It’s Spirit Week in the Greater Spokane League. That means raucous crowds, musical numbers, cheerleaders, rowdies — and lots of boys’ and girls’ basketball.
Gala Week is one of the highlights of the season when student bodies, faculty and sports teams come together in a spirit of camaraderie and friendly competition. Add to that the bright lights of a college or downtown arena and you have an annual tradition that will bring memories of a lifetime for all involved.
This year’s festivities begin Tuesday in Cheney, where the Blackhawks host Rogers at Eastern Washington University’s Reese Court in the fifth annual “Railroad Rumble,” the youngest spirit game of the week. The girls game starts at 5:30 p.m.; the boys are at 7:30.
Last year at the Arena, the Rogers boys won 44-39 while the Cheney girls came out on top 42-24. Rogers won the “Minions” themed ghost contest.
This season, the Pirates boys are off to a fast start at 3-1, while Cheney is 2-2. Both girls teams struggle out of the gate with a combined 2-7 record.
On Thursday, the scene shifts to downtown’s Numerica Veterans Arena, where Ferris is the designated host against Lewis and Clark in the granddaddy of all spirit games, the 43rd Battle of the “Rubber Chicken” Chuck.
The schools have had an intense but friendly rivalry since 1983, when a student competition was adopted to boost student spirit. The symbol of the rivalry, an ugly rubber chicken, was chosen as the “deeply sought after but of no real value” reward symbol.
“I played in the ‘Stinky Sneaker’ in 2012, so I love the environment,” LC girls coach Sydney Floriani said last year. “It’s super fun. There’s nothing like playing at the Arena, and Rubber Chicken is just one of the best-attended events in Spokane.”
Last year, LC swept the basketball games as the Tigers girls pulled close over Ferris 52-47 and the boys won 58-49 as Chuck went to LC for the third time in four years.
The LC boys are off to a 3-3 start this season while Ferris is 2-3. Both girls teams are 3-2 so far.
On Friday night, North Central and Shadle Park will face off in the rivalry games of “Groovy Shoes”. Shadle won the boys basketball games 57-37 and 52-42 in the girls basketball games last season. In the spirit competition, North Central kept the shoes for the ninth consecutive season.
This season, the NC boys are 2-2 while Shadle is 1-4. The Highlanders girls are 2-3 and NC is 0-4.
The “Stinky Sneaker” games between Central Valley and University are Feb. 3 in Eastern Washington.
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