Ferris Solves Lc Defense, Shares Gsl Crown

GSL boys

It took six quarters and John Mietus for the Ferris boys basketball team to figure out Lewis and Clark’s defense, but when it did, the Saxons earned a share of the Greater Spokane League championship.

The Saxons blitzed the Tigers 39-19 in the second half Thursday night to roll to a 61-40 win at the Arena to close out the regular season.

Fourth-ranked Ferris tied No. 5 Central Valley, a 73-46 winner at Shadle Park, for the league title but the Bears go into the District 8 Tournament next week as the top seed because they won the second meeting between the two teams.

“I think we handled their pressure better,” Mietus said after scoring a career-high 14 points. “They’re a tough team and really D you up hard.”

LC, which won the first meeting 52-43, used that defense to lead through the first half until Ferris’ Andre Atkins stole the ball and launched a half-court 3-point swish at the buzzer for a 22-21 lead.

Ferris (17-3 overall, 15-3 GSL) opened the second half with three quick baskets while the Tigers (14-6, 13-5) were missing four free throws and then continued to pull away.

LC tied Mead for third but goes into District as the fourth seed.

“It was quite a turnaround from the last time, even from the first half,” Ferris coach Wayne Gilman said. “Defensively, we were fine through six quarters. Offensively, we struggled with their man-to-man (defense). In the third quarter we were more aggressive toward the basket the first couple of possessions and that set the tone.”

In the fourth quarter, the Saxons hit their first 10 free throws to pull away.

Part of the reason was Mietus, who hit a 17-foot shot late in the second quarter when the Saxons were struggling. He added two baskets in the third quarter, including a three-point play, and nailed five of six free throws in the fourth quarter.

“It had a lot to do with Tommy (Servine) and all the guards looking inside to the three posts,” Mietus, a 6-foot-5 junior said. “We just worked well as a team tonight.”

Ferris 61, Lewis and Clark 40

Ferris 9 13 15 24 - 61

Lewis and Clark 8 13 9 10 - 40

FERRIS - Biggerstaff 0 0-0 0, Servine 1 3-4 5, Atkins 5 5-6 17, Sleeth 0 0-0 0, Gill 0 0-0 0, Watts 1 3-4 5, Hodl 4 2-4 12, Mietus 4 6-7 14, Donner 0 0- 0 0, Williams 3 2-2 8. Totals 18 21-27 61.

LEWIS AND CLARK - Bowman 2 0-1 4, Defour 1 1-4 3, Hook 0 0-0 0, Avery 3 1-2 8, Donastorg 3 2-4 8, Floyd 1 0-0 3, Kuhlman 1 2-2 4, Marshal 1 0-0 2, Spurgetis 0 0-0 0, Luce 4 0-2 8. Totals 16, 6-15 40.

3-point goals - Atkins 2, Hodl 2, Avery, Floyd. Total fouls - Ferris 16, LC 18. Fouled out - Atkins, Hook. Technical fouls - Luce.

Rogers 43, Gonzaga Prep 40

The Pirates (13-7, 11-7) used a late 6-0 run to grab the lead and held on to edge the Bullpups (8-12, 8-10) at the Arena.

The Pups had several chances in the last 20 seconds but couldn’t get crucial shots to fall.

Gonzaga Prep 15 9 11 5 - 40

Rogers 14 9 9 11 - 43

GONZAGA PREP - Johnson 4 1-2 9, McIntyre 2 1-2 5, Thielman 1 0-0 2, Maher 0 0-0 0, Dixson 3 0-0 8, Hartnett 5 4-9 14, Yarbrough 1 0-0 2. Totals 16 6-13 40. ROGERS - Hooper 1 0-0 2, Bedford 1 0-0 2, Ridley 6 4-4 18, Oglesbee 3 0-0 7, Dempsey 4 0-0 9, Pugh 1 0-0 2, Rother 1 0-2 3. Totals 17 4-6 43.

3-point goals - Dixson 2, Ridley 2, Oglesbee 2, Dempsey, Rother. Total fouls - GP 12, Rogers 12. Fouled out - Pugh. Technical fouls - Bacon, Dempsey, Pugh.

Mead 72, North Central 71

Mark Stenerson’s basket from inside the key with 4 seconds left allowed the visiting Panthers (14-6, 13-5) to end the flickering playoff hopes of the Indians (7-13, 7-11), who finished seventh.

NC led by nine with 3 minutes left when Andy Stone started a rally with two 3-pointers. NC fell behind but took a 71-70 lead on Chris Allen’s layup with 11 seconds to go.

Mead 17 14 18 23 - 72

North Central 13 20 15 23 - 71

MEAD - Adams 3 3-3 11, Stenerson 4 7-8 15, Stucky 1 0-0 2, Castillo 9 1-2 19, Schollmeyer 0 0-0 0, Stone 4 0-0 11, Galles 2 0-0 4, Wolverton 4 0-1 8. Totals 27 11-14 72.

NORTH CENTRAL - Allen 8 1-2 21, Lesesne 0 0-0 0, Robinson 0 0-0 0, Blotsky 6 4-4 19, Farr 4 1-3 12, Allbery 5 0-0 13, Martyn 2 0-0 6. Totals 25 6-9 71.

3-point goals - Adams 2, Stone 3, Allen 4, Blotsky 3, Farr 3, Allbery 3, Martyn 2. Total fouls - Mead 12, NC 12. Fouled out - None.

Central Valley 73, Shadle Park 46

The Bears (16-4, 15-3) shot 50 percent from the field to defeat the host Highlanders (6-14, 5-13) and share first place.

Central Valley 18 13 19 23 - 73

Shadle Park 7 12 13 14 - 46

CENTRAL VALLEY - Eigenhuis 2 3-5 7, Priebe 1 0-0 2, Smith 7 1-2 16, Hebden 3 0-0 7, Hinckley 5 4-6 14, Libey 1 2-3 4, Depew 1 2-2 4, McFarlane 1 2-2 5, Perkes 4 1-2 9, Kreiger 2 1-2 5. Totals 27 16-24 73.

SHADLE PARK - Wynne 1 0-0 3, Ryan 2 0-0 5, Beal 3 0-0 7, Evans 1 0-0 2, Jerr.Johnson 3 0-0 7, Howlett 1 0-0 2, Bruck 2 0-0 6, Doyle 3 3-4 11, Jere.Johnson 0 0-0 0, Singleton 1 0-0 3. Totals 17 3-4 46.

3-point goals - Smith, Hebden, McFarlane, Wynne, Ryan, Beal, Jerr.Johnson, Bruck 2, Doyle 2, Singleton. Total fouls - CV 8, SP 19. Fouled out - Ryan, Doyle.

University 49, Mt. Spokane 43 (OT)

The Wildcats (1-18, 0-18) saved their best for last but came up short in overtime as the Titans (3-17, 3-15) hit 10 of 13 free throws in the extra session.

University 11 11 8 5 14 - 49

Mount Spokane 8 11 10 6 8 - 43

UNIVERSITY - Sale 1 1-2 3, Short 0 9-10 12, Ruscio 0 0-0 0, Roberts 1 0-2 2, Van Dyne 5 2-2 12, Florence 3 4-5 10, Renz 1 6-8 8, Price 1 0-2 2. Totals 12 22-31 49.

MT. SPOKANE - Gordon 0 0-0 0, Adams 1 0-0 2, Wilson 1 0-0 2, Gaston 0 0-0 0, Tabisz 3 1-2 7, Clark 4 3-7 17, Bishop 2 1-2 5, Hardman 1 0-0 2, Hammond 1 0-0 2, Swanson 1 0-0 2, Freuen 0 0-0 0, Lewis 2 0-0 4. 16 5-11 43.

3-point goals - Short, Clark 2. Total fouls - University 15, Mount Spokane 26. Fouled out - Roberts, Tabisz.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: DISTRICT 8 PAIRINGS Tiebreaker Girls, Saturday at NC University (8-12) vs. Gonzaga Prep (8-12),7 p.m. Tuesday at Arena Loser out Boys No. 6 Gonzaga Prep (8-12) vs. No. 3 Mead (14-6), 5:30 No. 5 Rogers (13-7) vs. No. 4 Lewis and Clark (14-6), 9 p.m. Girls No. 6 U-Hi or G-Prep vs. No. 3 Mead (15-5), 3:45 No. 5 Shadle Park (11-9) vs. No. 4 Lewis and Clark (9-11), 7:15