District 8 Titles Go To Prep, Ferris

GSL basketball

There was a little spice added to the meat and potatoes of Greater Spokane League basketball.

The Ferris boys won their sixth District 8 championship in Wayne Gilman’s 14 years by demolishing Shadle Park 65-46.

But it wasn’t the same old story at the Arena Friday night - the Gonzaga Prep girls won their first district tournament since 1986 with a 50-42 win over Ferris.

“I’m so proud of those seniors,” Prep coach Mike Arte said. “They play with their guts and their hearts. I’ve never been (to regional) so I can’t tell you, but I think it’s real important to go in with momentum.”

The Bullpups won their sixth straight behind dominating senior posts Theresa Palmer and Jennifer Williams and gritty guards Lisa Bradley and Danni Thorn.

Ferris’ boys, who won district for the first time since a three-year run ended in 1993, won behind their usual balance and a sensational, career-high 25-point game from senior guard Justin Bursch.

“Everyone steps up in a game like this,” Bursch said. “When you realize it’s your last game here, you want to do something extra, and every guy did something extra.”

All four teams play regional openers Tuesday, the girls at Gonzaga University and the boys at Eastern Washington.

The winners in the third-place games travel to Big Nine sites. In those games, the Mead girls whipped Central Valley 62-43 and the University boys beat Mead 59-45.

Girls

Gonzaga Prep 50, Ferris 42

The towers were Prep’s power with Palmer and Williams, both 6-foot-1, combining for 33 points and 20 rebounds, but the little things counted.

Karie Pruett’s basket from the top of the key pulled the Saxons (15-8) within 41-40, but Bradley drove for a basket and then hit four free throws in the final 30 seconds for Prep (18-5).

Thorn’s contribution was a lot more subtle - she was standing at the end.

“The last three games, (teams) know if they stop me dribbling they throw us off,” she said. “I feel I’m being hammered, but you do what you have to do. Sometimes it knocks me out of my game and sometimes it doesn’t.”

Ferris 13 7 11 11 - 42

Gonzaga Prep 15 10 9 16 - 50

FERRIS Pruett 3 2-3 8, Lytle 0 0-0 0, George 6 4-7 19, Morrisette 2 0- 0 4, B.Johnson 0 0-0 0, Brazzle 1 0-1 2, Martin 1 0-0 4, Meeker 0 0-0 0, McCaffery 1 0-0 2, Benzel 1 0-0 2, Blevins 1 0-0 2, J.Johnson 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 6-11 42. GONZAGA PREP Blom 0 0-0 0, Nelson 0 0-0 0, Green 1 0-0 2, Bradley 3 6-6 12, Machtolf 0 0-0 0, Thorn 0 1-7 1, Jordan 0 2-2 2, Williams 6 2-4 14, Boren 0 0-0 0, Palmer 9 1-3 19, Perdue 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 12-22 50. 3-point goals - George 3, Martin. Total fouls - Ferris 20, GP 13. Fouled out - Pruett.

Mead 62, Central Valley 43

Jen Bennett hauled down 15 rebounds, helping the seventh-ranked Panthers (19-3) to a 42-16 domination of the boards, and the fourth-ranked Bears (18-4) shot just 28 percent.

Mead put three players in double figures, led by Holly Turner with 15. Allie Bailey and Bennett had 13.

Mead 10 20 17 15 - 62

Central Valley 6 10 9 18 - 43

MEAD Gentry 0 0-0 0,Zelinski 0 0-0 0, Kehl 0 0-0 0, Turner 5 4-7 15, Bailey 6 1-3 13, M.Bennett 1 0-0 2, Leaf 2 0-1 4, Wakefield 3 1-2 8, Schuerman 2 1-4 5, Myers 1 0-0 2, J.Bennett 6 1-4 13. Totals 26 8-21 62. CENTRAL VALLEY Phinney 0 2-2 2, Donaldson 1 0-0 2, Grafos 1 0-0 3, Clark 1 2-2 4, Shoquist 0 0-0 0, Kallas 3 0-0 9, Coyle 3 0-0 9, Jackson 2 0- 0 4, Lee 3 0-2 7, Bragdon 0 0-0 0, Liepman 1 0-0 3. Totals 15 4-6 43. 3-point goals - Turner, Wakefield, Grafos, Kallas 3, Coyle 3, Lee, Liepman. Total fouls - Mead 10, CV 16. Fouled out - Clark. Technical foul - CV coach Poffenroth.

Boys

Ferris 65, Shadle Park 46

Except for eight turnovers in the second quarter, the Saxons (20-1) dominated the Highlanders (16-6).

The Saxons pushed a four-point halftime lead to 12 after three quarters.

Jason Weatherred helped the Saxons underneath with 13 rebounds.

“Every time we play Shadle we have to (be physical),” he said. “In practice we’ve beat each other up trying to get physical. It’s helped a lot.”

Shadle Park 8 17 5 16 - 46

Ferris 15 14 13 23 - 65

SHADLE PARK Doyle 0 0-0 0, Ryan 0 0-0 0, Beal 2 0-0 6, Dunham 4 2-4 11, Jones 0 0-0 0, Meyers 6 0-0 13, Anderson 3 3-4 9, Mohr 1 0-0 3, Han 0 2-2 2, Glanzer 1 0-0 2, Hipps 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 8-10 46. FERRIS Bursch 7 8-10 25, Servine 6 0-0 15, Atkins 1 0-0 2, Lucke 1 2-2 4, Soter 1 1-2 3, Watts 0 0-0 0, Hodl 0 0-0 0, Gordon 2 4-4 8, Hamilton 0 0-2 0, Weatherred 4 0-0 8. 3-point goals - Beal 2, Meyers, Mohr, Bursch 3, Servine 3. Total fouls - SP 21, Ferris 8. Fouled out - none.

University 59, Mead 45

The Titans (13-10) built a 10-point lead early in the third quarter, then overcame a shaky moment that included two technicals, before pulling away from the Panthers (12-11).

Mead 12 7 17 9 - 45

University 13 12 14 20 - 59

MEAD Wilkerson 0 0-0 0, Klaus 0 4-6 4, Inderrieden 2 0-0 5, Adams 1 0-2 3, Bishop 0 0-0 0, Stenerson 0 2-2 2, Lindow 2 2-3 7, Scholl 0 0-0 0, Galles 4 0-2 8, Kaiser 3 0-0 6, Castillo 3 2-3 8, Wolverton 1 0-0 2. Totals 16 10-18 45.

UNIVERSITY Dunham 4 0-0 9, Short 1 0-0 2, Fryer 1 4-4 7, Burningham 0 0-0 0, Earling 2 5-6 9, Van Dyne 0 0-0 0, Heimbigner 0 5-6 5, Price 5 1-4 13, McDaniel 0 0-0 0, Carlson 4 6-9 14, Bieber 0 0-0 0. Totals 1 21-29 59. 3-point goals - Inderrieden, Adams, Lindow, Dunham, Fryer, Price 2. Total fouls - Mead 22, U-Hi 17. Fouled out - Kaiser, Castillo. Technical fouls - Fryer, Earling.

, DataTimes