GSL Preview Boys Basketball
The players …
Ferris state veterans Stockton (committed to Montana), Jared Karstetter (football at WSU), Erick Cheadle, Jeff Minnerly, Beau Brett and Evan Ewing keep Saxons on top. And there’s always the chance DeAngelo Casto becomes eligible. … Shadle’s Zack Humphrey and Mead’s Brendan Ingebritsen are inching up the scoring records list.
Humphrey is joined by a WSU commit, junior Anthony Brown, and sophomore talent Aaron Dunn. CV’s Luke Clift is healthy. Mt. Spokane’s Jordon Poynor and Ryan Selland are a nice one-two punch. NC’s Nick Rijon led the state third-place finishers. U-Hi guard Mason Johnson starred as a sophomore. … Gonzaga Prep junior Travis Long and East Valley senior Danny Marshall will be among the league’s impact players.
Keep an eye on …
How will late start effect Lewis and Clark? Six members of last year’s district qualifier – Taylor Eglet, Alex Gauper and Doug Talkington among them – are playing this weekend in Tacoma for a state football title, so basketball must wait. … Tyler Olson, a Gonzaga University baseball signee and two-year varsity player at U-Hi before moving to California, is back. In joining Johnson and veteran posts Ryan Dixon and Trevor Wakem, the Titans’ stock has risen. … CV, which graduated its two leading scorers, will find out its status in a hurry, opening as it does tonight against Shadle Park. … Mead’s Dan Spitz, a WSU football commit, is playing basketball for the first time in high school, and the Panthers have Jacob Mydtlyng, who moved here from Oregon. They join seven returnees in the Panthers’ pressure, uptempo game.
Season outlook
The Saxons and Highlanders, coaches say, are the clear-cut top two. Behind them any of six teams could finish third. U-Hi was eighth a year ago, but coach Garrick Phillips, in his second year, likes the improvement. Rogers coach Brian Kissinger noted his team went 31-10 and won three tournaments in the summer. Mead, CV, LC are athletic, and Prep, though inexperienced, is always sound. … In 3A, NC’s two-time state placers now have expectations, Mt. Spokane and East Valley will be better. “I’ll tell you what, I think this league is as tough from top to bottom as I’ve seen it,” said Wildcats coach Bill Ayers. “I know coaches say it every year, but sometimes we’re just being politically correct.” This time he’s serious. … Ferris and Rogers play in new gyms this year, while Shadle plays at Spokane Falls CC because of construction.