Reserves Play Key Role As Mead Holds Off Lc

The difference was subtle, a layup following a steal here, inside position for an easy basket there, a 3-pointer from the wing.

Sprinkle those baskets throughout the game and you don’t know until afterward that bench play gave Mead its 51-48 victory over Lewis and Clark in a key matchup of Greater Spokane League contenders Tuesday night at Mead High School.

The Panthers got 10 points off the bench, the Tigers none. The big difference was in the second quarter, when Mead reserves scored seven as the Panthers stretched a 15-14 lead to 33-25 at halftime, then held on as Paul Mencke’s 3-point try from the top of the key bounced away.

“We had some kids play good defense,” Mead coach Jim Preston said. “We pressured the point guard, forcing longer entry passes. Defense was probably the key.”

Mead forced four turnovers in an 11-0 run, changing a 16-15 deficit into a 26-16 lead in the second quarter. In the third quarter, LC closed within 37-32 before three more turnovers allowed the Panthers to push the difference back to nine.

That allowed Mead to survive when LC had the ball trailing by three, two and three in the fourth quarter. LC misfired every time.

In other games, Shadle Park edged University 50-48; Gonzaga Prep rolled past North Central 63-46; and Central Valley topped Rogers 74-51.

Mead 51, Lewis and Clark 48

Reserve Adam West stole the ball and turned it into a layup to give the Panthers (1-1, 2-3) a 15-14 lead after one quarter. Mencke countered with a shot from the left baseline to put the Tigers (1-2, 4-2) back on top before Mead’s key surge.

First Damian Long fed backup post Jason Myers for the easy basket and the lead. Ralph Castaneda, who led all scorers with 16 points, followed with a shot from the left baseline. West then missed two free throws, but the Panthers rebounded and reserve guard J.J. Klaus hit a short jumper, making it 21-16.

After an LC miss, backup guard Allen Inderrieden dropped a 3-pointer from the right wing and then Castaneda cashed in a LC turnover with another baseline shot for a 26-16 lead 2:49 before the half.

“I’m never sure until I see the tape, but my feeling was they shot the ball well,” LC coach Glenn Williams said. “We weren’t contesting the ball as hard as we should have.”

The Panthers made 8 of 12 shots in the second quarter, including four straight in the run.

The lead was 10 in the third quarter before Mencke hit a jumper and then converted a 3-point play after a turnover. However, the Tigers couldn’t get closer until D.J. Vick took charge with five rebounds and six points in the final quarter but Adam Morris made three of four foul shots to turn back the Tigers.

“I told them they have to make a choice as competitors,” Williams said of the rally. “They chose to be more aggressive and get after it more. It’s not time to push the panic button. There’s no must win the second week of the season.”

Lewis and Clark 14 11 10 13 - 48

Mead 15 18 10 8 - 51

LEWIS AND CLARK Canton 1 0-0 3, Homer 4 4-5 14, Lynch 2 2-5 6, Etter 0 0-0 0, Vick 4 2-3 10, Mencke 6 3-3 15. Totals 17 11-16 48.

MEAD Morris 4 4-5 12, Klaus 1 0-0 2, Inderrieden 1 0-0 3, Armitage 0 0-0 0, West 1 1-4 3, Long 6 0-0 12, Walton 0 1-2 1, Castaneda 7 1-4 16, Myers 1 0-0 2. Totals 21 8-15 51.

3-point goals - Canton, Homer 2, Inderrieden, Castaneda. Total fouls - LC 14, Mead 16. Fouled out - none.

Shadle Park 50, University 48

Ben Pate scored five of his 10 points in the third quarter as the Highlanders (2-1, 3-4) edged the Titans (1-2, 3-3).

The Highlanders turned a four-point halftime deficit into a four-point advantage heading into the final period. University got to within one point, but couldn’t get over the hump.

Kelly Hineman kept the Titans in the game by scoring 27 points, including four 3-pointers.

University 7 17 9 15 - 48

Shadle Park 7 13 17 13 - 50

UNIVERSITY - Jeffries 0 1-2 1, Fryer 0 0-0 0, Massey 2 0-0 4, Wetzel 0 1-2 1, Earling 0 0-0 0, Hineman 8 7-8 27, Carlson 2 6-6 10, Flanery 0 0-0 0, Wilson 0 1-2 1, Allen 2 0-0 4.

SHADLE PARK Cook 3 0-1 6, Kingsbury 0 0-0 0, Pate 4 1-2 10, Baune 0 0-0 0, Anderson 3 2-2 9, Mohr 0 3-5 3, Augistine 3 1-3 7, Hann 1 0-0 2, Hipps 3 3-3 9, Dunham 1 2-3 4.

3-point goals - Hineman 4, Pate, Anderson. Total fouls - U-Hi 19, SP 20. Fouled out - none.

Central Valley 74, Rogers 51

Corby Schuh scored 14 of his game-high 17 points in the second half to propel the Bears (2-1, 4-2) to a win over the host Pirates (0-3, 1-6).

The Bears outscored Rogers in every quarter thanks to 23 Pirates turnovers and four 3-pointers by Schuh.

Nathan Smith’s 10 points paced Rogers. Jeff Allen and Ben Platt each finished with 14 points for CV.

Central Valley 16 24 11 23 - 74

Rogers 11 16 10 14 - 51

CENTRAL VALLEY Nesbitt 1 0-0 2, Lentz 0 0-0 0, Millar 0 0-0 0, R.Smith 2 2-4 6, Abrams 1 1-2 4, Allen 7 0-2 14, Platt 5 4-4 14, Hinckley 2 0-0 4, May 3 2-4 8, Schuh 5 3-4 17, McFarland 1 3-5 5. Totals 27 15-25 74.

ROGERS Browning 1 0-0 2, Loffredi 2 0-0 6, Goldsmith 0 0-0 0, Cuculich 2 0-0 4, Oglesbee 2 1-1 5, Mosby 4 1-1 9, Dainty 1 0-0 2, Pugh 3 3-4 9, Smith 4 2-4 10, Selgado 2 0-0 4. Totals 21 7-10 51.

3-point goals - Loffredi, Schuh 4, Abrams. Total fouls - CV 10, R 14. Fouled out - none.

Gonzaga Prep 63, North Central 46

Paul Sweeney scored a game-high 21 points to pace the visiting Bullpups (2-1, 4-1) to a win over the Indians (1-1, 4-2).

The Indians took a two-point lead with 3 minutes left in the third quarter, but Gonzaga Prep went on a 30-11 run to blow open a close game.

Jerry Holdren led North Central with 13 points. Joe McFarland added 10 points for G-Prep.

North Central 10 10 17 9 - 46

Gonzaga Prep 14 15 10 24 - 63

NORTH CENTRAL Plaster 0 2-2 2, Turner 0 0-0 0, Blanchat 2 0-3 4, Blotsky 2 1-2 5, Kuhlman 5 1-2 12, Holdren 6 1-4 13, Hieb 3 0-0 6, Young 0 0-0 0, Kapelke 1 0-0 2, Eschenbacher 1 0-0 2.Totals 20 5-13 46.

GONZAGA PREP Kocharhook 1 1-2 3, Dixson 1 1-2 4, Kordash 0 0-0 0, Thielman 3 0-0 7, B.Sweeny 0 0-0 0 , Ryan 0 0-0 0, Powell 2 2-2 7, P.Sweeny 7 7-8 21, Herrin 3 0-0 6, McFarland 4 2-3 10, Egger 0 1-2 1, Hartnett 1 2-2 4. totals 22 16-21 63.

3-point goals - Kuhlman, Dixson, Thielman, Powell. Total fouls - NC 18, GP 17. Fouled out - Holdren, Kapelke, P.Sweeny. Technicals - Holdren.

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