GNL title on the line
Pullman and Clarkston, both unbeaten after eight games, find themselves in an advantageous position as they prepare for their Great Northern League football championship showdown on Friday.
They have a two-game lead with two weeks left to play over a field that can’t rest as easily. The possibility exists that a three-way tie for third place could occur in the GNL just as the Greater Spokane League would end in a tie for third between Mead and Central Valley if both win this week.
If so, both leagues would necessitate a Kansas Tiebreaker playoff to determine state “play-in” game qualifiers.
“This league has been everything I expected,” said Greyhounds coach Bill Peterson. “I knew it would be better this year and knew four or five teams would be competing for playoff spots. Whoever gets out will be ready for the playoffs.”
And whoever wins league between the Bantams and Greyhounds in Pullman on Friday will avoid the state’s No. 1 ranked Class 2A team Prosser and have home advantage as long as it remains in the state tournament.
“Not many like coming over to the Palouse to play,” said Peterson. “We’d like to host.”
Curiously, the GNL runner-up will open state play at CWAC No. 1 Prosser, if the Mustangs, who average nearly 58 points a game and have allowed a total of 47 in eight wins, beats Ephrata in its season finale.
By way of comparison, the CWAC No. 2 finisher is scheduled against the GNL No. 3 (or CWAC No. 4) while the GNL champ draws that league’s No. 3 (or GNL No. 4) finisher.
Friday’s West Valley at Deer Park and Cheney at Colville outcomes will determine if a three-way tie exists for two play-in berths.
Bring on the playoffs
Where has autumn gone? Postseason competition in volleyball, soccer and cross country begins this week.
Soccer: Monday night, Lewis and Clark defeated Central Valley 2-0 and Shadle Park edged Ferris 2-1 in the loser-out first round of the District 8 4A soccer tournament. Shadle Park will play Lewis and Clark on Wednesday at 5 p.m. at Albi Stadium for the right to continue, followed by the Mead-Gonzaga Prep match for a spot in the regional final and guaranteed state berth.
All three GSL 3A teams are involved in the eight-team regional tournament with the Columbia Basin League beginning Wednesday. Mt. Spokane, which finished 8-2 and tied for second in the GSL, hosts Hanford in the first round.
Tourney continues Saturday with three teams ultimately qualifying for state. The Wildcats hold home field throughout the regional and first two rounds at state.
Shadle Park got a pair of goals from Kristi Wirtz in its win over Ferris. Nicole Ervin assisted on the first goal and Ali Fenter picked up an assist on Wirtz’s second score. Kirsten Ourada netted the lone goal for Ferris.
Alix Silha had a goal and assisted on a score by Kenzi Schnell to lead Lewis and Clark past Central Valley.
Volleyball: Double-elimination District 8 4A volleyball tournament begins tonight at University and Lewis and Clark and continues Wednesday at Mead, where both the league champion Panthers and runnerup Highlanders play first-round winners.
Bulk of the 4A tournament, and the two-match District 8 3A will be Saturday at Mt. Spokane. The two tournaments qualify a total of six teams (four in 4A) to regionals.