Busy week coming up for area high school teams
Following a holiday hiatus, everything Greater Spokane League seems to be happening all at once for Spokane Valley high school sports teams.
Thursday night, Central Valley wrestlers lost to East Valley, and next Wednesday faces another unbeaten – Mead – in two of three matches that will determine champion of the rugged Greater Spokane League American Division.
Friday, West Valley played North Central in a huge GSL basketball game with 3A superiority implications.
Over the next several days much more will help determine the winter futures of local teams.
Tuesday, CV hosts Ferris in an early-season basketball biggie on the same night that University entertains the Eagles in an all-Valley showcase.
Then on Friday the CV district schools take their Stinky Sneaker to Spokane and the Veterans Arena after two years of turn-away crowds necessitated moving the game to a larger venue.
While the GSL league basketball season is in its early stages, wrestling has passed the midpoint of the season. Only two weeks and as few as two matches of division competition remain.
Knights gain edge
East Valley passed the first of two big American Division tests with its 39-21 win over the Bears. The Knights (5-0) trailed 21-9 and it appeared CV (3-1) had positioned itself for a win thanks to impressive efforts by five wrestlers, including Nick Walker at 146 and pins by Jeff Croskrey and Lucas Chesher in the two previous matches.
“I was surprised we gave up a couple of pins,” said coach Craig Hanson. “I didn’t thing we’d give up any. I was really concerned at that point.”
But EV’s upper weights wrestlers righted the ship as expected. Included was a stunning pin by Dan Michalski at 189 pounds after CV sophomore Tyler Cochran had earned a reverse for a 3-2 lead with 1:50 left in the match.
“I was slightly distressed,” said the droll Michalski following his victory. “But coaches teach us to fight to the end and I knew I could work it out. We just needed pins where we could get them to keep the momentum going.”
Still, after the bigger Knights had rallied for a 27-21 lead, it took victories by smaller wrestlers in the final three matches to maintain its hold on first place in the GSL division.
“We didn’t know what was going to happen against Mt. Spokane and CV, or what will happen at Mead (on Jan. 18). That’s going to be a barn burner for us,” said Hanson. “But I’ve got to say I’m really glad we’re on this side of the (GSL) bracket. I’m glad the younger kids are getting to feel the pressure.”
University (4-0), meanwhile appears to have control in the National Division. The Titans lead four 3-1 teams and have beaten all of them but North Central which is also on Jan. 18th. Its latest victory came over Gonzaga Prep with only a couple regulars in the lineup. No. 2 competitors Coty Verment had a pin at 130 and Mitchell O’Hair a technical fall at 140.
West Valley (1-4) came within a point, 36-35 of upsetting the Indians thanks to four successive late-match victories between 152 and 189 pounds, by Jesse Swenson, Tyler Brischle, Tim Pring and Ryan Rose, all juniors or younger.
Wrestlers this weekend are competing in the Pacific Northwest Classic at University.
Bears take first step
Central Valley’s boys basketball team is enjoying life near the top of the league with a 7-1 overall record after winning Tuesday’s opening league game.
The Bears face a major test on Tuesday against unbeaten Ferris.
Second cousins Luke Clift of the Bears and Jon Clift from the Saxons will face each other.
Both are leading scorers, Luke at 12.1 points per game, followed by Kevin Cameron’s 10.8, and Jon at 17.4 per game.
Both CV and Ferris have balanced lineups. Key for the Bears is whether they can slow down the fast-paced Saxons.
West Valley (7-1) and NC (8-1) met Friday and are state-worthy 3A teams and also GSL title contenders.
The Eagles have three players, E.J. Richardson, Tyler Hobbs and Greg Bradley with virtually identical scoring averages (between 13.5 and 13.3 points per game). Only two points totally separate them.
On Tuesday they are at U-Hi, which won its initial league counter and played at Prep on Friday. Sophomore Tyler Olson (10.4 points per game) and his senior brother Kyle Olson (10.1) have broken into double figures for the Titans.
East Valley (3-5) showed moments of offensive promise against Ferris on Tuesday, but couldn’t keep up with the speedy foe. Dylan Sattin remains among the GSL scoring leaders with a 17.8 overall average.
University’s girls (6-2) were at full-strength in Auburn during the holidays and defeated host Auburn-Riverside 68-65 and Snohomish 48-38 in nonleague games. The Titans lost to Snohomish last year in the State 4A semifinals
Angie Bjorklund and Riki Schiermeister were back from injury and in her first action, Bjorklund had games of 22 and 20 points. Dara Zack (13.6), Tonya Schnibbe (11.0) and Janna Erickson (10.5) are also averaging in double figures.
U-Hi had a Friday rematch against Gonzaga Prep. The Bullpups beat the Titans earlier in a non-counting GSL game.
East Valley (4-4) had host Ferris on the ropes, leading by as many as 10 points in the third quarter, but lost a heartbreaker 44-41.
The Knights were held scoreless for 5 minutes, 20 seconds, but rallied to lead 41-40 with 40 seconds left in the game before letting it slip away.
Junior Ashley Grater, a first-year varsity player, continues to shine. She scored 12 points on some nifty inside moves and a 3-point basket for a 29-19 EV lead. Eleaya Scheurch, also a junior, leads scoring with an 11.1 average.
Central Valley (5-3) opened GSL play by outscoring Clarkston 21-2 in the second quarter and went on to an easy win. Heidi Heintz upped her league-leading scoring average to 20.4 points per game with a 24-point burst.
West Valley (1-7) continues to struggle, losing 51-10 on Tuesday to Mt. Spokane.
Morgan wins event
Central Valley gymnast Maya Morgan won vault and was fourth all-around with a 33.55 total during Central Valley’s 169-156.175 Greater Spokane League loss.
University competed on Friday.