Mead Shuts Down Ferris In Arena’s First Girls Game

GSL girls

You could blame it on the new digs, but in reality it was Mead’s defense that made the difference in the first girls basketball game in the Arena.

The Panthers limited Ferris to five baskets through three quarters and coasted to a 53-33 victory in the Greater Spokane League opener Tuesday night.

“I thought we did a nice job taking away some things,” Mead coach Jeanne Helfer said. “Jennifer Bennett did a great job neutralizing their inside game early. I thought that set the tone, we hadn’t been playing very good defense.”

In other games, Shadle Park pulled away from Rogers 46-37; Gonzaga Prep edged University 44-40; and Central Valley raced past Lewis and Clark 76-40.

Mead 53, Ferris 33

The Panthers (4-1) raced to a 10-0 lead in the first 3:17 and the Saxons (3-2) never threatened.

“I thought Mead’s press intimidated us a little bit,” Ferris coach Janet Skaife said. “We came out flat. We didn’t rise up to the challenge at all. I felt we prepared for their press for 12 practices. … but we didn’t have the courage to go through it. Plus, we didn’t stick the ball.”

At halftime, Mead led 29-12 and Stacy Clinesmith had 11 points for the Panthers. The Saxons were just 4 of 22 from the field in the first half and then proceded to hit just 1 of 15 shots in the third quarter to fall behind 41-17.

“We came out and really wanted to win after the Kamiakin game (a loss last Friday) and against Wenatchee (Saturday) we didn’t play very well,” Clinesmith said. “We know Ferris is good, and they’ll play us tough next time.”

Clinesmith finished with 14 points and 10 of 11 Mead players scored. Bennett, a 6-foot-3 junior, had eight points and 10 rebounds as well as stuffing 6-1 Ferris center Jennifer Swinton in the opening moments of the game. Swinton, besides battling Bennett, was often surrounded by two or more players and made just one shot, finishing with eight points and six rebounds.

Mead 16 14 12 12 - 53

Ferris 6 6 5 16 - 33

MEAD Lunzer 0 0-0 0, Beatty 2 0-0 4, C.Clark 2 0-0 4, Turner 2 0-0 5, Clinesmith 4 6-8 14, Leaf 1 3-4 5, Roberts 3 0-0 7, Wakefield 1 0-0 2, Edburg 0 2-2 2, J.Clark 1 0-0 2, Bennett 3 2-4 8. Totals 19 13-16 53. FERRIS Pruett 0 0-0 0, George 1 2-2 4, Jay.Morrisette 4 2-3 11, Martin 0 0-0 0, Waktinson 1 0-0 2, Rasmussen 0 0-0 0, Brown 1 2-5 4, Williams 0 0-0 0, Swinton 1 6-8 8, Jan.Morrisette 2 0-0 4. Totals 10 12-18 33.

3-point goals - Turner, Roberts, Jay.Morrisette. Fouls - Mead 17, Ferris 16. Fouled out - none.

Shadle Park 46, Rogers 37

Emily Christensen and Kelli Pilkington scored 10 points each and also pulled down 10 rebounds apiece as the Highlanders (4-1) pulled away from the Pirates (1-4) after being tied at the half, 13-13.

Rogers had no one score in double figures and was led by Teana Scott’s nine points.

Shadle Park 8 5 16 17 - 46

Rogers 5 8 10 14 - 37

SHADLE PARK Larkin 3 0-0 6, Christensen 4 2-5 10, Pilkington 4 2-6 10, Drake 3 0-0 7, Olzendam 0 0-0 0, Alexander 3 0-0 7, Clary 1 0-0 2, Nelson 1 0-0 2, Potter 0 0-0 0, Johnson 1 0-0 2. Totals 20 4-11 46. ROGERS Christensen 2 3-6 8, Tannehill 1 2-2 4, Abrahamson 3 0-4 6, Scott 2 5-7 9, Fairbanks 2 0-0 4, Flores 1 0-0 2, Mullerleile 2 0-0 4. Totals 12 10-19 37.

Three-point goals - Drake, Alexander, Christensen. Total fouls - Shadle 20, Rogers 16. Fouled out - none.

Gonzaga Prep 44, U-Hi 40

The Bullpups (3-0) blew an early lead and then recovered to beat the Titans (1-2) at the foul line.

Prep made 18 of 27 free throws while University was 4 of 6. The Bullpups were up 10 early in the third quarter before the Titans’ press allowed them to take a 30-28 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Titans are also without starting guard Stephani Shelton, who injured a knee the first game of the season and could be out for the year.

University 7 6 17 10 - 40

Gonzaga Prep 10 12 6 16 - 44

UNIVERSITY Stuenkel 5 1-2 11, Jamison 3 2-2 8, Vlahovich 0 0-0 0, Yost 0 0-0 0, Conant 0 0-0 0, Wilson 4 0-0 8, Hinckley 1 0-0 2, Oglesbee 1 0- 0 2, Pernon 4 1-2 9, Whitney 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 4-6 40. GONZAGA PREP Bloom 3 1-2 7, Bradley 0 0-0 0, Cronin 3 7-10 13, Main 0 0-0 0, Kendrick 0 0-0 0, Hession 0 1-2 1, Williams 3 3-7 9, Palmer 3 6- 6 12, Nadeau 1 0-0 2. Totals 13 18-27 44.

Total fouls - U-Hi 20, GP 10. Fouled out - Hinckley.

Central Valley 76, LC 40

Crystal Lee poured in 26 points, her fourth-straight game with more than 20 points, as the Bears (4-0) were never threatened by the Tigers (4-1).

Sophomore guard Rikki Jackson swished a 3-pointer at the end of the first quarter to give the Bears a 20-2 lead.

CV had the best shooting night at the Arena, making 28 of 58 shots from the field, but like most teams at the Arena opening, struggled from the line, making just 11 of 22.

Lewis and Clark 2 9 16 13 - 40

Central Valley 20 17 14 25 - 76

LEWIS AND CLARK Marquess 0 0-0 0, Barlow 1 0-0 2, Huddle 3- 2-4 8, Davey 2 1-2 5, Weiler 0 0-0 0, Giebel 2 1-2 5, Wendle 2 0-2 4, Springer 0 0- 1 0, Thompson 1 0-0 2, Oeljen 1 1-2 3, Stillian 5 1-3 11. Totals 17 6-16 40. CENTRAL VALLEY And.Kallas 3 0-0 6, Ault 4 0-0 8, MacPhee 2 2-6 6, Sanders 4 0-0 8, Shoquist 0 0-0 0, Lee 10 5-8 26, White 0 1-2 1, Coyle 4 3- 4 11, Jackson 4 0-1 10. Totals 32 11-21 76.

3-point goals - Lee, Jackson 2. Total fouls - LC 16, CV 15. Fouled out - none.

, DataTimes