East Valley locks up third straight trip to state

East Valley is into postseason, and University will be playing for that right as Greater Spokane League high school football races toward its conclusion.

The Knights (4-2) clinched the Greater Spokane League’s 3A berth in the playoffs with Thursday’s 35-17 victory over Mt. Spokane. EV will be making its third straight state trip.

“That’s what we came here to do and now it’s locked up,” said coach Adam Fisher after the harrowing win.

East Valley scored easily on its first possession, marching 65 yards in six plays. And it scored three times, twice in just 20 seconds, in the second quarter for a 28-7 halftime lead.

But EV ran only two fourth-quarter plays as Mt. Spokane kept the football for most of the first nine minutes, and the score was 28-17 when Zach Loveall recovered an onside kick with 3:25 left to play.

Case Parker, a relay runner on the Knights’ state championship track team, needed one play, a burst up the middle for 70 yards, to put the game way.

“That gave us some breathing room, which was very helpful,” Fisher said.

Mt. Spokane runs a four-receiver spread offense, which makes defending difficult. But the Knights were able to force the Wildcats into time-consuming drives and for the most part kept them off the scoreboard. EV’s defensive line, linebacker Caleb Gillespie and defensive backs Skyler Schiller, Sam Hale (leading receiver on offense) and Russell Woodworth (also the quarterback) were particularly effective.

The situation was complicated, said Fisher, because “nicks and dings” to their linebackers/fullbacks left EV with third- and fourth-string players on the field late in the game.

“They did a good job to not be completely wide-eyed,” he said.

EV has league games left against 4A hopefuls Lewis and Clark and U-Hi.

The Titans, who played winless North Central Friday night, face once-beaten Ferris on Thursday in a game with second- or third-place implications

As head coach Mike Ganey said Thursday, “We keep hanging around.”

Last week the Titans beat Mead 31-21 to improve to 3-1 in league. They scored in every quarter – Danny Jordan twice on quarterback keepers to secure the win. Jordan also passed 45 yards to

Ken Wood

for a third touchdown. And Tyler Carlson rushed for 137 yards.

Central Valley, which lost 38-7 to EV last week, must win out against Shadle Park, Ferris and the Titans over the final three weeks of the season and get help for any hope of a playoff return.

West Valley’s two losses, to Pullman and Colville, likely scotched their Great Northern League chances.

Last week the Eagles (2-3) led in Colville 13-9 at halftime and, after falling behind 27-19 tied the game early in the fourth period on Andy Vennum‘s 75-yard kickoff touchdown and quarterback Bryan Peterson‘s extra points run.

But the Indians scored twice, a little more than two minutes apart, for the 41-27 victory. WV was outgained 466 to 151 in yards but hung tough on Tim Pring‘s touchdown following a blocked punt, and Vennum’s return.

Freeman, following its season opening one-point loss to Kettle Falls, has been on a tear, winning four straight games, three while scoring more than 40 points. The Scotties have been led by the three-pronged attack of rusher Chris Davis, receiver Scott Ferguson and quarterback Andrew Dresback.

Crossover Classic volleyball

The Spokane Valley will be a hotbed of volleyball today with the 13th Crossover Classic. University, Central Valley and East Valley are host courts for the 54-team event.

U-Hi is site of the 16-team championship bracket this afternoon.

Next week Central Valley (3-3) and University (2-4) will play for a chance to move up in the Greater Spokane League standings.

Both are currently among the top six 4A schools that will advance to district, but two other teams are on their heels.

West Valley (7-1) is alone in second place in the Great Northern League. The Eagles trail defending state champion Pullman with six matches remaining and have a two-game lead over Colville.

Freeman (3-3) is tied for third place in the Northeast A League behind Lakeside and Colfax.

Soccer teams struggle

GSL soccer teams are struggling to keep pace as the league enters its final two weeks. East Valley and University are both 3-3 and Central Valley has won only once, over the Titans.

West Valley (5-2), meanwhile, fell out of a multiple tie for first place in the GNL with its 3-0 loss to Pullman on Thursday.

Titans near softball title

University continues to pile up the runs and has moved to within a win of clinching its inaugural GSL slow-pitch softball regular season championship.

The Titans (11-0) have a three-game lead over Central Valley and Mead entering the final week of the season and should clinch the title Monday at home against Ferris.

They’ve averaged 14.5 runs per game, scoring no fewer than 10 (in a 10-7 win over CV). Seventeen different players have contributed, nine with double figures in hits.

Alyssa Hawley (23 hits), Alisha Warren (21), Riki Schiermeister and Ashley Fargher (20 apiece) are leading the attack.

Season golf ender

Liberty Lake Ladies 9-Hole Golf Club members conducted their final week of medal play.

Karen Strauss shot 47 to win first flight and Audrey Vanos had a net 31 that included a chip-in for a birdie on the first hole.

Second flight winners were Sadie Rueckert with 57 and Emma Long with net 37.

Third flight was won by Lu Benjamin with 65 and Darlene Reilly with 38.

Medal play at Liberty

Liberty Lake 18-Hole Women’s Club golfers conducted medal play last week.

Lynn Smith shot 87 for the day’s best score and A flight winner. Billie Etter netted 76 and Patsy Lynn 77.

B flight low gross was a 99 by Gloria Cash. Connie Hatfield netted 84. C flight was won by Louise Newtson with 104 and Maggie Steffy with 77.

Dorothy Womach shot 113 to win D flight. Myrna Neubauer and Francis Martin each netted 76.