CV boys down ‘Pups in final non-leaguer

The Greater Spokane League’s five-game basketball test pattern is complete and new programming will begin in two weeks.

But following Tuesday night’s 60-49 victory at Gonzaga Prep, Central Valley’s boys are one team that wouldn’t mind watching re-runs.

The surprising Bears, picked in the bottom half of GSL 4A teams by nearly every coach, completed their non-league schedule with a 6-1 record, including wins over all five of its non-counting games against GSL opponents.

CV’s final pre-league victory Tuesday night was a combination of patience on offense, timely first-half 3-point shooting, deadeye second-half free throw success and the play of freshman Luke Clift in the clutch.

Clift scored the final five points of the first half for a 26-21 Bears lead, including a 30-foot banked 3-pointer, his team’s fifth, at the buzzer following a Bullpups turnover.

He also hit CV’s only field goal of the game’s final six minutes. It came with 1:40 remaining after Gonzaga had cut a 14-point deficit to six points on the fourth-quarter work of Ian Parry.

“It seems like every night somebody else is contributing big for us,” said Bears coach Rick Sloan. “I thought Luke Clift stepped up tonight.”

He also lauded the play of Tommy Kadoya and Travis Matthews, who came off the bench when Nick Ambrose and Brad Johnson got into early foul trouble.

“Matty hit a big shot for us and Tommy Kadoya always comes off the bench and gives us toughness,” said Sloan.

And Braden Jensen staked the Bears to an early 6-3 lead they never surrendered with a pair of 3-point baskets, then made 10 of 12 fourth-quarter free throws to hold the Bullpups at bay.

The game remained close until the final couple minutes of the third quarter. CV led by as many as five points in the first half, only to have Ryan Murphy, in just his second game back with the team, make four of five attempts to bring Prep within a point or two.

Kadoya, however, came up with clutch rebounds and twice converted second-quarter 3-point shots to give the Bears some breathing room before Clift put the Bears ahead by seven at intermission.

A pair of three-point plays by Ambrosehelped extend CV’s 31-27 lead to 40-28 at the end of the third quarter.

Murphy and Parry, who combined for 14 of Gonzaga’s 21 fourth-quarter points, tried to rally the Bullpups, but CV, Jensen in particular, was too much at the line, making 14 of 18 attempts.

When asked if Murphy, who finished with seven baskets in eight attempts, needed to have gotten the ball more, G-Prep coach Mike Haugen said, “We had a tough time getting the ball anywhere.

“Our timing is not too good right now and we don’t have a good flow,” he said.

Haugen also said the Bullpups didn’t come out with enough early energy, allowing the Bears easy shots that “filled them with confidence.”

Developing confidence, said Sloan, is the point of the pre-season for the Bears, who returned no starters from last year’s regional qualifier.

“We were hoping to get some early success. We needed the experience,” he said. “As it turned out, obviously now you wish they’d be league games. But it is what it is.”

The GSL begins for real Jan. 4 with some teams looking forward to a new season, others hoping to build on early ratings.

Ferris 50, Mt. Spokane 48

In a game that was tied after each of the first three quarters, the Saxons (6-1) pulled off their latest escape. Brian Hallett led Ferris with 15 points with help from guards Jon Clift and Jeremy Templeton. Seventeen players scored for the two teams combined. Matt Dorr and Dwight Bond had 10 apiece to lead the Wildcats (2-3).

Shadle Park 43, Mead 40

The Highlanders (2-5) got the better of the second half in their upset of the visiting Panthers (3-4). Nothing much separated the teams, which were tied at the half and only a point apart after three quarters. Three Shadle double-figures scorers, Josh Landsverk (16 points), Josh Powell (11) and freshman Zach Humphrey (12), accounted for all but four points.

GSL girls Mt. Spokane 64, Ferris 56

Katelan Redmon backed her school-record 28 points of last week with an 18-point outing as the Wildcats (4-1) outlasted the Saxons (2-5). Mt. Spokane was led by Emily Wittkopf’s 21, nine of those in the 18-9 third quarter outburst that broke a halftime tie. Wittkopf had set the school single- game record last year with 22.

CV 48, Gonzaga Prep 47

Heidi Heintz scored on a pick-and-roll play with seven seconds remaining to beat the Bullpups in a game that was as close as the final score indicates. CV (4-2) led by four points early in the game, but had to rally from a 24-21 deficit to lead by a point on Katee Nauert’s free throws in the waning seconds. Prep (3-2) again led by three points after three quarters before CV came back. Heintz scored 16 points and Nauert was one of two Bears with 10.

Mead 63, Shadle Park 46

The Panthers (3-3) were repeatedly able to get the ball inside to Kelli Valentine and her 20 points helped do in the host Highlanders (1-6). Shadle controlled the game early before getting outscored 39-16 in the middle two quarters. Mead’s Chelsea Mykines hit three 3-point baskets and finished with 13 points. Lexi Bishop scored 16 points, the only Highlander with more than seven.

In other boys games

Troy 59, Colton 45: Aaron Smith scored 28 points to lead the Trojans past the Wildcats in the first round of the Troy Tournament. Kyle Schultheis and Seth Robertson scored 19 apiece for previously-unbeaten Colton. Troy will play Potlatch in tonight’s title game… . Potlatch 42, Kootenai 26: Ryan Larson scored nine points to lead a balanced attack and the Loggers beat the Warriors in the first round of the Troy Tournament. Tony Kraack led Kootenai with 10 points… . Moses Lake Christian 60, Springdale 39: The Lions forced the Chargers into 25 turnovers, including 14 in the second half when they outscored Springdale 33-16, to win the non-league game at Springdale. Mike Whitney led all scored with 17 for Springdale.

In other girls games

Troy 56, Colton 40: Jessica Hokanson scored 16 points as the Trojans beat the Wildcats in the first round of the Troy Tournament. Sammie Druffel scored 11 points to lead Colton. Troy faces Idaho neighbor Potlatch in the title game… . Potlatch 49, Kootenai 38: Nadia Posey scored 17 points to lead the Loggers past the Warriors at the Troy Tournament. Cassie Scheffelmarer scored 16 to lead Kootenai… . Soap Lake 35, Columbia (Hunters) 30: The Eagles used a 19-8 fourth quarter to pull out a non-league victory over the Lions at Soap Lake. Christy Dashiell of Columbia led all scorers with 10 points… . Springdale 42, Moses Lake Christian 34: Amanda Krieg hit five 3s on her way to 17 points and the Chargers scored the game’s first 11 points in the non-league victory over the Lions.