QB Luke Clift recovers to lead Bears to first win of season
With quarterback Luke Clift in the lineup for the first time this season, Central Valley bounced back from a tough season-opening loss to even its Greater Spokane League football record.
The Bears defeated Rogers 44-20, with Clift completing 5 of 9 passes for 60 yards and two touchdowns.
Clift had undergone surgery for a kneecap injury and during early practices was noticeably favoring his leg. Watching in street clothes from the sidelines during last week’s 13-11 loss to Lewis and Clark, he had said he would see part-time action this week against the Pirates and be ready to go full bore next Friday at Gonzaga Prep.
He hit Jake Igo for a game-opening score and again in the third quarter, both passes covering 23 yards. His return enabled Connor Janhunen to be used both as rusher and receiver. Janhunen gained 45 yards on the ground and caught a pass for 17 yards. He also kicked three field goals and five extra points.
Tailback Shon Davis rushed for 148 yards on 12 carries and two touchdowns.
East Valley (1-0), University (0-1), West Valley (1-0) and Freeman (0-1) had their second games on Friday. The results are in today’s Spokesman-Review sports section.
Volleyball for real next
GSL volleyball teams begin play for real next week after tuning up with a pair of nonleague contests.
University, which last year came within a game of its third straight state trip, split last week. Coach Amanda Velasquez has dubbed this a “building year.”
But after the Titans were swept in three games by league favorite Lewis and Clark (which two days later beat defending state champ Mead), they bounced back for a five-game, 25-20, 24-26, 25-22, 17-25, 15-13 win over Shadle Park.
Junior middle blocker Eileen Chatfield led U-Hi in kills with 20, including 14 against the Highlanders. First-year setter Lisa Reich had 55 assists, 39 of them against Shadle. And 6-foot junior middle Laura Leach had 15 blocks, 12 against Shadle.
East Valley dropped a couple of matches, in three games to Gonzaga Prep and four to Ferris. Pam Eatock had 14 digs against the Bullpups, and Justine Simpson, one of seven sophomores on the Knight varsity, had 16 against Ferris.
Central Valley played on Friday, but earlier the Bears lost in three games to Mead, 25-12, 25-21, 25-21.
Eagles win GNL debut
West Valley’s girls soccer team won its Great Northern League debut on Thursday.
The Eagles defeated Riverside 3-0 the league opener on goals by newcomers Kaley Way, DeeDee Garbe and junior returnee Lacey Nordby.
Greater Spokane League teams have been involved in nonleague contests. First league match is next Wednesday.
To date, Central Valley lost 3-2 to Lake City after leading 2-0 midway through the first half. Senior Anne Weisbeck scored both goals.
University was beaten twice, 4-2 by Ferris and 2-0 by Mead in a minitournament at Mead. Sophomore Mandy Schmedding scored both goals.
New East Valley coach Andres Monrroy‘s debut was a success, 2-0 over North Central. Lindsey Moles had a goal and an assist.
New coaches debut
New boys cross country coaches at Central Valley and University debut Saturday at a familiar course, Liberty Lake County Park.
James Berry of the Bears and Mike Barbero of the Titans ran a couple years apart while at U-Hi in the mid-to-late 1990s. They have been assistant coaches and now are stepping out on their own.
The Bears are being touted as a top-three GSL contender and are ranked among the state’s top 10.
GSL races begin next Wednesday, including CV and U-Hi against league favorite Ferris at Comstock Park. East Valley is at Mead.
Jones is club champ
Liberty Lake Women’s 18-Hole Club golfer Rose Jones captured this year’s club championship with match play victory over Caryn McComas.
Other victors included Elsa Metting over Louise Newtson in first flight and Maggie Steffy over Dorothy Womach in second flight.
Consolation winners were Patsy Lynn in championship flight, Connie Hatfield in first flight and Noreen Sale in second flight.
Most recently, Steffy won the September leg of the Liberty Cup with a net 72.
Putting winners were Gloria Cash with 31 in A flight, Connie Hatfield with 32 in B, Raouleen Grimes with 34 in C and Jan Hussey with 29 in D.
Also at Liberty Lake
The Liberty Lake Ladies Nine Hole Club conducted weekly medal play.
Cheryl Baumker won first flight with a low gross 55 two weeks ago. Her round included a birdie on the third hole.
Second flight’s Nancy Lampe had the day’s best score of 54. Joanne Ruddell and Carol Maycock tied with net 38.
In third flight, Lee King shot 64, and Lu Benjamin netted 34.
This past week Karen Strauss shot 46, Nellie Auckerman 59 and Wilma Capaul 67 in the respective flights. Andrey Vanos had net 33 in first flight, including a pair of chip-ins, on the 15th and 16th holes, the latter for a birdie.
Nancy Smith with 38, Lee King and Sandy Maxwell with 42s were other net winners.
Trailhead ladies compete
Weekly winner of Trailhead Ladies Golf Club competition was Marcia Rowley.
Rowley shot 44 for A flight low gross, while Joy Russell shot 51 in B and Marjo Coy had 59 in C.
Net winners were Harriet Carbon with 32 in A flight, Sandi Hatcher with 31 in and Myrlene Haskell with 26 in C.