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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sports notebook: Bears, Titans boys will travel for regional openers

The Spokesman-Review

Central Valley’s boys basketball team had limped into the post-season, losing six of its final seven games.

On Tuesday the Bears (11-11) outlasted Mead on the road, to qualify for next week’s regional tournament. They’ll be joined by University (9-12) which upset Gonzaga Prep.

Both teams lost in Thursday night’s District 8 4A semifinals, CV to second-seeded Shadle Park 62-58 and the Titans to unbeaten Ferris 55-42. They’ll travel for Tuesday’s regional openers. Where they travel depends upon the outcome of weekend games.

Wenatchee and Walla Walla finished one-two in league and played Eisenhower and Wenatchee Friday night for seeding.

CV’s boys were an enigma, getting off to a good start before faltering down the stretch. Much of it, said coach Rick Sloan and echoed by scoring leader Willie Davis, was a lack of team unity.

Sloan said that early in the year when everyone accepted their roles and did their part within the system, things went well.

“I think we got away from that, away from playing our style of basketball,” he said, “and lost a lot of games. It was kind of fun to watch the kids play together and root for each other.”

Davis poured in 26 points, including the decisive two free throws as hero of the 61-57 victory. He also scored 22 against Shadle.

“We have a lot of good players, but when time gets rough we look to do our own thing because in our heads we know we can make a shot,” he said, “Instead of playing as a team we think about ourselves. This time it was like, ‘play as a team,’ and that’s what we did.”

CV led early, weathered first-half foul trouble to rally from a 27-22 deficit and led by as many as nine points in the fourth quarter. Mead closed to within two points before Davis sealed the win.

“For the seniors, you hope you can get them a couple more weeks of play, especially a guy like Luke who physically has gone through some tough times,” said Sloan. “I’m happy they get to extend their year.”

“The Titans snuck into district in its next-to-last Greater Spokane League game with a win over Rogers and took advantage of turnovers by the illness-plagued Bullpups who were missing a starter.

Ryan Dixon scored 18 points and Mason Johnson added 13 including the winning basket with time running out. Andrew Pirttima scored 16 against the Saxons.

U-Hi had taken a 24-12 lead after a quarter, led by three points at half and fell behind in the fourth quarter before rallying.

Bear girls end drought

Central Valley’s girls are back in the regional basketball playoffs following a one-year absence and did so at the expense of rival University.

The Bears (12-9) halted the Titans’ (14-7) string of state appearances at four with a 55-51 victory and and also the long losing streak to their rival. CV’s last win was at state in 2004.

On Thursday CV lost 67-47 to league champion Lewis and Clark and will travel next week for the first round of regional competition. Justine Bowman scored 29 points and had 48 in the two district games.

Moses Lake and Pasco were one-two in league and played Richland and Walla Walla respectively on Friday for regional seeding.

Bowman and Brittany Catron combined for 36 points, including 13 of CV’s 14 in the decisive third quarter, then weathered a Titan rally that came up short.

“East Valley girls (6-13) continued their late-season surge, winning for the fifth time in eight games to assure a second-straight 3A regional appearance. The Knights reversed an earlier loss to Mt. Spokane to claim a post-season berth, winning 62-56, Morgan Manchester scoring 22 points and Kelsi Jacobson 19.

Eagles hit snag

West Valley’s boys basketball team hit a snag in their bid for a top-two Great Northern League finish and first-round district tournament bye.

The Eagles did defeat Cheney Wednesday night, one of two key games on their agenda. But the night before they stubbed their toes in Colville while Clarkston upset previously unbeaten Pullman and fell two games behind the second-place Bantams.

The Eagles (12-6 overall, 8-4 in league) finish the season today in Clarkston (11-6, 9-2), and even with a win would need help elsewhere to finish second.

They are assured a spot in the six-team district tournament which begins Friday, likely at home as the No. 3 or 4 seed. Then the remaining four teams will battle for three state berths.

Against Colville, the Eagles raced to a 15-4 lead only to have the wheels fall off in the second quarter to trail by two points at intermission. The Indians won the second-half shootout 41-38.

The next night in Cheney (13-5, 8-4) was a different story. It was WV with a big second-half, outscoring the Blackhawks 42-28. Jordan Lupfer-Graham, limited to seven points in Colville and with only two points at intermission against Cheney, finished with 20.

James Cahalan and Parker Flynn each scored 27 points in the two games.

“Despite a 54-47 loss to third-place Cheney, WV girls (14-4, 9-3) needed just one win to lock up second place and a district playoff bye until Feb. 26. They played one-win Deer Park Friday night. Freshmen Shaniqua Nilles and Heather Love combined for 32 of the Eagles points in returning state qualifier Cheney (9-9, 7-5).

Freeman to region

Freeman girls (20-1) have qualified for the 1A regional and met Colfax for the third time this year on Friday for the Northeast District 7 championship. The Scotties boys (13-9), who lost to Lakeside in the district semifinals, played Colfax for a regional berth.