Gonzaga Prep avenges loss
The Gonzaga Prep boys basketball team battled toe to toe with Mead until a late surge vaulted the Bullpups into first place by themselves.
Read my unedited game story and blurbs on the other games by clicking the tab below.
By Greg Lee
Staff writer
The final score of the Gonzaga Prep-Mead boys basketball game
Thursday didn’t do it justice.
For 3 ½ quarters, the Greater Spokane League co-leaders found
themselves locked in a tug of war.
Back-to-back 3-pointers by Parker Kelly, though, broke it open
late for the defending champions, and the second-ranked Bullpups went on a
scoring binge to finish off visiting Mead, 71-55, before a packed gym.
Mead’s 6-foot-7 senior post Aaron Dunn stepped out and buried a
3-pointer to pull the Panthers within 50-49 with 5:27 remaining. But Kelly, who
had made just one of his previous 10 shots, found the spot in the left baseline
corner, sinking the bombs within 24 seconds of each other.
The final 4:42 all of a sudden became a blur to 10th-ranked Mead
as G-Prep (17-1, 12-1) avenged its lone loss – 53-52 at Mead – by outscoring
the Panthers (13-5, 11-2) 21-6 to make sure the finish wasn’t in doubt.
“We didn’t get out to Kelly,” Mead coach Glenn Williams said. “We
played a lot of zone and were really tracking him well for the most part. But
he’s one of those fiery shooters and if gets a spot and an opening he’s going
to take it. Those were huge.”
G-Prep’s efficiency, too, in the final minutes was impeccable. Counting
Kelly’s treys, the Bullpups made all six of their last shots and 6 of 8 free
throws.
Trying to use as much of the shot clock on each possession, the
Bullpups set a double screen for 6-7 post Ryan Nicholas, who got loose under
neath and took a feed from Chris Sarbaugh as the shot clock ticked to :02. The
basket extended G-Prep’s lead to 61-52 with 2:40 left.
On its next possession, G-Prep burned off 33 of the 35 seconds on
the shot clock before Sarbaugh hit a 3-pointer from the top of the arc.
The game featured a battle within the battle. Nicholas finished
with a game-high 28 points and 12 rebounds while Dunn had 24, 19 in the second
half.
Sarbaugh supported Nicholas with 18 points, 11 rebounds and six
assists.
“Nicholas is amazing on how he can get his hands on so many balls
that are in the air,” marveled Williams. “I just think that was a huge
difference.”
Per usual, Nicholas gave his teammates credit. First, though, he
complemented Mead.
“It was anything but a blowout,” Nicholas said. “They had their
run in the first quarter and we came in the fourth quarter and had our run. The
team did an unbelievable job.”
G-Prep coach Matty McIntyre praised both teams.
“That was a sheer test of wills,” McIntyre said. “Our execution
was outstanding and the kids kept their composure.”
The Highlanders (14-4, 10-2), who are tied with Mead for second
in the loss column, got 21 points from Robby Douglas. Shadle shot 43 percent
from the field to NC’s 24 percent. Gunnar Swager led NC (9-9, 7-5) with eight
points.
Ferris 61, University 56:
Three players scored in double figures as the visiting Saxons moved into fourth
by themselves.
Jason Bates had a team-high 18 points for Ferris (10-8, 8-5) and
teammates Connor Halliday and Riley Stockton had 15 and 10, respectively.
Spencer Drury had a game-high 20 points to lead the Titans (8-10,
5-8) and Kyle Bailey had 17 and nine rebounds.
Rogers 66,
The Wildcats (1-18, 0-13) outscored
Deavon Daniels led
Lewis and Clark 59,
lead the Tigers (9-9, 7-6) past the visiting Bears (2-11, 6-12).
Damond Justice led CV with 10 points.
