Mead, Shadle assured playoff berths

It comes down to this

Feb. 5: The season comes down to this week for several Greater Spokane League basketball 4A teams – win and be in.

(Beginning Tuesday night,) Mead (14-4) and Shadle Park (13-5) boys (were) still maneuvering for second place and that all-important guaranteed 4A regional berth.

And there’s definite incentive for both Lewis and Clark and University to finish strong even if Rogers is rooting against them.

The Panthers have things in their control thanks to an emphasis on defense to go with obvious offensive capability. They finish out the season against North Central and Lewis and Clark.

The “Houdini” Highlanders must win their final two games against University and East Valley, then get help from the city’s oldest two high schools against Mead.

Both the Tigers and Titans face formidable opposition. LC (7-11), which beat struggling Central Valley (7-11) last Thursday, is positioned to make postseason. It faces fourth-place Gonzaga Prep (12-7) and the Panthers. U-Hi (6-12) has the unenviable chore of beating either Shadle or unbeaten Ferris and hoping either the Bears or Tigers lose their final two.

Meanwhile, Rogers (6-12) which stubbed its toe last week in losing to both the Titans and LC, needs a victory over Mt. Spokane and hopes the others lose in order to create a tie for the final playoff spot(s).

Thursday night’s GSL feature is Mead at Lewis and Clark girls in a 5:30 p.m. game. The Tigers (17-1) need two victories to win the GSL outright. Second-place University (16-2) is at Shadle Park (13-5) on Tuesday in another game of significance. A Highlander win followed by a Panthers (15-3) victory would create a second-place tie with one game separating three teams.

Regional wrestling next

Seventy-eight GSL wrestlers will compete in regionals this weekend, and of those 41 are juniors or younger, including seven freshmen and eight sophomores. This is the biggest weekend of the wrestling season for local athletes. Finish among the top four or five (depending upon classification) during regional competition and you are among the elite Mat Classic state qualifiers.

Here are the GSL regional qualifiers:

Class 4A

Central Valley (11) – Sam Neumann, fr., 103; Tanner Teeples, jr., 112 (champion); Trevor Delmedico, fr., 112; Tyler Simmet, so., 119; Jeremy Savage, sr., 130; Jeff Croskrey, sr., 135 (champion); Josh Renfro, jr., 152 (champion); George De La Rosa, sr., 160; Jacob Neumann, jr., 189 (champion); Tyler Cochran, jr., 215 (champion); Dan Gadley, sr., 275.

Ferris (7) – Dylan Morgan, jr., 119; Josh Rettinghouse, jr., 125; Tyson Riehle, jr., 130; Ian Bauman, so., 145; Billy Mulkin, sr., 152; Andre Rivera, so., 160 (champion); Ryan Kernkamp, jr., 215.

Gonzaga Prep (6) – David Hall, jr., 103 (champion); Kevin Healy, jr., 130 (champion); Chris Tripplet, fr., 135; Gabe Ahl, sr., 140; Jon Healy, sr., 145 (champion); Matt Lynch, sr., 275.

Lewis and Clark (3) – Trevor Powell, sr., 125; Anthony Varnell, sr., 140 (champion); Isaac Fry, jr., 189.

Mead (7) – Jake Anderson, jr., 112; Philip Smith, jr., 119 (champion); Ben Moore, jr., 145; Drew Comito, jr., 160; Jordan Greco, sr., 171; Ian Tyrrel, sr., 189; Jacob Trotter, fr., 215.

Rogers (2) – Jacob Harkness, fr., 103; Bryan Clark, sr., 171.

Shadle Park (4) – Justin Trevino, so., 103; Anthony Krigbaum, sr., 125; Blaine Shippy, sr., 135; Jacob Rittenhouse, jr., 140.

University (16)

– Zach Lester, so., 112; Anthony Rivera, jr., 119; Brian Owen, jr., 125 (champion); Ryan Zumwalt, fr., 130; Craig Landes, so., 135; Elliott Nay, sr., 140; Nick Bickley, sr., 145; RJ Daschbach, 152, jr.; Kenny Cleveland, sr., 152; Dan Jordan, jr., 160; Greg Mitchell, sr., 171 (champion); Ben Borgman, sr., 171; Brandon Oakes, sr., 189; Billy McGlasson, sr., 215; Brad Peterson, sr., 275 (champion); Levi Wilson, sr., 275.

Class 3A

East Valley (11) – Kyle Hunter, sr., 112; Matt Mehlbrech, jr., 119; Jake Rodriguez, so., 130; Nic Price, so., 140; Caleb Alvarado, sr., 145 (champion); Billy Cabbage, sr., 152; Dakota Lawson, so.; 160; Clete Hanson, jr., 171 (champion); Dan Michalski, sr., 189 (champion); Jimmy Martin, sr., 215 (champion); Alaric Park, jr., 215.

Mt. Spokane (7) – Justin Scott, jr., 125; Ryan Rabe, sr., 125 (champion); Wes Reasor, sr., 140; Corbin Richardson, jr., 145; Noah Hatton, sr., 152 (champion); Ryan Robertson, sr., 171; Joe Lindsey, sr., 285.

North Central (4) – Nathan Brown, fr., 103; Thomas Montague, sr., 135; Mike Pursel, sr., 152; Dan Bolen, sr., 189.