Cv’S Phinney Comes Up Big

GSL girls

Courtney Phinney is 5-foot-nothing.

Too many more nights like Friday and college recruiters will overlook that and stop overlooking Phinney.

Mark Stinson wishes somebody would take her - now.

Phinney scored a career-high 16 points in limited action and spearheaded a dominant defense as Central Valley destroyed University 94-48 in a Greater Spokane League girls basketball game at CV’s Bill Ames Memorial Gym.

“She’s the engine that drives them,” Stinson, the U-Hi coach, said. “Everyone else has their roles. My hat’s off to her. I respect her.”

Phinney poured in 11 points in the first quarter as CV raced to a 20-4 lead.

“I’m trying to become more of an all-around player,” Phinney said. “I don’t think they thought I would come at them; they thought I would pass it around. I don’t think they respect I can play offense.”

By halftime, it was 51-9. The Bears made 17 of 27 shots (63 percent) and 12 of 13 free throws; U-Hi was 3 of 34 (9 percent) and had 15 turnovers that led to 17 CV points.

The starters were long gone by the end of the third quarter, when the Bears scored the last eight to lead 81-23.

“A lot of the mental aspect of basketball showed itself tonight,” Stinson said. “If you’re not confident … the shots are hard to make. Miss a couple and it gets harder. On the other side, make a couple and it looks like an ocean you’re throwing it in.”

CV had six players in double figures, including reserves Peggy Coyle, who hit three 3s, and Raeanna Jewell, with 13 and 12, respectively. Kendra Ferguson was perfect on 10 free throws and added 14 points.

“I don’t know if it tells you how good we are, but it helps,” CV coach Dale Poffenroth said. “The kids played good defense.”

That’s what Phinney has been known for. Cat-quick, Phinney’s hands are always deflecting passes when she’s not swiping the ball from the player she’s guarding or one nearby.

“I focus on my defense, but when they give it to me, I take it,” Phinney said. “I thought it would be a battle… . I guess we came ready to play. We didn’t want to give U-Hi any idea they could beat us.”

It was Phinney’s drive that capped an 11-0 game-opening run, and after the Titans scored, Phinney drilled a 3.

“If she makes her 3-pointers, there’s not a team, at least in the GSL, that can beat them,” Stinson said.

“She wants to play next year,” Poffenroth said. “She’s going to have to do everything to get noticed… . She’ll go anywhere, she just wants to play.”

Central Valley 94, U-Hi 48

University 4 5 14 25 48

Central Valley 20 31 30 13 94

University (4-1, 2-1) Parker 1 0-0 3, Steblaj 5 1-2 11, Schroeder 2 2-2 6, Poole 3 0-1 8, Black 1 0-0 2, Valkenaar 0 0-0 0, Shelton 1 2-5 4, Arnold 2 6-7 10, Nelson 0 0-0 0, Lektorich 1 2-2 4. Totals 16 13-19 48.

Central Valley (5-0, 3-0) Phinney 4 4-4 16, Renslow 1 0-0 2, Wilson 3 4-4 12, Ferguson 2 10-10 14, Loss 2 4-7 8, Bragdon 3 0-0 6, Jewell 5 1-3 12, Liepman 3 5-7 11, Coyle 4 2-2 13. Totals 20 23-28 94.

3-point goals Parker, Poole 2, Phinney 2, Wilson 2, Jewell, Coyle 3. Total fouls University 24, Central Valley 19. Fouled out Loss.

Gonzaga Prep 48, NC 28

Stephanie Housam had six rebounds and held Alice Sterns, who has the high-point game of 29 in the league this year, to one field-goal attempt as the Bullpups defeated the visiting Indians.

Sarah O’Brien led the Pups with a career-high 13 points.

North Central 7 12 5 4 28

Gonzaga Prep 14 12 12 10 48

North Central (0-4, 0-3) Chase 0 1-2 1, Graesser 2 1-2 5, Eschenbacher 1 2-4 4, Weber 0 0-0 0, Carter 1 0-0 2, Davis 0 0-0 0, Kennedy 5 2-4 12, Holdren 0 4-6 4, Zinnecker 0 0-0 0, Stearns 0 0-4 0. Totals 9 10-22 28.

Gonzaga Prep (5-0, 3-0) Gillum 2 0-2 4, Laney 3 0-0 6, Umbdenstock 1 0-0 2, Heitman 0 0-0 0, Weir 0 0-0 0, Barnes 5 1-2 11, Gibbon 1 2-3 4, O’Brien 5 2-3 13, Bacon 0 0-0 0, Housam 1 2-4 4, Wood 0 0-0 0, DeLeo 2 0-0 4. Totals 20 7-14 48.

3-point goals O’Brien. Total fouls North Central 13, Gonzaga Prep 19. Fouled out None.

Mead 50, LC 28

The Panthers’ full-court press produced a 12-point advantage in the third quarter for the win at LC.

Sarah Travis had a career-high 13 points for the Tigers.

Mead 6 18 14 12 50

Lewis and Clark 10 6 2 10 28

Mead (4-1, 3-0) Strait 1 0-0 2, Slater 2 0-0 4, Smith 1 2-3 4, Gonnella 3 0-0 6, Wolverton 0 0-0 0, Ferguson 3 5-6 12, Shea 1 0-0 3, Bennett 4 0-0 9, Baily 1 0-0 2, Leaf 2 0-0 4, McClinton 1 2-2 4 Brodsky 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 9-12 41.

Lewis and Clark (2-3, 1-2) Gill 0 0-0 0, Bassett 2 0-0 5, Malone 0 0-0 0, Wendle 2 0-0 5, Dressel 0 0-0 0, Lopes 0 1-2 1, Travis 4 5-5 13, Dedas 1 0-0 2, Glotfelty 1 0-0 2, Babin 0 0-0 0. Totals 10 6-9 35.

3-point goals Ferguson, Shea, Bennett, Bassett, Wendle. Total fouls Mead 20, Lewis and Clark 15. Fouled out None.

Shadle Park 49, Ferris 45

The Highlanders held the visiting Saxons to two points in the third quarter and then hit their free throws down the stretch for the win.

Aubrie Caldwell was 4 for 4 from the line and Kate Schurra was 5 of 8 in the fourth quarter for Shadle, which was 17 of 28 to 6 of 11 for Ferris.

Ferris 8 14 2 19 45

Shadle Park 7 16 8 18 49

Ferris (0-5, 0-3) Lynn 0 0-0 0, Foster 3 0-0 7, Garcea 0 0-0 0, Coombs 1 0-0 2, Kirstein 2 1-2 6, Brazzle 4 0-0 9, Benzel 1 2-2 4, McCaffery 4 3-5 11, Taylor 3 0-0 6. Totals 18 6-11 45.

Shadle Park (3-2, 2-1) Ridings 0 3-4 3, Caldwell 1 7-8 10, Schurra 3 5-8 11, Jones 1 1-4 3, Steckler 1 0-0 3, Stockman 4 0-2 8, Alake 0 1-2 1, Forry 1 0-0 2, Peterson 1 0-0 2, McGrath 3 0-0 6, Kiritz 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 17-28 49.

3-point goals Foster, Kirseien, Brazzle, Caldwell, Steckler. Total fouls Ferris 22, Shadle Park 17. Fouled out None.