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

GSL Preview Girls

All-leaguers

The three first-team returners are as good as they get. Back are seniors Devyn Galland of Lewis and Clark, Brooke Gallaway of Central Valley and Aleisha Hathaway of Shadle Park.

Second-team returners are: Nakia Arquette of LC and Lindsay Stockton of Gonzaga Prep.

Top scorers

Galland is the top returning scorer. She finished at 19.7 ppg, just behind record-breaking Tia Presley of G-Prep. Gallaway was the third-leading scorer (16.8). Other top returning scorers are Hathaway (14.0), Stockton (12.9) and Hallie Gennett of Univeristy (11.9).

Jump right in

League play begins Tuesday and the early schedule features some marquee games beginning with the top two favorites, LC and CV, facing off at CV while Mead is at University. The games tip off at 5:30. On Dec. 9, CV goes to Gonzaga Prep, U-Hi visits Shadle Park and Mead is at LC – all at 5:30. The next league night, Dec. 13, has G-Prep at Mead, LC at Shadle and NC at U-Hi, all beginning at 7.

What they’re saying

Central Valley went undefeated in June as the Bears had their best summer in history. “Our team strength will be our experience,” CV coach Freddie Rehkow said. “Led by our seniors, this group knows the system well and truly feels this is their time to shine. Good balance and a group of hard-working role players make this team well-balanced and poised to compete.” CV captured the league title two years ago when the seniors were sophomores, but they stumbled in the postseason, falling short of qualifying for state. “If our posts can raise their level of play by getting tougher and working hard, our weakness could very well become one of our strengths,” Rehkow said. … Gonzaga Prep returns just one starter, but coach Mike Arte is full of optimism. “We have extreme depth,” Arte said. “We are 12 deep. We have very good young players with a good mix of seniors.” Arte enters his 24th season as head coach. “This is the deepest in talent that I have had,” Arte said. “We literally could play any one of our 12 and not lose any momentum or skill level. I’m very excited about our chances and about watching this team develop. We could end up being real good.” … Ferris brings back just one starter, but coach Rob Coulter has high hopes. “We have a good mixture of posts and shooters,” Coulter said. “We are very inexperienced at the varsity level in a very experienced league. I love the mix of our team and think that we have a very good chance of competing as the season wears on. This league, top to bottom, is the best in the state and there should be some great nights with the competitiveness of the league.” … U-Hi brings back its top two players from a year ago, Gennett and Kayleigh Valley, both juniors, to go with a good supporting cast. “We hope to be in the mix,” Titans coach Mark Stinson said. … North Central returns two starters off a team that had a storybook ride a year ago when it qualified for state for the first time in school history. “Once again we will rely on team defense to keep us in games,” third-year NC coach Gabe Medrano said. “Our strength is that the ladies return with great focus and intensity, and want to continue what they have started.” … Mt. Spokane returns three starters and coach Melissa Allen says the Wildcats’ strengths will be speed and depth. … Quantae Anderson, head coach the last three years at Davis in Yakima, takes over at Mead. The Panthers return two starters and four other letterwinners. They also have a transfer who should have a big impact, 6-foot-1 senior post Jasmine Parker. “We’re looking to improve every day during practices and games,” Anderson said. “The team is hard working and resilient.” … Shadle has three starters back along with three reserves who saw minutes. “We have a good mixture of speed, size and strength,” said Shadle coach Chad Dezellum, who will mix in some talented sophomores with the veterans. “So much equal talent on the team. Can we accept and take pride in our individual roles for the success of the team?”

Predicted finish4. Mead8. Mt. Spokane
1. Lewis and Clark5. Shadle Park9. Ferris
2. Central Valley6. University10. Rogers
3. Gonzaga Prep7. North Central