Shared Court Experience Paying Off For Panther Boys
Mead was expected to be a contender for the Greater Spokane League boys basketball championship, but a month ago it seemed unlikely the team would reach the halfway point tied for the league lead.
After a 1-3 start, including a ragged 45-41 loss to Ferris, the Panthers have won eight games in a row, seven in league, to do just that.
The second half begins Friday with the first of two successive important games. The Panthers are at Lewis and Clark at 6:15 p.m. and next Tuesday play co-leader Ferris at 9 in the Arena.
The key to the recent run of success is the players knowing their roles, which is easier because they are all seniors, seven of whom were members of last year’s championship team.
“With Adam (Morris), Damian (Long) and Ralph (Castaneda), we have three pretty good scorers,” Mead Coach Jim Preston said. “The other people have to fill different roles.”
Third-year veteran Long is averaging 16 points per game, Casteneda is averaging 17 and 5-foot-6 point guard Morris, 10. He has been the glue to this year’s team.
Preston believes Morris could play college basketball if given the chance.
Long, a 6-2-1/2 off-guard and All-GSL selection last year, makes up for a lack of quickness with hard work and court sense.
“He’s a good shooter, but he scores and contributes more out of hustle and hard work,” Preston said. “For a guy his size, he gets a lot of rebounds, and he’s become a much better defensive player.”
Matt Armitage started opposite Castaneda until a leg injury put him on the sidelines for three games. Preston called the 6-2 Armitage more versatile than current starter John West, who is also 6-2.
“West is our defensive stopper,” Preston said. “One thing he’s brought to the team is improved defense.”
Center was a question, but the trio of starter Mike Walton and subs Jared Wyrick and Jason Meyers have answered it.
Walton, at 6-5, is the tallest and best rebounder; Wyrick, 6-4, the best shooter; and Meyers, 6-4, the most intense, according to Preston.
The result is that Mead has positioned itself for a repeat title bid.
Panther girls win showdown
Mead’s girls basketball team reached the turn of the GSL season with a perfect 8-0 record.
After a taut two quarters, the Panthers got clutch third-quarter baskets a minute apart from Holly Turner and Allison Beatty to pull away from Central Valley. With 4:50 to go, Turner hit a 3-point basket that put the Panthers ahead by seven points.
A minute later Beatty drove for a score that blunted CV hopes of a rally.
Next Tuesday Mead plays Ferris in a game between the league’s top two teams at 7:15 p.m. in the Arena. Currently a game separates the pair.
Results added import to week
This week’s Northeast A League girls basketball schedule took on added significance because of last week’s results.
Deer Park found itself in an enviable, if brief, first-place tie after both Lakeside and Colfax lost.
Next up on Deer Park’s schedule were the perpetrators of the losses: Newport and Colfax.
Lakeside lost its first game of the year on Friday, 53-51 to Colfax, and the next night Newport upset the Bulldogs to force the three-way tie.
Deer Park, which had beaten Newport earlier this year, lost in double overtime on Tuesday, 64-63, to share third with the Grizzlies. An important road game at Colfax looms on Friday.
The most consistent scorers for the Stags this year have been Jaidean Watson and Jaime Stone. Both are averaging 14 points per game in league.
Overall, Stone is at 12.8 and Watson at 10.6 after 12 games for the 6-6 team.
Lakeside’s boys, who lost to Medical Lake in a game between teams that shared second place, risk their position this week at home against co-third place Freeman on Friday and at league-leader Chewelah on Saturday.
, DataTimes