Mead wins title; CV advances
Mead pulled down the stretch to win the District 8 girls basketball title at Lewis and Clark while Central Valley snagged the third spot to regional by edging Gonzaga Prep.
It just goes to show seedings mean little, especially this year. The unedited story is below.
By Dave Trimmer
davet@spokesman.com; (509) 927-2154
The history books will show fourth-seeded Mead won the District 8 girls basketball championship but the Panthers won’t remember it that way.
“With the way our teams beat each other, seedings didn’t matter,” Mead coach Regan Drew said. “It was going to be a tough matchup.”
The Panthers, who were actually part of a three-way tie for second the Greater Spokane League decided by a coin flip, followed up their win at top-seeded Central Valley with a 70-61 win at second-seeded Lewis and Clark Thursday night.
Before that, Mead had to win a loser-out game against University on Monday.
“It was their third game in four days,” LC coach Jim Redmon said. “If anyone should have been tired it should have been them and they didn’t show it.”
Both teams are home Tuesday against the fourth- and third-seeded teams, respectively, from the Columbia Basin League.
Lewis and Clark (14-8) had the ball trailing 58-56 with less than three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter but lost it on a turnover. The Panthers (18-5), make that Jazmine Redmon, quickly put five points on the board. After the Tigers scored with 1 minute left, Mead scored the next five to seal the game.
It was similar to their matchup last week when Redmon had 13 of her 29 in the fourth quarter to rally the Panthers, who lost to the Tigers 80-50 in December, to a 64-57 win.
“When it came down to it, there was four minutes on the clock and it was a two point game, we didn’t execute, we didn’t take care of the ball and they did,” Jim Redmon said. “I thought Jazmine Redmon was just a real, smart great leader. When they needed a basket or needed a play, she got it.”
It didn’t hurt that Taylor Ingebritsen opened up the inside by scoring 23 points, including three 3-pointers.
“I just feel like right now is an important time and I need to step up,” said Ingebritsen, who had 18 at CV. “For me it’s mental. I have to keep my confidence. If I miss one I have to keep with it.”
Kalee Junkermier added 13 for Mead.
“It was tough when it shook out that we four,” Drew said. “But Monday allowed us to gain momentum. … It is what is. Bottom line is you want to be playing this time of year.
“It starts with defense but offensively we’re gotten more confidence.”
Senior Kelsey Matthews knocked down four 3’s and scored 17 points as the Bears (17-5) eliminated the Bullpups (15-7).
CV salted the game away by hitting 20 of 21 free throws. Sophomore Brooke Galloway contributed 13 points and senior Loree Hill had 10.
Tia Presley had 23 for Prep, hitting 12 of 17 free throws. Lindsey Stockton had 12 points and Hannah Murray had 10.