Wv Boys Move Closer To Crown

West Valley emitted the loudest signals during Thursday’s high-powered Frontier League cross country meet at Plantes Ferry Park.

WV’s second-ranked boys gobbled up four of the top six positions in soundly defeating seventh-ranked East Valley and Colville.

Although the third-ranked WV girls fell to top-ranked and defending State AA champion EV, the 27-28 margin was scary enough to make the Knights take note.

“If our girls run to their potential, they’ll win districts,” said relieved EV girls coach Nick Lazanis.

When all was added up, EV’s girls improved to 4-0 heading into Thursday’s season-ending three-way meet at home. WV (4-1) meets Cheney.

WV’s boys are 5-0, one win from their fifth outright or shared title in the last six years. Having already defeated Riverside, their closest challenger, the Eagles appear to be home free in the league race.

Four of five Eagles scorers ran the 3-mile layout in less than 17 minutes. Allen Watke, WV’s No. 5, fell on the course and settled for 17:30.

“This is the only time we haven’t finished 1-2-3 (in a league meet),” said champion Matt Wheeler, a senior who blitzed the field in 16:24.

EV’s Chris Henderson (16:42) finished third, breaking up WV’s Clayton Holmes (16:38) and Levi Lounder (16:50). Still, WV beat EV 20-37.

Wheeler has emerged for WV.

“Now, when I get tired and start hurting, I push through,” said Wheeler, who wore an orange smiling-face sticker on his cheek during the race. “Last year, I settled for where I was.”

The Eagles’ Jessica Riehle shattered the course record she set last season. Running well ahead of the pack, Riehle finished in 19:03, 12 seconds better than her old mark.

WV made the afternoon uncomfortable for the Knights when Heather Harmon (19:29) passed Angie Simmers (19:36) and Ann Marie Adams (19:49) in the late going for second place. EV prevailed because it claimed three of the next four places, starting with fifth-place Cara Smith (20:20).

“Cara saved us,” Lazanis said. “She pulled us out of the tank.”

Also in the FL, Riverside’s boys and girls beat Clarkston, and Pullman’s boys and girls beat Cheney.

At Clarkston, champion Jon Ashcraft (15:49) led four Rams in the top five as Riverside (4-1) beat the host Bantams 19-42. Runner-up Paul Abernathy (15:51) led Clarkston (1-3).

Although Jennifer Rea (18:44) of Clarkston (0-4) easily won the girls race, Riverside (3-2) pulled out a 27-30 win when 12 Rams finished before Clarkston’s No. 5. Nora Zaprzalka (19:58) led Riverside.

At Cheney, champion Brandon Wisniew (17:09) led Pullman’s boys (2-2) to a 26-29 win over the host Blackhawks (2-3). Runner-up Shaun Reeser (17:37) led Cheney.

Jeannette Zimmer (20:03) of Cheney (1-4) commanded the girls race, but Pullman (2-2) beat the Blackhawks 27-28. Second-place Eryn Cook (20:32) led three Greyhounds in the next four positions.

Volleyball

Missy Blackshire had 17 kills and an ace to end the match, and Janelle Morrisette, filling in for ill setter Molly Jones, had 40 assists as Ferris (10-2) beat visiting Mead 15-11, 19-17, 16-14 in the Greater Spokane League.

K.C. Richards added 12 digs and five aces for the second-place Saxons, who play at first-place Gonzaga Prep (11-0) on Tuesday. Jessica Sanborn had 18 kills and nine digs, and Kelsey Sturm 17 assists and five aces for the Panthers (5-8), who served three times for the second game.

At Rogers, Courtney Clary had 18 kills and 14 digs as seventh-place Shadle Park (4-9) kept alive its playoff hopes by coming back for an 11-15, 15-9, 15-11, 15-8 win over the Pirates (1-11).

Melissa Chadwick added eight blocks for the Highlanders, who trail Mead by one game for the final spot to district. Mandy Flores had 13 kills and 10 digs for Rogers, which led the second game 8-1 before fading.

After a 16-14, 15-13, 15-9 win at third-place WV, (5-4), little stands in the way of Clarkston (9-0) winning its fourth FL title in the last five years.

Crystal Poskey had 31 assists and six digs for the Bantams, whose three remaining matches are vs. teams with a combined 7-18 record. Arin Craig had 10 kills for the Eagles.

Cheney (3-5) moved into fourth place as Anna Getz had eight kills in a 15-5, 15-12, 17-15 win over host Riverside at Chattaroy.

Tami Stiffler had five digs for the Blackhawks. Lynn Whittekiend led the Rams (0-9) with five kills.

Girls soccer

Freshman Alisha Smith scored four goals as EV took advantage of Deer Park/Riverside’s day off and took over first place in the Frontier with a 9-1 win over visiting Colville.

The Knights (7-0-2) have 16 points, two more than DP/R. Sara Bartlett scored EV’s first goal, at 2 minutes, and set up Smith for the second goal 24 minutes later. The Indians (0-7-1) scored in the first minute, courtesy of Trisha Throop.

At Cheney, Lisa Anderson beat at least four defenders twice during first-half goals as the host Blackhawks (6-3-1, 13) moved within one point of second place with a 3-0 win over Pullman (0-8-1).

At Medical Lake, Katie Snow scored twice as WV (5-1-3, 13) joined Cheney in pursuit of the leaders. Erica Horne had 26 saves for the Cardinals (3-7-0, 6).

, DataTimes