West Valley still unbeaten
In a battle of big men, West Valley’s E.J. Richardson had a decided first-half edge over a pair from Cheney. That edge was nearly the margin of victory in unbeaten WV’s 50-35 non-league boys basketball triumph on Tuesday.
Richardson, a 6-foot-6 junior was at times double-teamed by 6-6 Blackhawks Ben Camp and Matt Brunell. But he made 6 of 7 shots and a free throw by intermission, putting the Eagles up by 15 points.
“My team got it into me and I just went up as strong as I could or try to reverse it,” Richardson said. “If not, I’d pass it out to a teammate and knew they could handle it.”
Though he added only one more basket in the game, Richardson hauled down 11 second-half rebounds as the game’s difference maker.
His offense around the basket, a stifling Eagles defense that resulted in 16 first-half Cheney turnovers and the Blackhawks’ frigid 12-for-35 shooting in the game conspired against them.
West Valley (5-0) stayed disciplined on offense, often taking as many as 30 seconds a possession.
When Richardson wasn’t scoring, other Eagles were hitting six timely 3-point baskets, including three in the second quarter that helped them pull away.
Tyler Hobbs hit two, the first after Cheney (1-3) cut a seven-point deficit to two a minute into the second period, the other with three seconds remaining for a 29-14 halftime lead.
“The kids did a good job of being patient and not trying to stick it (the basketball) in to E.J. on the first pass,” said WV coach Jamie Nilles. “He did a good job of sealing up. He missed some bunnies, but went after them and got some putbacks.”
West Valley’s game strategy hinged on containing high scoring Derek Miller, who was averaging 18.3 points per game and coming off a 29-poin effort last Friday against East Valley, and keeping the big men off the boards.
Miller made two first-quarter 3-pointers but didn’t score again from the field. He made three free throws in the fourth quarter, but the game after WV took its biggest lead of the game at 43-24.
Camp and Brunell combined for 20 points and 13 rebounds, but the Eagle had a 40-24 rebounding advantage and most of what they did came after Richardson and the Eagles had taken their big lead.
“They’re a talented group,” said Nilles of Cheney. “But I’ve been really happy with our defense.”
Ferris 55, Mead 51
The visiting Saxons (5-0) kept pace with West Valley thanks to their advantage in the middle quarters of the game. Ryan Shelby and Josh Rhodes combined for 23 points. Lucas Ashe scored 20 and freshman Brendan Ingebritsen 16 for the Panthers (3-2).
University 73, Rogers 38
The Titans (3-2) won their third straight game, scoring the last 11 points of the second quarter and outscoring the visiting Pirates (0-4) 10-2 in the first three minutes of the third. Calvin Jurich had 23 points and 11 rebounds and Inderbir Gill added 15 points, nine assists and six rebounds.
East Valley 67, North Central 52
The Knights (2-3) have all the pieces in place and it showed with a hot first quarter. Dylan Sattin and Nick Atwood, in his second game, each scored 17 points. Eric Beal had 16 for the host Indians (3-2).
Shadle Park 52, LC 46
The Highlanders (1-4) never trailed in picking up their initial victory, although visiting Lewis and Clark (2-3) did close to within a basket in the fourth quarter. Josh Powell scored a career-high 21 points. T.J. Lee-Hill had 16 for the Tigers.
GSL girls North Central 64, East Valley 41
At NC, the red-hot Indians (4-0) started fast and didn’t let up, with a 20-10 second-half rebounding advantage that kept them unbeaten with a win over fellow 3A Knights (3-2). Ashlee Michelson scored 19 points and Shantel Haugen added 16 for NC.
University 93, Rogers 27
Six players finished in double figures for the host Titans (6-0) who scored 32 first-quarter points. Junior Janna Erickson had 15 points and seven rebounds. Dara Zack was one of three Titans with 11 points and had nine rebounds.
Mead 37, Ferris 31
The host Panthers (2-2) had a 24-14 second-half rebounding advantage that preserved a narrow lead. Even though the Saxons’ (2-3) Lexi Lallas led all scorers with 15 points, Kelli Valentine neutralized the advantage with 12 points and nine rebounds.
LC 70, Shadle Park 47
The visiting Tigers (6-0) had too much full-court press for the Highlanders (1-4), holding them scoreless for the first five minutes of the game. Heather Bowman pounded Shadle inside for 20 points and Briann January hit outside for 17.
Cheney 63, West Valley 44
The visiting Blackhawks (1-3) began to pull away from the Eagles (0-4) late in the first quarter and dominated the second half. Cheney’s Heather Burke hit five 3-pointers and Cailynee Oyolokor had 11 rebounds.