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

Quick hits

The Spokesman-Review

LOOKING AHEAD

Maybe it’s time to stop being surprised by the play of Gonzaga Prep and East Valley’s football teams.

After all, the G-Prep Bullpups did win the Greater Spokane League title and were only a play or two away from an undefeated regular season. The Knights, after an up-and-down start, did finish second despite playing four games against 4A competition.

Whatever happens Saturday, both schools have had successful seasons. Both have proven the adage: “Offense excites the crowd, but it is defense that wins titles.” They have the ability to make the opposing offense look inept, using size, speed and scheme to limit the offensive opportunities.

Football

Saturday, all games 1 p.m.

4A playoffs: Kentwood (9-2) vs. Gonzaga

Prep (11-1) at Albi Stadium; 3A playoffs: Kelso (10-1) at East Valley (9-3).

Other games of interest

Friday

B-8 playoffs: Jubilee Christian (8-2) vs. Columbia-Hunters (8-1) at Medical Lake High, 7 p.m.; Sprague-Harrington (9-1) vs. LaCrosse-Washtucna (9-0) at Lampson Field, Kennewick, 7.

The top-ranked Tigercats have a tougher road to the finals because, if they get past Sprague-Harrington, second-ranked Clallam Bay probably awaits in the semifinals.

Saturday, all games 1 p.m. unless noted

1A playoffs: Zillah (8-3) vs. Freeman (10-0) at Central Valley High.

The second-ranked Scotties face another SCAC team in the first round. Zillah’s only losses this season are to 1A top-ranked Royal, 2A top-ranked East Valley (Yakima) and Granger.

B-11 playoffs: Republic (6-4) vs. LaSalle (9-2) at West Valley (Yakima); Reardan (9-1) vs. Wahkiakum (10-0) at Kiggins Bowl, Vancouver; Lind-Ritzville (10-0) vs. Orcas Island (9-3) at Mount Vernon High.

All four East Side schools (including top-ranked DeSales) are playing their quarterfinal games west of U.S. 395.

Soccer

State 4A tournament

Friday, 8 p.m.

Gonzaga Prep (16-1) vs. Stadium (17-4) at Lakewood Stadium, Tacoma.

The Bullpups, who have avenged two losses en route to the state semifinals, now face the No. 7 seed from the Narrows League. The Tigers are hot, however, having won three consecutive shootouts to advance to their first semi since 1999.

1A/B boys

Friday 6 p.m.

St. George’s vs. Mount Vernon Christian at Curtis High, Tacoma.

The Dragons edged rival Northwest Christian for the first time in four attempts this season to advance to the semifinals.

LOOKING AROUND

Lewis and Clark girls cross country coach Mark Vandine felt his Tigers got short shrift when it came to state coverage. His team had gone unmentioned after placing sixth with 188 points, two spots away from trophy consideration. The Tigers were the highest-finishing team this year from the eastern region. Plus, he added, “I plugged my team’s times into ours from 2001 and 2002 when we finished fourth and we would have outscored both of those teams.” Indeed, LC’s pack was much tighter, with 48 seconds separating first through sixth runners. Freshman Eleanor Siler’s sixth-best LC time of 20 minutes, 24 seconds was better than the Tigers’ fourth runners during those team trophy years. “Five had personal records,” said Vandine. No. 1 runner Whitney Porter is the only senior. Three, Logan Amstadter (19:53), Taylor Yost (20:13) and Siler are freshmen. Chelsea Momany (20:22) is a sophomore and two, Leigh Fredrickson (20:05) and Morgan Yost (20:57) are juniors. … Sunday is the annual Border Clash pitting the best in Washington in team competition against Oregon at Nike World Headquarters in Beaverton, Ore. Rogers’ Becca Noble is the only female Spokane entrant of 39 Washington competitors. Spokane’s boys fared better. But three of the top-five finishers at the State 4A meet were champion Ferris, runner-up Mead and fifth-place LC. NC finished second in 3A. Locals include Ferris’ Ben Poffenroth, Brendan Chestnut, Robert Cosby and Stephen Olsen; Mead’s Laef Barnes and Taylor Nepon; Gonzaga Prep’s Michael Skansgaard; NC’s Andrew Scott; and Pullman’s Pawel Szafruga. Two East Valley runners, Nick Atwood for the boys and Jo E. Mayer for the girls, qualified but were not listed on the Border Clash Web site. The girls race is at 10:30 a.m., the boys at 11:15.