Knights upset Wildcats

East Valley split its high school boys and girls basketball doubleheader when Greater Spokane League resumed action on Tuesday.

But the results weren’t what might have been expected. The boys won, not the girls.

The Knights (2-8) upset Mt. Spokane (5-4) 59-55 to buoy a program that has struggled to win in the GSL and has been playing with six varsity members on suspension until next week.

In his second game back since breaking his hand, Emerson Fulton led victory. He scored 24 points to go with the 25 he had in his season debut on Dec. 29.

Tanner Hamilton was a major contributor, scoring 14 points as EV rallied in the third quarter, outscoring the visitors 18-9.

EV’s girls (4-6), meanwhile, lost for the sixth time in seven games, 46-44 on a layin in the final five seconds to the Wildcats, who won their second straight game after an 0-7 start.

The teams resume GSL competition next Thursday.

On Tuesday, University’s girls host unbeaten Lewis and Clark in a first-place showdown. The Titans were 9-1 before playing winless North Central on Friday.

U-Hi boys (3-7) and girls were idle on Tuesday, last winning over EV on Dec. 29. Central Valley’s boys and girls both lost to Mead. The Bears boys (4-6) were beaten 53-40 and the girls (3-7) lost 64-42.

West Valley opened Great Northern League competition on Friday and is Clarkston today. The boys were 3-2 and girls 1-4.

Freeman boys (6-3) and girls (8-2) both won their Christmas Tournament beating previously perfect Liberty teams in both finals. They began Northeast A League play on Friday and are at Kettle Falls on Tuesday.

Valley Christian boys (3-6 overall, 2-3 in the Bi-County League) and girls (1-7, 1-4) host Liberty tonight.

Wrestling Valley’s thing

It is becoming more and more apparent that Greater Spokane League wrestling is an all-Valley school affair.

East Valley made sure of that with back-to-back thumpings of the two other teams most likely to provide a challenge, Mt. Spokane and Mead.

The Knights (5-0) whipped the Wildcats 55-16 and stunned the Panthers 53-4.

“I was surprised by the outcome of that match,” said U-Hi coach Don Owen, whose Titans and Central Valley are both 6-0. “I thought it would be a tight one.”

The Valley schools continue to rush toward their season-ending GSL dual matches. EV is at U-Hi on Jan. 17 and CV on Jan. 24. The Bears and Titans close out the season with the Battle of the Bone on Jan. 25.

The Knights won 13 straight matches against Mead after dropping the 125-pound opener. Pivotal were wins by sophomore Dakota Lawson at 160 pounds and Clete Hanson at 171 pounds over two of the better Panther wrestlers.

Billy Cabbage moved into the 152-pound slot where he split matches during the week. It allowed Caleb Alvarado to drop to 145 pounds where he won twice.

Kyle Hunter remained dominant at 112 and the Knights continued to sweep the five classes from 160 through 285.

Central Valley whipped Mt. Spokane 52-14 and Lewis and Clark 60-15 winning 22 of 28 matches, 15 either by pin or forfeit.

The Bears Jeff Croskrey, Tyler Cochran and Jake Neumann remained perfect and four wrestlers have kept the 112 and 119 pound classes perfect. Two of them, Sam Neumann and Tyler Simmet dropped down in weight to further solidify the lineup.

U-Hi continued to jockey its team and beat Rogers 48-21 and North Central 47-27.

The Titans suffered a blow when Anthony Rivera dislocated his elbow and is lost, probably until district. But Danny Jordan, returned from a rib injury, won twice up in weight and Nick Bickley was a double winner at 145.

Pacific NW Classic

University is hosting the 16-team Pacific Northwest Classic wrestling tournament this weekend. Today’s rounds begin at 9 a.m. with finals scheduled for between 4:30 and 5 p.m.

Among the favored teams are Moses Lake, Central Valley and Kentlake. Teams from the GSL, Tri-Cities and smaller school powers Lakeside and Othello are among the entrants.

Gymnasts back in action

Central Valley lost its first-place showdown with Mead in as GSL gymnastics resumed.

The Panthers beat the Bears 163 to 149.2. Courtney Sexton finished third all-around with a 32.45 score and won balance beam. Hayley Wetterhus was third on floor exercise.

University swept Mt. Spokane, Lakeside and Rogers, scoring 156.35l points. Tabitha Ward scored 32.25 for first all-around over teammate Denel Lang. Taylor Vold finished fourth.

Monica Marmolejo beat Ward on uneven bars and floor exercise. Lang, Tatiana Garcia and Ward swept beam, while Ward and Cortney Gilbert went one-two on vault. Garcia was third on floor.

U-Hi is 8-1 overall, CV 7-2 with both losses to Mead. The Titans host fourth-place Shadle Park next week.