Quick hits

CBL decision will affect GSL

A decision by eight 4A schools in the Columbia Basin has forced the hand of their 3A league brethren and will create a ripple effect felt all the way to the Greater Spokane League.

The Columbia Basin League’s 4A schools were not enamored of the split that created a league with seven-team 4A and 3A divisions the past two years. They voted recently to secede and form a separate league, rather than create a combination league like the GSL and others.

Eastmont in Wenatchee has grown to 4A size and would have made it an eight-team league next year. With the addition in 2009 of Chiawana, a new Pasco school, it will increase to nine.

“That blocks us out of scheduling competition with schools, including regional matchups which we cherish,” said Southridge athletic administrator Steve Biehn. “We would be looking at games in Coeur d’Alene, Bend, Vancouver and Seattle. It became a question if it was in the best interest of the kids and we didn’t think it was.”

So Southridge, Kennewick and Kamiakin on Monday all opted to play up in 4A, putting the onus on the remaining CBL 3A schools. Hanford in Richland apparently will move up, too, ultimately creating a 13-team league.

That puts West Valley-Yakima and Sunnyside in a bind. They prefer to remain 3A but effectively have no league to play in.

The problem, Biehn agrees, is that CBL 4A schools are adamant against a combination league such as the GSL, which at one time had 14 schools.

“You make it work,” said University High athletic director Ken Van Sickle, of accommodating fellow schools in having a league. “You work with all the schools and make sure everybody has games. We had growing pains, but it’s what is best for kids and we did it.”

“The issue could have been solved,” said Biehn. “We could have taken care of each other, but the 4A schools saw it differently. It certainly forced our hand.”

The effect on the GSL is palpable. The region stands to gain another State 4A berth with the addition of at least five schools. Van Sickle said it will likely put Spokane at a regional numbers disadvantage, because the majority of schools will be in the Columbia Basin.

It will also force GSL 3A schools to make a decision, particularly if postseason travel becomes prohibitive. Mt. Spokane has said it might choose to opt up if staying 3A means trips to Vancouver or Bellingham, said Wildcats athletic director John Miller.

“Our 3A schools will ask the WIAA for an extension on declaration to sort through this and see what we can do,” said Miller.

The best-case scenario would be if Shadle Park wins an appeal and joins North Central, Rogers, East Valley and Mt. Spokane at 3A. If the three remaining CBL 3A schools stayed, there would be eight in the region.

“There would be 62 3A schools,” said Biehn, “and they might still get two state berths.”

Biehn, Miller and Van Sickle are in agreement that the CBL 4A schools decision was short-sighted.

“We talked ourselves blue in the face trying to get people to understand the virtues of a combination league, but it has fallen on deaf ears,” said Biehn. “To tell the truth, you will see the effect on school morale, kids and the community.”

“It’s a mess,” said Miller. “It’s not fair to kids.”

– Mike Vlahovich

Football honors

Lewis and Clark running back/linebacker Alex Shaw has been chosen Washington 4A co-player of the year in the Associated Press All-State football teams. Shaw, who helped lead the Tigers to the title, was a first-team choice at running back and linebacker. He shared player of year honors with Edmonds-Woodway running back Tony Heard.

LC’s Steve Johnson was a unanimous pick for the defensive line where Central Valley’s Patrick Mealey was also chosen. LC’s Isaac Fry was picked on the offensive line along with Ferris wide receiver Jared Karstetter and defensive back McKenzie Murphy.

DB Lonnie Quirk of East Valley was on the 3A first team and DB Dale Entel of Clarkston on the 2A team.

State 1B champion Almira/Coulee-Hartline had four first-teamers: RB Jordan Hughes, OL Caden Grenier, DL Reid Ashley, and LB Josh Goodwin. LB Travis Todd and DB Jacob Schmidt of runner-up Odessa were also first-teamers.

The complete list of teams and local honorable mention selections in on Scoreboard/C5.

“LC’s Tom Yearout has been honored as 4A football coach of the year, first by the Tacoma News-Tribune on its all-state team (which named Gonzaga Prep’s Mat Barker as its kicker), and then by the Seattle Times. LC’s Shaw was named to the Times All-State team as linebacker and Mead’s Dan Spitz was named to the defensive line.