Ferris boys, LC girls still on top

Ferris was tested last week, but maintained its two-game lead in Greater Spokane League boys basketball.

Lewis and Clark (12-0), meanwhile, played a nearly-flawless defensive first half to take a major step toward its first outright girls title.

The outcomes, a 53-50 Saxons win over Central Valley and 50-49 win by the Tigers over University, set up a couple important 5:30 p.m. games this week.

Tuesday night the Titans host Mead in a game between two 11-2 second-place teams. U-Hi won 64-57 in the first meeting, but that game swung late on a couple of turnovers. The Panthers haven’t lost since.

On Friday, Ferris (13-0) tries to protect its perfect record at home against Shadle Park (11-2). The Saxons built a big early lead over the Bears last week, but surrendered most of it.

WV gets leg up

West Valley boys (8-2, 5-0) reach the mid-point of the Great Northern League season with games Tuesday and Friday, both at 5:45 p.m. They gained an early advantage with Saturday’s 53-47 win to hand Pullman its first league loss.

GNL girls unbeatens Pullman (11-0, 5-0) and Clarkston (8-3, 5-0) play Tuesday night in Pullman, at 7:30. Both were stifling defensively in Saturday wins.

Northeast A biggies

Colfax is at Freeman on Wednesday in a key early-season Northeast A League basketball doubleheader, beginning at 5:45 p.m. The Bulldog boys (11-1, 3-0) have a game lead over the Scotties, who were beaten in overtime by Kettle Falls on Friday.

The girls resume a rivalry between state powers. The Bulldogs (11-1, 3-0) have won the last three state titles under Corey Baerlocher and are 83-12 during that time to the present.

Freeman (11-2, 3-0) placed second and fourth the past two seasons.

•In Class B, Northwest Christian (14-0, 10-0) boys and Liberty girls (12-1, 9-0), have built up two-game leads in the Bi-County League.

Republic’s 2B boys (14-1, 8-0) and Curlew’s 1B girls (12-1, 7-0) have the best Panorama records.

There’s a virtual three-way Whitman County League 1B girls tie among Colton (6-1, 13-2), Sprague-Harrington (6-1, 13-1) and Tekoa-Oakesdale (8-4, 5-1). The Nighthawk boys (10-3, 6-0) are alone in first.

Wrestling showdowns next

Two weeks remain to sort out the top three in the Greater Spokane League, beginning Wednesday at 7 p.m. when East Valley travels to University in a match between two of the three league unbeatens.

The third unbeaten, Central Valley, hosts the Knights and Titans back-to-back on Jan. 24 and 25.

The Bears finished sixth with seven medalists and the Titans eighth with four Saturday during the Jug Beck Rocky Mountain Classic in Missoula.

CV had four semifinalists, including 215-pound Tyler Cochran, who lost 4-3 for the title and third-place Dan Gadley at heavyweight. In addition, Tanner Teeples wrestled through 112-pound consolations to place third and Jake Neumann did likewise at 189.

U-Hi’s Brian Owen swept to the 125-pound title and the Titans had a pair of fourth-placers, Dan Jordan (160) and Billy McGlasson (215).

Dual-season ending

Mead’s gymnasts remain unbeaten heading into the final meet of the regular season.

The Panthers (10-0 overall, 6-0 in league) lead University (11-1, 7-1) and Central Valley (10-2, 7-1) who meet on Wednesday at 6 p.m.

The league has changed format to include a league championship meet Jan. 27 which will, along with regular season records, help determine the overall league finish. Mead is after a third-straight title.