Coaches believe GSL wrestlers should fare well at regionals
The competitive matches at last week’s District 8 4A wrestling tournament coupled with past performances bodes well, say coaches, when their charges compete for state berths Friday and Saturday in Yakima.
“Our kids, in all weights, are pretty solid, I think,” said Mead coach Phil McLean of a district title he won for the first time since moving from Gonzaga Prep after the 2000 season.
Mead piled up points at a tournament in Snohomish and Central Valley coach John Owen pointed to early January’s Rocky Mountain Classic in Missoula as another indicator.
“Us, University and Mead finished third, fourth and fifth out of 28 teams,” he said, “and that’s not a horrible tournament.”
The GSL returns twice as many regional placers as the Columbia Basin League.
District matches, by extension, were intense with two decided in overtime and three others by a point or two or in the waning seconds.
By contrast, the CBL was a dual match won handily by Moses Lake over the others. They had 10 champions out of 13 finalists, including a one-two finish at 135 pounds, and have 16 regional participants.
“I think we should be represented pretty well all the way through and we have a lot of top-notch kids from 103 through 130 and above,” said McLean. “Really, we could have the best kids in state.”
No luck at all
When told by a reporter in jest on Thursday that football must have used up Lewis and Clark’s allotment of sports karma, Tigers boys basketball coach Jeff Norton managed a chuckle.
The Tigers have had no luck this winter, and Norton said at the time that it would take magic pixie dust to overcome the challenges his team has faced.
LC’s state football title run went into December that necessitated the postponement and reschedule of four basketball games. Then injuries beset the team so that at one time, said Norton, he was left with five able varsity bodies for practice.
Last week’s snows postponed two more games forcing the Tigers to play six games in eight days, practically needing to win out for a long-shot bid to catch University (6-11) and Rogers (6-12) for the last district berth. With Rogers defeating Lewis and Clark on Monday night, that means either U-Hi or Rogers will get the sixth berth. Winning Monday night against the Pirates was imperative.
LC (3-14) had hard-luck losses Friday and Saturday to Mead and Gonzaga Prep and finishes with U-Hi tonight, Central Valley on Thursday and Mt. Spokane, in the final football makeup, Friday.
“I told the kids we could use this as a crutch, point fingers and blame circumstances, or we could deal with it, push forward and do the best we can,” Norton said. “What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.”
Streakin’ Saxons
Last week’s easy victory over Gonzaga Prep extended the Ferris boys basketball winning streak to 46 straight games.
It is the fourth best all-time in Washington based upon a list posted on the B sports Web site and best for a big school by eight games over the previous Class 4A record (38 by Lincoln of Seattle in 1955-58 and Lincoln of Tacoma, 1974-76). It is seven better than the 3A record (39 by Mount Vernon 1991-93).
The schools above Ferris are all from smaller classifications. Brewster (82, 1973-77) and Reardan (57, 1964-67) are both Class B. Grandview (53, 1988-90) was Class A.
The Saxons (17-0) have three games left and a two-game lead over Shadle Park (16-2). Gonzaga Prep (13-5) has third wrapped up.
Shadle takes step
All season long coach Chad Dezellem has lauded the team defense of his Shadle Park girls basketball team.
He did so when the Highlanders rallied from 11 behind to beat University by shutting them out in the fourth quarter of a game in January. He did so again last week.
“We don’t beat teams because we outscore them,” said Dezellem, “but with defense. We have seven or eight who defend well and keep us in games.”
Shadle Park (15-3) has given up 50 points only four times, twice to Lewis and Clark and to CV to open the season in losses. Saturday’s 47-44 win over Mead (14-3) for second place was the 14th time Shalde held a team to the 40s or below.
With two games remaining, they have a chance for their highest finish since 1995.
A win also gives unbeaten, two-time state champion Lewis and Clark (16-0) a three-game lead in the GSL with four to play, including a Feb. 9 date with Mead.
Record at risk
Pullman is at West Valley tonight (weather permitting) and unbeaten Great Northern League boys and girls basketball records are on the line.
Both are 9-0 in league and 14-1 overall. The Greyhounds boys have a two-game lead over the Eagles entering the 5:45 p.m. game. First place is at stake in the girls nightcap where the Eagles trail by a game.
WV is also scheduled to travel to Clarkston for a makeup game Wednesday. The boys teams are tied for second.
District basketball
Playoffs begin or continue for Class 1A, 2B and 1B teams this week. Among them is the annual District 7 2B extravaganza at Spokane Falls and Spokane community colleges.
The eight-team boys tourney began Monday and starts today for the girls. The Bi-County League has five teams in each, the Panorama has three apiece.
Wednesday and Thursday winner’s bracket games assure two team spots in the regionals. Two more per gender advance Friday with seeding and the fifth regional qualifier games played Saturday