In brief: Saxons win in OT

Amid the bedlam that is the Rubber Chicken spirit game, Ferris and Lewis and Clark did their best to heighten the excitement.

Going back and forth, quarter by quarter, both teams gave the 5,380 screamers in attendance a game worth watching. It wasn’t until the Tigers’ Taylor Eglet’s 3-pointer with time expiring in overtime bounced off the rim Tuesday night at the Spokane Arena that the Saxons could savor a 54-51 victory.

It was the closest finish since LC won in 2003. But as Ferris coach Don Van Lierop said, “This year (in the GSL) it’s par for the course.”

The win, evening Ferris’ record at 5-5, relied heavily upon the offensive efforts of lone senior Justin Stewart and steady free-throw shooting by Connor Halliday.

Scoreless at halftime and without a field goal on the night, Halliday buried 11 of 12 free throws in the second half, including all four in overtime that helped keep LC (4-7) at bay.

Stewart, who started in his final Rubber Chicken game, scored 16 points, 10 in the first quarter, when Ferris built a 17-12 lead. His final field goal was also a big one, coming in overtime after he had missed two free throws.

The ball caromed off two Tigers rebounders and he gathered it in to forge a 46-all tie. The teams traded leads before Halliday’s final free throws made it 52-49 and Taylor Kamitomo made two free throws with 16 seconds remaining that sealed the taut victory.

“Halliday has proven himself at the line all season,” Van Lierop said. “For Justin, it’s neat that we won for our lone senior.”

LC’s Levi Taylor scored 11 points in the half, including three baskets in the second quarter, to bring the Tigers back. They trailed 23-22 at half after leading by three points.

In the second half, Ferris built a 36-27 lead. Two 3-pointers by Austin Ehlo rallied LC in the game’s final 2 minutes before Jason Bates came up huge for Ferris with one of his own.

Sean Hoffmann’s basket forced Halliday’s game-tying free throw following a first-attempt miss with 20 seconds remaining. The fifth quarter went Ferris’ way.

“It definitely was memorable, to say the least,” Stewart said. “We didn’t get Chuck (LC won the spirit contest), but we wanted to win the game. Our young guys didn’t play like young guys.”

Central Valley 72, Mead 51: The Bears (6-5) won their fifth straight by taking a 14-point lead in the first quarter to win at Mead and move past the Panthers (5-5) in the GSL. CV was 8 for 11 from beyond the 3-point arc, four of those by Alex Howard, who finished with 20 points.

North Central 66, East Valley 52: The Indians (7-4) got a key 3-pointer by Dylan Harris in the third quarter to help get away from the visiting Knights (1-10). Branden Olsen scored all of his six points in the fourth quarter. NC outscored EV 34-22 in the second half. EV’s Korie Sherman led all scorers with 14 points.

Gonzaga Prep 55, University 41: The host Titans (2-9) cut the Bullpups’ lead to six points with 5 minutes left, but failed to score on six straight possessions afterward. G-Prep (10-1) went on an 11-0 run, including two 3-pointers by Sean Fisher, who scored 16 in the game. Ryan Nicholas and Travis Long combined for 23 rebounds for the Bullpups.

Shadle Park at Rogers: The Pirates’ home game wasn’t reported.