Previous loss makes EV wrestlers stronger
When is a loss a good loss? When it leads to an even better win.
East Valley High School wrestlers were smarting from a 33-32 upset at Ferris a week ago before hosting University Tuesday in a makeup between Greater Spokane League contenders.
The Knights pulled out a 32-30 triumph that likely assured them at least a share of their first league championship since 2004.
“Like I told the kids,” said EV coach Craig Hanson. “If we didn’t lose last week we wouldn’t have won last night. It exposed our weaknesses and everyone got better (in practice).”
The meet swung on pairings at the two lowest weights where Knight Keith Babington moved up to 112 and avoided a showdown with Titan 103-pound standout Tyler Clark. Each wrestler won.
Other key victories were at 119 and 130 where Matt Mehlbrech and Gabe Rodriguez won 5-4 decisions.
Things have fallen EV’s way this year, said Hanson, including an early season two-point victory over short-handed Central Valley.
“Last year we were the guys that luck fell on (negatively) at the end of the year,” he said. “So far this year luck has gone our way.”
League this year has been close, reminiscent of the year EV joined the GSL, said Hanson. EV and CV are both 8-1. University and Mead are 7-2 and Ferris finished the year 7-3.
East Valley hosts the Dream Duals, including CV, today beginning at 8 a.m.
GSL league season ends Wednesday, the biggie when the Titans host the Bears in the annual Battle of the Bone.
Upset by Knights
East Valley girls basketball team upset Central Valley Tuesday, winning just their second game of the year, 60-58.
Victory came over a team that, until a recent slide, had been in a second-place race.
EV (2-10) outscored the Bears (7-6) 22-11 in the fourth quarter to pull it off. CV had rallied from a one-point halftime deficit with a 21-11 third-quarter outburst to build a seemingly comfortable lead.
But the Knights went to the free-throw line 38 times and made 24, including Morgan Manchester‘s 13-for-16 effort. Manchester scored a season-high 17 points in pacing the win, and Brooke Myre added a career high 13.
East Valley had been close in half of its losses, twice against teams tied for second place. Effort was finally rewarded.
University’s (8-4) bid to join Mead and Shadle Park in the second-place cluster was derailed when the Titans were outscored 14-0 in the fourth quarter of a 44-41 loss to the Highlanders. They travel to the Panthers next Saturday.
Bears move up
Central Valley’s Tuesday victory over Mead, reversing the outcome of their game a week earlier, moved the boys team to within shouting distance of third place in the GSL.
The Bears (8-5) attempted to overtake Gonzaga Prep (8-4) for the spot in a Friday home game.
Unbeaten Ferris and once-beaten Shadle Park hold firm command of first and second places. Behind them a number of teams are separated by a handful of games.
University (5-7) is one of them seeking to reach the six-team 4A district playoffs. East Valley (0-12) remains winless.
Eagles lose thrillers
West Valley’s boys and girls both came up three points short in Pullman last weekend in their bids to lead Great Northern League basketball. Eagles boys (8-4, 4-2) lost in overtime 68-65 after making up a 15-point halftime deficit and the girls (10-2, 5-1) lost 49-46 after being tied at halftime.
Teams reached the halfway point of the GNL season Friday at Deer Park, beginning an important stretch of the season. They play their next four (and six of their next seven) on the road before returning home against Pullman on Feb. 5.
•There’s something about Colfax where Freeman is concerned. Last week the Scotties boys (8-6, 3-2) and girls (14-1, 4-1) were beaten by the Bulldogs on the road.
Colfax, in handing Freeman its only loss, has been the girls’ nemesis over the years. The Bulldogs have won four straight state titles during a stretch when the Scotties have gone 91-24 and placed at state twice, including second in 2005.