones that will be great for the fans and good for both of our teams.”

After the GSL title is settled, the Titans and Knights go their separate ways for postseason with a chance to send double-digit numbers to their respective 4A and 3A state tournaments.

The Battle of the Bone was evidence of U-Hi’s depth, with two 119 pounders and two 171 pounders accounting for 18 of the Titans’ team points.

CV’s only wins were in 1998 and in 2001, by a point 31-30. Of the 10 contests, only three – the others came during the Battle’s first two years of 1996 and ‘97 – have been close.

None, however, were as stunningly one-sided as this. U-Hi won 13 of 14 matches, six by pin, one by technical fall (a 15-point victory) and two by major (eight point or more) decisions. In three others U-Hi wrestlers just missed majors while scoring 11 points against their foes.

“I thought CV’s kids fought hard,” said Owen. “It was just a matter of being outmatched in experience more than anything.”

Indeed, CV’s best wrestlers are juniors, sophomores and freshmen whose time will come. Eight seniors won matches for the Titans.

Owen jockeyed his lineup, moving four wrestlers, Cory Fish, Jon Sahlberg, Joey Korn and Nick Rose up in weight to give him the strongest possible lineup.

All four of them were victorious, though Sahlberg, Korn and Rose gave away a minimum of 18 pounds to their respective opponents.

Sahlberg, who deferred to pin winner August Pope at 171, won by pin as time ran out in the second period in the 189-pound match. Korn won by pin in the third round at 215.

“I thought Joey was in deep trouble,” said Owen. “At one point he was directly vertical, but somehow their kid fell down.”

Owen was also complimentary of Fish’s 5-0 win at 125. The defending 103 state champion, now a 119-pound senior, beat state placer Lucas Chesher in the night’s featured contest.

“Boy, that was a great match for Cory,” said Owen. “He’s been wrestling solidly and has developed some good things.”

Bears win a pair

Central Valley’s boys basketball team ended a three-game losing skid and the girls kept winning, both at East Valley’s expense on Thursday.

The boys pulled out a 48-44 win over the Knights on the continued hot hand of sophomore Nick Ambrose who scored 17 points, giving him 38 for the week. He’s averaging a team high 11.5 points for the year.

Down a point at halftime, 15-14, CV (9-4 overall, 3-3 in the GSL) more than doubled its score to regain the lead in the third quarter and held on. The Bears made 19 of 25 free throws.

EV’s Jye Lanphere (14 points) and Jared Smith (10) paced EV (4-9, 1-5).

Central Valley’s girls improved to 5-1 in league (10-3 overall) with its 57-37 win and are tied for third behind a pair of unbeaten teams.

The Bears led just 23-17 at halftime but outscored EV 18-7 in the third quarter. Sarah Gehring hit a court-length shot to end the period and finished with 11.

Heidi Heintz scored 24 points. She had 41 for the week and upped her team-leading average to 16.3 per game. East Valley (6-7, 2-4) was led by Eleaya Schuerch‘s 11 points.

Gymnasts enter final week

Regular season for Greater Spokane League gymnasts ends next week.

Central Valley, which finished second to Ferris Thursday, is currently fourth in league behind Mead, Shadle Park and the Saxons with a 4-2 record, 8-5 overall.

The Bears finish against Ferris and the Highlanders at Shadle next Thursday.

University (8-4, 3-3) finishes Friday at Lakeside against the Eagles, Mt. Spokane and Lewis and Clark and should win its final three league counters.

During most recent competition the Titans won two of three matches, losing to Shadle Park.

CV’s Maya Morgan was first all-around at 35.15, winning bars and beam and finishing second on vault. U-Hi’s Kayla McGahey won all-around at 35.025, finishing first on bars and second during balance beam and floor exercise.