Mead pulls away in 4th

Mead’s girls basketball season was washing away in a torrent of careless turnovers entering the fourth quarter of their Greater Spokane League regular season finale at East Valley.

Then the spigot turned off long enough and foul calls that had decidedly favored the Knights swung the Panthers’ way, enabling them to play another day.

Mead outscored EV 13-1 in the first half of the final period, benefiting from a technical foul on a night of curious officiating, to take a nine-point lead and subsequently a 55-47 victory to tie Ferris for the sixth and final District 8 4A playoff spot.

The two teams meet Friday at University to decide which team plays at third-place Gonzaga Prep the following Tuesday in the first round of district.

“They wanted to try and get things a little chaotic and we fed into their hands,” said Mead coach Reagan Freuen. “When it’s a little hectic, well very hectic, we needed to take a breath and slow down. Down the stretch we did a better job.”

The quick Knights (9-11, 5-8) did an excellent job of pressuring Mead (10-9, 7-6) on defense, doubling the ball and flying around to make it difficult to find an open player.

But in truth, much of Mead’s turnover problem was of its own doing. After taking a 15-3 first quarter lead, the harried visitors turned over the ball 14 times and EV scored 10 straight second-quarter points to get back into it.

Substitutes Elise Olk, Miranda Rippee and Kelsey Hentges came off the bench to account for 17 of the Knights’ 27 total and one-point halftime lead.

Mead had nine more turnovers in the third quarter and was fortunate to trail only 37-34. By then the team had been whistled for twice as many fouls and EV had made 12 of 19 free throws to the Panthers’ 4 of 5.

But in the first 4 minutes of the fourth quarter, the Panthers had nary a turnover and in the final period made 11 of 13 free throw attempts while EV was just 5 for 11.

Kelli Valentine made two technical foul free throws and Chelsea Mykines followed with a basket for a 43-27 lead that ultimately reached nine points.

“We just kind of calmed it down,” Valentine said. “We knew they were trying to keep us frustrated and we just kept doing our thing.”

She had made all five of her field goals and scored 11 points in the first half, but had her share of turnovers. In the second half she and Megan Thigpen dominated the boards and she scored eight fourth-quarter points.

“They just got a couple of baskets and that technical kind of rolled it up,” said EV coach Freddie Rehkow, who said the comment that earned the whistle did not come from him, but from the stands. “We extended them really well tonight. I’m really proud of the girls. But missed layins and free throws cost us that one.”

EV plays Clarkston at 6 p.m. Friday at Mt. Spokane in the Distict 8 3A tournament for top seeding to regionals.

Ferris 58, Rogers 35

Stacey Cox scored 16 points and had 10 rebounds, and Lexi Lallas added 14 rebounds to assure the Saxons (9-11, 7-6) their playoff date. Denisha Whitehead scored 16 points and D’Erica Jones 12 for the visiting Pirates (0-20, 0-13).

Mt. Spokane 46, Shadle Park 34

The Wildcats (16-4, 10-3) finished with the best record in school history and earned their first district tournament date, Tuesday at home against Central Valley. Jackie Gabriel’s game-high 12 points led the Highlanders (6-14, 5-8).

Gonzaga Prep 65, Cheney 48

Corinna O’Brien scored 15 points for the Bullpups (16-4, 11-2), who made 15 of 24 free-throw attempts. The loss ended the season for the Blackhawks (4-16, 2-11).

Central Valley 64, NC 51

Salena Leavitt hit two 3-point baskets with less than 3 minutes remaining to break open the game for the Bears (14-6, 9-4) at the Indians (3-10, 10-10). NC hosts West Valley at 6 p.m. Thursday in a loser-out District 8 3A playoff game.

Clarkston 71, West Valley 49

A 41-17 first-half advantage gave the visiting Bantams (10-10, 5-8) the win and top seed in the 3A district tourney. Misty Atkinson scored 18 points. WV (2-18, 2-11) scored 32 second-half points.