Quick hits
GSL’s tough-luck team
For all the talk about the Greater Spokane League’s seven-team boys basketball race, consider Rogers. The Pirates will need an upset to make the district playoffs, but they could just as easily be a contender.
In recent games they lost to GSL co-leader Gonzaga Prep by four points, fourth-place Mt. Spokane by two and Central Valley by one. They’ve lost by fewer than double figures to two others.
State bowling tourney on tap
The Leilani Lanes will be the site of the WIAA’s State Bowling Championships on Friday and Saturday. The 16-team tournament will be the final event the Renton bowling alley will host. The facility, which has hosted all but one of the state tournaments, is scheduled to be torn down following the championships.
GSL game of the week
Shadle Park boys (11-5, 7-2) vs. North Central (15-2, 8-1), today, 5:30 p.m. at Spokane Arena
For the first time in many years, the Groovy Shoes boys basketball battle might just decide who wins the GSL. The Highlanders, who won the non-league game between these two, must win if they want to have any hope of taking the crown. The Indians are part of a three-way tie with G-Prep and Ferris.
Area game of the week
Freeman girls (15-2, 3-1) at Colfax (15-3, 4-0), Friday, 5:45 p.m.
Colfax has won eight straight and will win the NEA if it stretches that to nine. Their opponent will know them well, as the Scotties have played Colfax seven times in the last 13 months. Freeman has lost only twice this season: 48-46 at home to Colfax while playing without second-leading scorer Claire Moberg, and by six to Pullman. The two teams are more than just 1-2 in the Northeast A, they’re 1 (Colfax) and 2 (Freeman) in the 1A classification in the latest Associated Press poll.
Great Northern League
The big matchup this week sends Lakeside to Chewelah for a Friday night doubleheader. In the early game, the boys will battle for second place in the GNL in a rematch of Chewelah’s 52-49 win over the Eagles on Jan. 7. Chewelah’s girls (11-5, 5-3) played seventh-ranked Lakeside (12-4, 8-0) tough in their first meeting – a four-point Eagles win. … Pullman’s boys (14-1, 7-0) were ranked third in the latest AP poll, as the Greyhounds have won 13 consecutive games.
Northeast A
As it gets to the downside of the league season, this week’s big girls game is in Colfax (see above).On the boys side, a 43-41 upset by Freeman (10-7, 2-2) of Kettle Falls (15-3, 3-1) Saturday has put Colfax (13-4, 3-1) back in a first-place tie with the Scotties. Freeman will look to pull another upset, this time of Colfax on Friday in Freeman.
The Bs
Whitman County: While St. John-Endicott (15-3, 10-0 WCL) has wrapped up a share of the boys basketball league title and can win it outright with a win Friday at Rosalia (7-11, 4-6), the girls’ race will come down to the wire.
SJE’s girls are tied with LaCrosse-Washtucna (both 13-5, 8-2) entering the final weekend of regular-season play, but the Eagles hold the head-to-head sweep. Tekoa-Oakesdale (12-6, 7-3), which split with SJE but lost both games to L-W, sits a game back.
Bi-County: Sprague-Harrington’s girls (17-0, 15-0) have clinched a tie for the school’s first league basketball title since the S-H girls won the Bi-Co East in 1997-98. Northwest Christian’s boys (15-2, 13-2), aiming for their first Bi-Co title, have a two-game lead over Liberty with three to play.
Panorama: The league tournament begins Tuesday and Wednesday at the higher seeds, and only one of four divisions have been decided. Republic’s second-ranked boys (15-2, 13-0) have a share of their third straight North Division title, while Selkirk and St. George’s both have three losses and appear headed to a tie for the South. Curlew’s girls (15-2, 12-1) have a one-game lead over Inchelium (15-3, 11-2) in the North, and Friday night’s game between Cusick and St. George’s (both 13-5, 9-3) will decide the South.