Prep Watch GSL girls powerhouses shine

Excerpted from Prep Report blog at www. spokesmanreview.com.

(Posted Dec. 8) The expected girls powers in the Greater Spokane League put on an entertaining show Friday night. Two-time state champion Lewis and Clark held off host Mead 52-48 thanks a bunch to Oregon State-bound Brittany Kennedy, 17 points and a defensive masterpiece.

But the future is bright for the Panthers.

Sophomore Jazmine Redmon, who had her coming out at state last March, was hard to stop, leading Panthers rebounders, going coast-to-coast or hitting the 3-ball and scoring 23. She is one of three sophomores and a freshman in Mead’s lineup. In two games now, frosh Taylor Ingebritsen has scored in double figures, scoring 12 of her 14 in the second half.

Wrestling turmoil

(Posted Dec. 7) First week of Greater Spokane League wrestling is over and already there’s turmoil.

League favorites Central Valley and University were both dumped, the Bears by East Valley, 29-28, the Titans by Mead 35-29.

So (going into Wednesday’s matches) – the Knights had the early lead along with Mt. Spokane. Mead, CV, U-Hi, Ferris, Rogers and Shadle Park are all tied behind them.

Again, don’t be surprised if the league champion has a loss, if not more.

The Knights don’t have the heavyweights that they had a year ago, but also don’t appear to have many holes throughout the lineup. They host the Titans on Dec. 19 and travel to the Panthers Jan. 3.

Overtime matches determined the outcome of the U-Hi-Mead encounter. Not only did state third-place finisher Philip Smith beat Anthony Rivera (a state runner-up at EV as a sophomore in 2006), but at 285 Cody Foote got late stall points, then controlled Marques Johnson for 30 seconds of the third overtime for a 4-3 triumph.

What does it mean?

(Posted Dec. 7) Nobody’s blowing anybody out in Greater Spokane League basketball. There already were to upsets.

North Central (3-1) has taken a liking to this basketball state stuff themselves and even with a bunch of new players finds itself third in the league.

The Indians knocked off Central Valley and Rogers beat Mt. Spokane so the early league standings look little like preseason predictions other than the Saxons and Highlanders who could be clear-cut No. 1 and 2 this year.

The North Central Indians, with eight new player replacements from last year’s third-place state finishing 3A basketball team, continue to be the surprise of Greater Spokane League basketball.

But it wasn’t the only one on a night when Rogers, playing the inaugural game in its new gymnasium, stunned Mt. Spokane for its first win.