Early games leave boys’ teams figuring it out

Sat., Dec. 9, 2006

By Mike Vlahovich mikev@spokesman.com (509) 927-2180

Coming up

Today

Wrestling: CV hosts the Inland Empire Tournament, 9 a.m. WV is at the St. Maries Tournament, 3 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Freeman hosts Priest River and Valley Christian is at Wilbur-Creston, 7:30 p.m..

Girls Basketball: Freeman hosts Priest River, 5:45 p.m. Valley Christian is at Wilbur-Creston, 6 p.m.

Tuesday

Boys Basketball: CV plays Rogers at Shaw Middle School, EV hosts Lewis and Clark, University is at Gonzaga Prep, 7 p.m. WV is at Moscow (in the Junior High), Valley Christian hosts Reardan, 7:30 p.m.

Girls Basketball: CV plays Rogers at Shaw, EV hosts LC, U-Hi is at Gonzaga Prep, 5:30 p.m. Valley Christian hosts Reardan, 6 p.m.

Wednesday

Wrestling: University hosts Mt. Spokane, East Valley is at Shadle Park, 7 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Freeman is at Post Falls, 7:30 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Freeman is at Post Falls, 5:45 p.m.

Gymnastics: CV hosts Lakeside, LC and Mead, 6 p.m.

Three games into the Greater Spokane League basketball season, Spokane Valley boys teams are still seeking their identities.

Central Valley (1-2) defeated East Valley (0-3) 66-44 on Tuesday for its first win. University (0-3) remained winless but nearly upset Shadle Park, dropping a 52-50 decision.

The Bears and Knights are still without injured players, Luke Clift and Emerson Fulton respectively, and the Titans are coping without last year’s scoring leader Tyler Olson who moved away before season’s start.

Two of CV’s losses have been to the GSL’s unbeatens, Ferris and Shadle Park. Nick Ambrose, who’s averaging 14.7 points per game, and Kevin Cameron, 13.3, both scored 19 in the victory over the Knights.

EV had lost a heartbreaker, 54-53, in their opener against 3A rival North Central. Junior Danny Marshall scored 20 points in that contest.

University, following losses to NC and Lewis and Clark, nearly ambushed the Highlanders. Teams were tied 23-all at half, and the Knights rallied from an eight-point deficit late in the game and had two shots near the end to win or tie.

Ryan Dixon, a 6-foot-5 post, scored 21 in the loss. Sophomore Mason Johnson is averaging 16 points after three games.

A slow start cost West Valley in a 70-62 season-opening loss to Coeur d’Alene, despite four double figures scorers, led by Casey Sherrill‘s 15.

Freeman and Valley Christian are both 1-1. Andrew Dresback scored 23 in the Scotties win, Chris Davis had 19 in an overtime loss to Deer Park.

Vitaliy Kozubenko scored 33 in the Panthers opening win. Justin McNamara is averaging 12.5 points in the two games.

Milestone win for EV

East Valley’s girls basketball got off to a perfect GSL start following a milestone victory. On Tuesday they defeated Central Valley 53-45, the first win over the Bears in more than 30 years.

Ashley Grater scored 16 points and is averaging 11.0 per game overall. Kylee Williamson has scored 10 in each of the wins.

The Knights (2-0) had opened the season with a win over North Central.

Only loss for University (2-1) came in overtime to league leader Lewis and Clark. Other than that the wins have come easily. Angie Bjorklund is averaging 27 points per game and Dara Zack 17.3.

Central Valley’s girls, with 10 freshmen and sophomores, are winless after three games. Veteran Justine Bowman, just a junior, leads the team in scoring, followed by freshman Kelsey Matthews and sophomore Ashley Carpenter.

Improved West Valley (1-2) has been involved in three close games, losing one in overtime. Four different players have scored in double figures. Lacey Nordby averaged 12.5 in two games, Krystal McCarthy scored 10 and 12 and Marissa Alexander 12 and 11 during their start.

Jennesa Miller scored 48 points in Freeman’s two wins. Katie Worley had 13 and Lexie Riggan 11 in Valley Christian’s 40-35 loss to Rosalia.

All teams played Friday night with results in today’s The Spokesman-Review sports page.

Expected wrestling wins

Valley wrestling teams were victorious, as expected, during their first Greater Spokane League matches of the season.

One of the title favorites, Central Valley (2-0) defeated improved Gonzaga Prep 48-23 and Rogers 62-12 to share first place with defending champion University and Mt. Spokane.

Juggling their lineup, the Bears won 22 of 28 individual matches during their start. Among the double winners were Tyler Cochran at 215 and 285 pounds, Moses Lake transfers Sam and Jake Neumann at 112 and 189 respectively and George De La Rosa at 160.

U-Hi defeated Shadle Park, 38-24, and Ferris 49-18. A pair of state finalists from last year – Anthony Rivera (125 pounds and a transfer from East Valley) and Brian Owen (130) – were double victors.

Also winning twice were Elliott Nay at 140, Greg Mitchell at 171 and Brandon Oakes at 189 and 215.

East Valley’s season opener with Lewis and Clark was postponed because of a bomb scare at LC. The Knights beat North Central 52-21 on Thursday. They finished off the victory with five successive wins between 152 and 285 including by Caleb Alvarado, Dakota Lawson, returning state runner-up Clete Hanson, and veterans Dan Michalski and Jimmy Martin.

All three schools are participating in today’s Inland Empire Classic at CV.

Familiar gym start

Greater Spokane League gymnasts took up as they left off during the first week of competition.

Top four finishers from last year went a combined 10-2 during the season’s first meet.

Defending champion Mead (3-0) beat last year’s runner-up University (2-1) and third-place Central Valley (3-0) beat fourth-place finishing Shadle Park (2-1) in featured multi-school competition. CV won 154.025-145.25

Back from injury, the Bears Maria Alderman was second all-around with a 31.875 four-event total with veteran Courtney Sexton third. Jenny Dimmler was a two-event victor, on balance beam, ahead of Sexton, and vault.

Alderman finished second in three disciplines, uneven bars, floor excercise and vault.

In a high-scoring meet, the Titans lost 165.25 to 159.675 against Mead. Rogers transfer Tabitha Ward was third all-around at 33.35 for U-Hi behind a pair of Panthers.

Denel Lang finished second on beam and third on bars. Renee Messling was second on vault and third during floor exercise.

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