Season Halfway Point Finds Nc Tied For 5th
North Central boys basketball coach Jay Webber isn’t surprised that his Indians have positioned themselves as a district playoff possibility.
If anything, he’s disappointed that it took a late surge in the first half of the season to get there.
“We came so close so many times and didn’t win games we could have won,” said the Indians coach. “But we’re still OK.”
NC is 5-4 and tied for fifth place at the turn.
Among its narrow losses were to GSL co-leaders Central Valley and Ferris.
NC lost to the Bears 62-59 in an overtime season opener that Webber still rues.
“We had our chances and didn’t capitalize,” he said.
Last week, the Indians lost 67-63 to Ferris, rallying from a 36-21 halftime deficit.
“We dug ourselves a deep hole in the first quarter and had a chance to tie or win with 20 seconds left, but turned it over,” said Webber. “Give the kids credit for clawing back and giving themselves a chance.”
Juxtaposed against the two losses have been a couple important wins - 53-46 over Gonzaga Prep in mid-December and Friday night’s stunning 70-58 victory at Rogers.
At the time it came, said Webber, the first was huge. The second may have been even bigger.
Not that opposing coaches or players are surprised that NC is a challenger after going 7-25 in league in Webber’s first two years.
“NC won the summer league, has two good players and others who work hard,” said CV coach Rick Sloan, whose Bears host the Indians for their second meeting on Friday.
CV player Tom Perkes added, “They scare me. If they hit their shots, you’re dead.”
Chris Allen and Chris Blotsky are the league’s top two scorers, combining for 113 points in their last three games.
“Those two have to continue to do what they’re doing,” said Webber. “We want others to do more and make us tougher.”
Besides Friday’s game with the Bears, the Indians host Lewis and Clark (7-2) next Tuesday in another pivotal game.
Mead (6-3), Rogers (5-4) and Gonzaga Prep (3-6) are other North Side schools battling for top six finishes.
Mead win keeps team atop race
Mead’s girls team, part of a three-team battle for GSL basketball supremacy, remained in first place following a key Tuesday victory.
The Panthers (9-1) of Danielle Zelinski, Alli Bailey and Staci Schuerman rallied from 16 points behind and outscored Ferris 26-15 to drop the Saxons into third place in league.
A week from Friday they host Central Valley, the other team that is tied with Mead at the top.
Six GSL teams compete in district for a right to compete in regionals. Top two earn automatic regional berths. Shadle Park, Rogers and Gonzaga Prep are others from among eight teams that have playoff aspirations.
In a position match Friday, the Highlanders and Pirates play at 9 p.m. in the Arena. The two teams are fourth and fifth in league.
Shadle (5-4) took an important step last Friday with its 41-36 win over Lewis and Clark.
They lost the first and third quarters, but out-scored LC 32-14 in the second and fourth. Included was a 14-5 edge in the final period when they came from behind after tailing 31-27.
Junior Aubrie Caldwell, a 5-foot-4 guard, scored 15 points to lead the way.
Rogers (4-5) beat the Highlanders to open the league season.
Shadle gymnasts surprise
With two weeks remaining in the regular season, Shadle Park’s gymnastics team continues to be the GSL surprise team.
The past three seasons the Highlanders have gone 2-19 in league. So far this year, the Mary Bass-led team is 10-7 and fourth in league.
Position match tonight
The Rogers Pirates close out the GSL wrestling season with three tough matches.
Included is tonight’s home match against Mead with the winner taking home the Little Brown Jug from this annual rivalry.
Last year, the Pirates upset the Panthers to win the Jug. A victory by Mead would assure it no worse than third in league.
Both teams were 4-2 heading into the week, but Rogers met unbeaten Central Valley on Wednesday and closes out the season next Thursday at University.
Meanwhile, Great Northern League unbeaten Lakeside awaits its Jan. 29 date with Colville.
Both teams are unbeaten in the GNL to date. The Eagles have outscored foes 118-21 in two matches so far.
, DataTimes