Notes: Cheney Blackhawks in search of coaches
Cheney must hire boys and girls basketball coaches – again.
The Blackhawks have gone through basketball coaches in recent years like a teen-ager through socks.
Chris Dunn and Shannon Root have resigned as Cheney’s boys and girls basketball coaches, respectively. Each coached two years.
Under Dunn, a teacher and track coach at Rogers, the Cheney boys were a combined 9-32. Under Root, a teacher at Cheney, the girls were a combined 11-31.
Cheney athletic director Jim Missel says the lack of success falls at his feet.
“I take full responsibility,” said Missel, who hired both coaches. “They didn’t have the experience needed to have successful teams. It’s becoming more and more a time commitment to the programs.”
Contrary to rumor, the coaches weren’t fired, Missel said.
Both positions are open for applications. Missel, who will hire the new coaches, said Cheney will have some teaching positions available so he hopes to hire coaches who will be teachers in the district.
• Missel said he must hire head coaches in cross country. Longtime coach Jay Martin, who coached the boys and girls, is retiring.
• Missel, 56, is also retiring. He and his wife are moving to Surprise, Arizona, where they own a home on a golf course.
A 1977 Mead graduate, Missel has coached and been an administrator at several schools in the area. He hopes to find an administrative job or coaching position in the Surprise area.
“We bought the home in Surprise last year,” Missel said. “Life’s too short. We have the finances. We’ll miss this area.”
• Missel also said Cheney will offer gymnastics for the first time next winter. He plans to hire a coach soon.
“It’s a Title IX issue. We’re out of compliance,” Missel said. “Now we’ll have the same number of sports for both boys and girls. We have a number of girls who are interested in gymnastics.”
Locals fare well
A handful of local girls basketball standouts played well in the WSGBCA All-State games last weekend.
The WSGBCA handed out several awards. Laura Stockton of Gonzaga Prep was named the 2015 Ms. Basketball for the state.
Colton coach Clark Vining, whose team captured its seventh straight State 1B championship, was named the overall coach of the year.
Savanna Chadwick of Colton was named the 1B player of the year. Jeff Pietz of Lakeside was named the 1A coach of the year. Otiona Gildon of G-Prep was named the 4A player of the year.
The 4A team hammered the 3A team 110-81. Gildon led the way for 4A with 23 points and nine rebounds. Madison Hovren of Central Valley had 18 points, 11 rebounds and two steals. Stockton had six points, nine rebounds, six assists and four steals.
Shyla Carr of Shadle Park had nine points and two rebounds for 3A.
In the 2A-1A game, the 2A won easily 93-75. Jocelyn Cook-Cox of Lakeside had 15 points and nine rebounds for 1A.
In the 2B-1B game, the 2B won 81-64. Chadwick had nine points, eight rebounds and two steals and Reinnee Rocket of Almira/Coulee-Hartline had two assists. Maddie Johnson of Reardan had five points, two rebounds and two assists.
Moving on
Post Falls football players Justin Farnsworth (lineman) and Tom Roman (linebacker) have signed to play at Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Montana.
• Bryce Williamson, a running back from University who was the GSL’s 4A offensive most valuable player, has accepted a preferred walk-on offer from Idaho.