WV holds off Titans with big boost from Toussaint

West Valley boys basketball coach Jamie Nilles said there’s never a dull moment when his junior-dominated Eagles take to the court.

“As the old saying goes, we bent but didn’t break,” Nilles said after the Eagles’ 53-47 victory over University on a non-league night for Greater Spokane League teams.

“Two big cornerstones were how to handle their emotion (after losing in overtime to Central Valley on Tuesday) and have poise to finish a game at the end,” Nilles added. “I thought we did a pretty good job of that.”

The Eagles stormed to a 9-1 lead to start their second straight road game this week. But it was nail-biting time with 4 minutes to play after the Titans cut a 14-point lead down to four.

WV converted just enough during a shaky free-throw shooting effort to hang on down the stretch.

Junior reserve Rashad Toussaint ignited the Eagles with eight points off the bench in the first half, two of them 3-point baskets. Toussaint made a key 3-point basket early in the fourth quarter when U-Hi was beginning its rally.

“He’s just a scorer,” Nilles said of Toussaint. “He has the freedom to take a bad shot because he’s going to step up and hit one.”

Guard Danny McIntyre and posts Tyler Hobbs and EJ Richardson also made big contributions in the win.

WV led by no fewer than six points in the first half and increased the lead to 40-26 late in the third quarter. Calvin Jurich, who finished with 20 points, had seven points during the U-Hi rally. But WV made 6 of 11 free throws to hang on.

Central Valley 67, East Valley 57

Travis Matthews and Tommy Kadoya came off the bench and scored 10 point each as the host Bears’ hot start and fast finish made them 2-0. The Knights (0-2) rallied as Dylan Sattin scored 20 points and Jye Lanphere 16, but CV had a 23-point fourth quarter. Nick Ambrose paced CV with 16 points and seven rebounds.

Clarkston 69, Rogers 58

The Bantams (2-0) hit 13 of 18 fourth-quarter free throws to withstand the host Pirates (0-2). Collin Castellaw was 6 for 8 from the field, including three 3-pointers. Scotty Livengood of the Pirates scored 25.

Gonzaga Prep 50, Cheney 47

Michael Johnson, who scored 25, hit a three-quarter court-length shot at halftime to ignite the host Bullpups (2-0). Prep outscored the Blackhawks 17-11 in the final period to rally. Ben Camp and Derek Miller combined for 32 for Cheney (0-2).

North Central 74, Sandpoint 63

The Indians improved to 2-0 as Cody Hauenstein scored 22 points, including five 3-pointers, to defeat the host Bulldogs. NC played without junior point guard Eric Beal (concussion).