Ferris Bolsters Confidence Saxon Boys, Tiger Girls Win; Lc Claims Chuck The Chicken

After Friday night, Brad Hodl knows the Ferris High boys basketball team can play with, if not beat, Greater Spokane League leader Central Valley.

The Saxons, whose only league loss has come to the Bears, were poised in the final minutes of their 61-52 victory over Lewis and Clark in the annual Rubber Chicken spirit game between the South Hill rivals at the Spokane Arena. Ferris (7-1, 5-1) is looking forward to its Jan. 26 rematch with the Bears in the GSL’s second round that could determine the league title.

“It makes us that much more confident for when we play CV again,” Hodl said of Friday’s win. “It was pretty much a gut check to see if we could dig it out in the end.”

In the girls game, LC came from behind to win 37-34. And the Tigers won Chuck the Chicken, which is awarded in the annual spirit and sportsmanship competition between the schools.

The Ferris boys put together some solid defense in the end and were able to contain Tigers senior Justin Defour down the stretch. Defour, who scored a game-high 22 points, had tied the game at 44 with 5:57 left, but didn’t score again. LC (4-3 overall, 3-3 GSL) had two turnovers in the last minute and missed two 3-pointers in the closing seconds.

“It was our game, they just beat us at the end,” said LC senior Jeremy Kuhlmann, the Tigers’ only other player in double figures with 12 points. “We played hard until the last minute.”

The Tigers held a 20-16 rebounding edge, but that was partly because Ferris made 21 of 43 field goals, including 5 of 8 from 3-point range. LC connected on 18 of 37 shots.

Hodl had three 3s, knocking down a long one at the third-quarter buzzer to give the Saxons a 42-40 lead going into the final period. He made another with 1:10 to go that put Ferris up 56-52.

“Finally, I hit the shot,” he said, shaking in excitement from the win. “They’d been giving it to me all game. I should have taken advantage of it.”

Ferris coach Wayne Gilman liked what he saw in the end.

“I was pleased with their control and execution,” he said. “It was important for us (to win) because we’re trying to compete for the league championship.”

In the girls game, the Ferris defense was impressive for three quarters, holding LC (4-4, 3-3) to four points in the first and second quarters and seven in the third. But the Tigers scored 22 fourth-quarter points for the win after trailing by as many as 13.

LC senior Janell Wendle scored all 10 of her points in the fourth quarter. She hit a 3-pointer and converted 5 of 6 free throws to earn her first win in a Rubber Chicken game. Freshman Sarah Bassett also came up big for the Tigers, scoring nine second-half points.

Ferris coach Art Rojas, decked out in a sailor hat that read U.S.S. Chuck, was frustrated the Saxons (2-6, 2-4) couldn’t hold their lead.

“We just were not playing with a whole lot of mental toughness,” Rojas said. “Being the Chicken game, anything can happen. LC just kept hanging around.”

Girls

LC 37, Ferris 34

Ferris 10 7 7 10 - 34

Lewis and Clark 4 4 7 22 - 37

Ferris (2-5, 2-3) - Lynn 0 0-0 0, Foster 3 2-5 8, Garcea 0 0-0 0, Coombs 2 1-2 5, Kirstein 0 2-3 2, Brazzle 0 0-0 0, Benzel 0 0-0 0, Gilpin 1 0-0 2, McCaffery 5 3-5 13, Taylor 2 0-4 4. Totals 13 8-19 34.

Lewis and Clark (3-4, 2-3) - Gill 1 0-0 2, Bassett 4 0-0 9, Malone 0 0-0 0, Wendle 2 5-6 10, Dressel 0 0-0 0, Travis 1 5-6 7, Dedas 0 0-0 0, Glotfelty 4 1-2 9. Totals 12 10-14 37.

3-point goals - Bassett, Wendle. Total fouls - Ferris 17, Lewis and Clark 15. Fouled out - None. Technicals - None.

Boys

Ferris 61, LC 52

Ferris 15 13 14 19 - 61

Lewis and Clark 16 9 15 12 - 52

Ferris (6-1, 4-1) - Biggerstaff 4 3-3 13, Benzel 0 4-4 4, Bursch 0 0-0 0, Atkins 4 0-0 8, Fike 0 0-0 0, Watts 5 4-7 14, Hodl 3 1-4 10, Mietus 2 2-2 6, Williams 3 0-0 6. Totals 21 14-20 61.

Lewis and Clark (4-2, 3-2) - Hook 2 2-2 6, Defour 9 4-5 22, Coleman 2 4-7 8, Avery 0 0-0 0, Etter 0 2-2 2, Floyd 1 0-0 2, Kuhlmann 4 3-4 12, Black 0 0-0 0, Spurgetis 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 15-20 52.

3-point goals - Hodl 3, Biggerstaff 2, Kuhlmann. Total fouls - Ferris 21, Lewis and Clark 18. Fouled out - Kuhlmann. Technicals - None.