CV boys, girls running today in Pasco

For the first time since 1966, a Central Valley boys cross country team competes in state. And for the first time in school history, both boys and girls teams will be racing in the meet today at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco.

CV’s young girls won their first regional championship (the 1982 team won state before this qualifying tournament was in place) for a return trip.

The Bears boys, ranked third in state and one of the best teams in the Pacific Northwest, finished third behind Mead and Ferris last Saturday to secure their historic berth. The Panthers beat the Saxons 41-42. After coming close last year, CV scored 87 in its breakout effort 57 fewer points than fourth place Eisenhower.

Tylor Thatcher, who timed 15:23 at Franklin Park in Yakima for third overall, finished just seven seconds from the lead. Sean Coyle placed eighth. CV had two other finishers among the top 23.

The girls did the boys a couple of places better, winning last weekend’s regional by 30 points. Top three finishers and four of the five scorers are sophomores. Eden Lake was ninth, Ari Rios 12th and Tris Kline was 16th overall.

West Valley’s boys, ranked third in state with nary a senior, overwhelmed the 2A Great Northern League field. Richard Keroack was second, Joey Hartmeier, Justin Degenhardt and Michael White (a sophomore), finished in the top nine.

Unlike in their regular season finale, all four placed ahead of Cheney’s first finisher in the 34-73 waltz.

University’s Stevie Gildehaus was 14th in the 4A race, East Valley’s Lauren Bergam took seventh in the 3A girls to qualify for state. Freeman advanced a total of five to state, though teams were shut out in the tougher 1A regional, and Valley Christian sophomore Jeff Pope finished third in the District 5-7 B race. Liberty’s Andrea Collins, ninth in state last year also returns to Pasco.

Eagles soccer to state

West Valley found girls soccer playoff going tough in the Great Northern League. But the Eagles were up to the task.

On a wet and dreary Thursday, there was cause for exultation after they defeated playoff perennial Pullman 1-0 in overtime to qualify for state.

It will be WV’s first state tournament appearance since 1996 and the school’s fourth girls state berth overall. The 12-6 Eagles play Cheney today, 1 p.m. at Spokane Falls Community College for seeding.

Half of WV’s losses this year have been to Cheney, all by identical 2-0 scores.

Kaley Way scored three minutes into overtime to break a scoreless tie with the Greyhounds. Goalkeeper Karina Carpenter made 13 saves in the shutout, Pullman outshooting the Eagles 17-5.

Depending upon today’s outcome, the Eagles will play either at the CWAC league’s No. 2 (Ephrata or Selah) or host the league’s No. 3 team which will also be determined today.

Knights play for state

East Valley’s football team is seeking its third straight state 3A tournament today at home against West Valley-Yakima. It is also the third straight year the Knights have hosted the Rams.

“If we win we get to play again,” said coach Adam Fisher. “We don’t put the gear away.”

EV was a state quarterfinalist two years ago and lost to eventual state champion Ferndale in the first round last year.

Last week the Knights (7-2) defeated Camas, another potential state team, 21-17 in a non-league game. The teams played their starters for only a half when EV took a 21-10 lead.

“We felt we could have put more points on the board,” Fisher said.

EV led the GSL in total offense with 1,862 rushing yards and 1,118 through the air. The Knights were fourth overall defensively.

Central Valley ended its season on a high note, but ended University’s season in the process, 20-17. The loss knocked the Titans from this week’s state preliminaries.

U-Hi’s Tyler Carlson, 141 yards rushing, and CV’s Shon Davis, 212, had big games. They finished with 974 and 872 yards respectively, tops in the GSL.

EV’s Ryan Campbell finished fifth with 815 and for his career had 2,924, fifth best in Greater Spokane League history. He was 416 yards behind his older brother Scott, the No. 2 rusher all-time.

Knight Sam Hale finished third in receiving this year in the GSL with 26 receptions and 403 yards. U-Hi’s Ken Wood, 26 for 385 was fourth. EV’s Russell Woodworth finished third in passing with 71 completions in 121 attempts for 871 yards. CV’s Luke Clift was fifth with 771 yards.

WV football breaks even

Short-handed West Valley completed its football season Thursday, losing 43-27 to visiting Clarkston.

The Eagles (5-5) were already without Andy Vennum because of injury and lost Camron Bowman to a shoulder injury early in their final game.

The Eagles led 13-8 on Tom Peterson‘s 43-yard interception return three minutes into the second quarter. It was his second TD of the game.

Clarkston scored the next 28 points for a 36-13 lead after three quarters before Zach Lindsley threw two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter for WV, one a 45-yarder to Casey Sherrill.

WV finished fifth in its first Great Northern League season.

Eagles up against it

West Valley’s volleyball team has its work cut out for it needing two wins today in Cheney to qualify for state.

The Eagles, second during regular season in the Great Northern League, were beaten Wednesday by Riverside and fell into the loser’s bracket of district play.

They won the first game at home 25-19, but dropped three straight by 25-11, 25-22 and 25-13 scores. Next up is Colville, a team WV split with during regular season. If the Eagles win the 11 a.m. match they play the loser of Pullman vs. Riverside for the GNL’s second state berth.