GSL unbeatens to square off

Tuesday night marks the showdown between the last of the Greater Spokane League unbeaten boys basketball teams.

Ferris (4-0) is at Shadle Park (3-0) to determine undisputed first place.

The Saxons have been led in scoring by DeAngelo Casto (18.8 points per game), Jared Karstetter (14.5) and Shawn Stockton (11.8). The Highlanders are paced by guard Zack Humphrey (17.7). All of them are juniors.

Comparative scores, Ferris’ size, and early schedule strength favor the Saxons. But coach Don Van Lierop was wary of the Highlanders prior to the start of the GSL season after losing to them in a 10-minute jamboree meeting.

Casto scored 37 points and had 21 rebounds during an 85-68 win over University on Friday. The Highlanders, who also rely on veteran point guard Leo Avila, 6-foot-5 sophomore Anthony Brown (10 ppg) and 6-6 freshman Aaron Dunn, beat U-Hi 52-50 three nights earlier.

The wait is over

In case you missed it, Rogers’ girls basketball team won in the Greater Spokane League for the first time since Jan. 25, 2002, losses extending beyond 70 games and the longest dry spell in the league’s 30-year history.

The win wasn’t so much a surprise. The Pirates were coming off a promising eight-point loss to then-unbeaten Mead and had a week to prepare for winless Mt. Spokane.

But, the ease of victory was an eye opener, 64-39.

“This is the team I’ve had for four years,” said coach Nicole Kilgore, who started at state qualifying University and at Eastern Washington University. “It’s not (about) teaching anymore, it’s practice. This is the year and the girls are ready to go.”

Everyone is talking about Lewis and Clark and University, the GSL’s obvious top two, said Kilgore.

The Tigers improved to 4-0 with a 52-42 win over Mead. U-Hi’s only loss, amid three lop-sided wins, was to the Tigers.

“Other than that, everyone’s close, I think – everyone,” Kilgore said. “It’s going to be a competitive league.”

One 3A team that is having a say where 4A schools place, is East Valley. The Knights, in Freddie Rehkow‘s fifth season as coach, are 3-0 following Friday’s win at Shadle Park. Up next for the Knights, LC.

Wrestling invites

GSL had five champions among eight finalists in 14 weights during the Inland Empire Classic at Central Valley.

The host Bears finished third with 147 points behind Hermiston, Oregon (220.5) and Coeur d’Alene (167.5). Jeremy Savage was CV’s champion, winning at 130 pounds.

Two University wrestlers, Anthony Rivera and Brian Owen, won back-to-back titles at 119 and 125 pounds. Owen, a two-time state finalist and former state champ, underwent back surgery last spring.

Lewis and Clark’s Anthony Varnell (140) and East Valley’s Clete Hanson (171) were the other titlists.

Riverside won six individual titles and the championship of the Ephrata Invitational 210 to 190 over Burlington-Edison.

Brothers Ryan and Jacob DesRoches at 160 and 152 pounds, respectively, won titles. Ryan is defending 2A state champion.

Other winners were Jeremy Rigby (103), Ryan Major (112), Mike Jones (125) and Nick Defloria (285).

League counters in B

Defending state boys champion Northwest Christian is off to a perfect start in the Bi-County League, Lind-Ritzville and Davenport girls went 2-0 last weekend as well. The nine-team league, seven of which are 2B schools, will play 16 counting games. Almira/Coulee-Hartline and Odessa then branch out into 1B post-season play.

The Panorama League is divided into a five-team 2B and six-team 1B divisions. Teams in each division play each other twice for league status and against teams from the other division once.

Republic and Wellpinit boys in 2B, Curlew boys and girls and Inchelium boys in 1A are all 2-0 after last weekend.

Other leagues are still playing their non-league schedule.