Area basketball preview: Gonzaga Prep boys, Central Valley girls looking to clinch
As the end of the regular season quickly approaches, here’s a look at some of the biggest prep basketball games this weekend and how the league races stack up:
Greater Spokane League
Lewis and Clark (11-5, 10-4) at Gonzaga Prep (15-1, 13-1): G-Prep enters play ranked second in state 4A in the latest RPI rankings published by the WIAA and in the AP media poll. With a win over the Tigers, the Pups can clinch the league on Tuesday against Ferris (13-3, 11-3).
Ferris, ranked seventh in state, and Shadle Park are tied for second. The Saxons hosts North Central (3-13, 3-11), while the Highlanders are at University (7-9, 7-7).
Great Northern
Lewiston (9-5, 1-2) at Clarkston (15-2, 10-0): The Bantams are the top-ranked team in state 2A and have sewn the league up, so why not play a nonleague game the weekend before playoffs start?
Pullman (11-5, 4-4) at West Valley (9-7, 4-4): The teams are tied for second in the league at 4-4 and face off on Saturday. The Greyhounds are ranked sixth in state 2A and a win over West Valley – ranked 11th – would help their seed even more come playoff time.
Northeast A
Freeman (16-1, 11-0) at Medical Lake (12-5, 8-3): The Scotties, No. 1 ranked in state 1A, can clinch the league with a win over the second-place Cardinals. Medical Lake hurt its league chances with a 54-52 loss against Newport last Saturday and dropped to 13th in state.
Newport (11-6, 8-3) at Riverside (2-16, 0-11): The Grizzlies are ranked seventh in state after their big win over Medical Lake and can take over second place in the league if the Cardinals fall again Friday.
Northeast 2B
St. George’s (9-6, 8-3) at Northwest Christian (14-1, 11-0) : The Dragons visit the Crusaders, fourth in state 2B, in their annual “Holy Grail” game. NWC can move one game closer to clinching the division title with a win over its closest competition in the North.
Colfax (11-4, 9-2) at Asotin (7-7, 7-4): The 12th-ranked Bulldogs are one-half game ahead of Liberty in the South Division and can’t afford a slip-up against the scrappy Panthers. Liberty travels to Lind-Ritzville/Sprague.
Northeast 1B
Selkirk (14-4, 10-3) at Columbia (2-14, 1-10): Despite their solid record, the Rangers – first in the North – are ranked just 13th in state 1B.
Northport (6-11, 3-9) at Almira/Coulee-Hartline (15-2, 11-0): ACH is ranked sixth in the state and will clinch the division with a win over the Mustangs.
Southeast 1B
Garfield-Palouse (9-6, 6-4) at Pomeroy (14-1, 10-0): The eighth-ranked Pirates have a 2 1/2 game lead over Prescott, but a loss to the pesky Vikings would seriously hurt them in the rankings.
Idaho
Post Falls (10-2, 3-0) at Moscow (6-4, 2-0): The Trojans enjoy a two-game lead in the loss column over Coeur d’Alene (7-7, 3-2) in the Inland Empire 5A. The top teams in IEL 5A and 4A face off.
Kellogg (11-2, 3-0), Genesis Prep (9-4, 5-0) and St. Maries (8-3, 3-0) are all still undefeated in their respective leagues.
Girls
Mead (10-6, 8-6) at Mt. Spokane (15-1, 13-1): The Wildcats aren’t getting much love from the RPI rankings at 19th in state 3A, but they sit just a game behind Central Valley (16-0, 14-0), winners of 43 straight, in the GSL. A win against the Panthers and then against North Central on Tuesday could set up a huge game on Thursday against the Bears.
West Valley (10-6, 4-4) at East Valley (11-6, 8-1): The Knights are three games up in the Great Northern over Clarkston and can wrap up the league with a win here then on Saturday against Cheney (9-8, 4-5).
Freeman (5-12, 4-7) at Medical Lake (15-2, 11-0): The 11th-ranked Cardinals will lock up the Northeast A with a win. Lakeside (11-6, 8-3) is three games out with three to play.