GSL playoff picture clears
The Greater Spokane League football playoff picture cleared up substantially following last weekend’s games. Lewis and Clark officially secured a berth with its win over East Valley and Ferris is a shoo-in.
Regardless of the outcome of its season finale in two weeks against Gonzaga Prep, the run-stingy Tigers (6-1) will finish second, having defeated both Central Valley and Mead head-to-head early in the year.
“I was impressed how they came out of the blocks focused and prepared for each week,” said coach Tom Yearout. “I think we’ve gotten better.”
Yearout said LC changed its defensive line system to take advantage of its personnel. The Tigers have allowed fewer than 2 yards per carry thanks to a defensive line that is more linebacker-agile than root-hog strong.
“A lot of credit (for the change) goes to (assistant coach) Jeff Reyburn (who called on personal experience) after years of playing the defensive line the same way,” Yearout said. “On many teams three of the players would be linebackers.”
Mead keenly interested
More than two schools have an interest in Thursday’s Ferris-Central Valley football outcome. Mead is vested in the outcome.
A Bears win would create a three-way tie for first place, and they’d need to defeat rival University in their season finale to assure a playoff spot.
The Saxons, who finish the GSL season against Rogers, would secure the outright title with a victory. And Mead will be rooting for them.
If CV and the Panthers tie for third place the league has set in place a tiebreaker to determine the third berth.
But first things first.
Thursday, the Saxons must thwart CV’s ability to move the football on the ground. And even though Ferris’ spread offense is passer-friendly, Bears coach Rick Giampietri says stopping Ferris’ run is also a priority.
“I watched film of the Lake City (vs. CV) game and it scares me,” said Ferris coach Jim Sharkey following his team’s 42-14 victory over University. “CV can play with anybody in the state. They are playing with a lot of confidence right now.”
Giampietri agreed that the Lake City game was a confidence builder and said hopefully it will carry over.
“There were a lot of turnovers but it was not a sloppy game. They were forced,” he said. “If it can be that kind of game, where good plays determine the outcome, I can handle that.”
Soccer showdowns
Beginning today, Cheney faces its sternest competition in the final three games of the Great Northern League girls season, all of them at home.
Among them, the quartet has a combined 41-10 record and three are in the South Division of the league where the Blackhawks (11-2, 10-1) are chasing a title.
They begin today against North Division leader West Valley (11-2, 9-2), on Thursday they play division foe Pullman (12-1, 10-0) and finish up against third-place Lakeside (8-5, 7-3) next week.
Slowpitch in playoffs
Lewis and Clark and Shadle Park advanced to the semifinals of the GSL slowpitch softball playoffs with wins Monday.
Senior Emily Liu had three hits to lead a balanced LC attack that saw eight players contribute in a 9-3 victory over North Central.
Junior Amber Johnson and freshman Megan Skillingstad had three hits apiece, Johnson’s including a home run, to lead Shadle’s 10-2 win over Rogers.
Shadle will visit University today and LC is at Central Valley, both at 4 p.m. The winners play for the championship Thursday.
In a game noted for offense, it was defense that secured U-Hi’s 2-1 win over CV on Thursday for the regular-season title. Titans coach Jon Schuh said a running, diving catch by Alyssa Hawley saved several runs.
This and that
Lewis and Clark poses the last obstacle to Mead in its bid for a third straight GSL volleyball title. The once-beaten Tigers host the unbeaten Panthers tonight. Mead won last weekend’s Crossover Classic championship. The Panthers and Tigers were first and second in state. … North Central can finish unbeaten and win its first GSL boys cross country championship in 20 years when the Indians host Mt. Spokane and Lewis and Clark on Wednesday at Audubon Park.