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Young CV gymnasts among GSL’s elite
1/23/2013 9:21:19 AM

By Mike Vlahovich
Splash Contributor

Prior to the gymnastics season, Central Valley coach Kim Brunelle said her team, young though it was, would be improved.

Her initial inclination was spot-on.

The Bears are currently in second place with a 4-1 record and figure to win two of its final three tonight against league unbeaten Mead, Ferris and Lewis and Clark and finish no lower than third.

During the past two weeks, CV swept two meets. The Bears topped 160 points in the former, fourth best total this winter behind the Panthers twice, including their season high 169.175 and University's 162.125.

McKinzie Carter was second all-around in the former meet and first in the latter while winning three of four individual events.

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She scored 34.075 to beat teammate Clarisa Martinez in all-around. They also went one-two on uneven bars. Martinez beat Carter on balance beam, while Carter added floor exercise and vault titles during her night.

The week before, Carter placed second or third in each individual event and Issabella Erdem won floor exercise and finished third on beam.

‘Bad(-ttle)' to the Bone
Rivalries don't come better than tonight's 18th Battle of the Bone in the season-ending Greater Spokane League wrestling match between CV and University. If you haven't witnessed one, you're missing something.

It's not a spirit competition like basketball's Stinky Sneaker. The Bone trophy is determined in the arena.

The joint will be packed and jumping like its hoops counterpart - one year teachers, including then-school district superintendent Mike Pearson, rumbled through the gymnasium on motorcycles before the match.

But there's more at stake than entertainment. The Bears and Titans are both 7-1. The winner finishes second in the GSL with an outside shot at a share of first should Mead suffer an unlikely loss to its rival, Mt. Spokane.

Last week, the Bears were beaten 36-20 by the Panthers, trailing just 18-16 before losing three of the final four matches. The next night against Mt. Spokane (6-2), CV turned the tables by winning the final three matches for a stunning 34-30 comeback. Trailing 30-21, freshman Chauncye Garigan at 170 pounds, two-time state placer Tanner Davis (182) and first-year wrestler Aaron Stintzi (195) erased the deficit with wins.

Speaking of the Sneaker
Central Valley's girls basketball team has struggled year-long, but last week showed signs of a turnaround after they shocked U-Hi and Lewis and Clark to run their GSL record at 5-7.

The Bears are still seventh, but only two games out of third place. In a defensive tussle during the Stinky Sneaker at the Spokane Arena, they had the upper hand in the second half of a 41-38 win over the Titans, who beat them by 19 earlier in the year.

Madison Hovren was limited to 10 points, but Mariah Cunningham and freshman Jenna Place picked up the difference.

The CV-LC game in the friendly confines of home was more uptempo, CV prevailing 66-53, breaking a halftime tie. Cunningham went off for 26 points, Hovren and Megan Dimmler each scored 14.

Boys: There's something about a rivalry. For the second time this year, University gave CV's boys fits. It took a late comeback and sharp free-throw shooting by Austin Rehkow to pull out the 53-45 triumph. Rehkow scored 19 points, most in the fourth quarter, hitting 11 straight free throws down the stretch. CV won by a point in their first game.

During a 68-46 romp over the Tigers, double figures scorers Adam Chamberlain, Beau Byus and Rehkow accounted for 42 points.

The 14-0 Bears put first place on the line at Gonzaga Prep on Tuesday. Friday, the boys and girls host Shadle Park and Tuesday North Central in doubleheaders.