Shadle edges Bullpups

With a barrage of 3-pointers, Shadle Park staved off Gonzaga Prep challenges and solidified its hold on second place in Greater Spokane League boys basketball.

Different players took turns contributing as the Highlanders (12-1), with nine 3-pointers in the game, defeated the third-place Bullpups 63-58 Tuesday night at Spokane Falls Community College.

The victory gave them a three-game lead for second with seven remaining. They trail unbeaten Ferris by a game.

Prior to the game Mark Rypien led a moment of silence for former teammate Kevin Lewis on Shadle’s 1981 state champions, who died last week in an automobile accident.

When the game began it was Anthony Brown, whose nine points provided impetus for to a 17-14 first-quarter Shadle lead. He finished the night with 17 points, including three 3-pointers.

But he was just one of four players to score from long range as the lead stretched to 30-18. A total of five Highlanders finished in double figures or a point away.

“They all had a piece of it, they all did,” said Shadle coach Tim Gaebe.

The win wasn’t as harrowing as an earlier come-from-behind overtime victory at G-Prep, but it had its moments.

The Bullpups (8-4) twice cut into double-digit leads with late surges at the end of the second and third quarters. They shaved the first lead to a point early in the second quarter before reserve Taylor Petterson gave Shadle a lift with two big baskets that helped bump the lead back 11 points with less than 2 minutes remaining in the third quarter.

“Taylor played really well,” said Gaebe of his sophomore reserve, who had two 3-pointers and 10 points. “It was nice having him come in like that.”

With 6:07 remaining in the game, that lead was down to 49-46, but then Zack Humphrey and Robby Douglas helped stabilize things as the lead went to 60-50 with 1:48 to go.

Humphrey finished with 18 points, including two 3-pointers and six free throws in eight attempts. Robby Douglas, with two 3-pointers, and Aaron Dunn inside, each had nine.

At times, the Bullpups made Shadle play for defensive lapses. Travis Long, who had 18 points, fueled the second-quarter rally. Sean Fischer and David Stockton out front combined for 30 points and four 3-pointers.

“We got lackadaisical and didn’t run back on defense,” said Gaebe. “It’s nice to have a (top two) cushion, but we can’t let our guard down.”

Ferris 80, Lewis and Clark 38: The Tigers (2-8) claimed Chuck during the annual Rubber Chicken spirit game at the Arena, but they were no match for the Saxons (13-0) in basketball. Four Saxons finished in double figures, led by DeAngelo Casto’s 21, and a 27-9 third quarter put the game away.

Central Valley 60, Mead 57: A week ago the Bears (8-5) were beaten by 20 points at Mead. Tuesday night they turned the tables at home to end the Panthers’ (6-7) three-game winning streak. They did it by holding Brendan Ingebritsen to 17 fewer points in the back-and-forth game. When Mead fouled, the Bears were clutch, making 13 of 17 from the line. William Davis led CV scorers with 23 points, a total matched by the Panthers’ Kyle Baird.

Rogers 63, North Central 46: The Pirates (4-8) also enjoyed the benefits of home, turning the tables on the Indians (4-9). Jesse Vaughn scored 23 points and had 12 rebounds as Rogers duplicated its big fourth-quarter advantage of the first game, this time outscoring NC 19-7. This time, however, the Pirates were ahead entering the final 8 minutes.