Tigers play the part well
Lewis and Clark has been on center stage many times. For Mt. Spokane, their game was a first, so pardon a little stage fright during its 66-38 Greater Spokane League girls basketball loss at home to the Tigers in a game between league co-leaders.
The pesky Tigers (13-0, 6-0) were at their intimidating best in the first quarter, forcing 14 turnovers, nine of them directly resulting in baskets and a 24-3 lead.
While it wasn’t completely clear sailing thereafter — Mt. Spokane (11-2, 5-1) closed to within 13 points at the start of the third quarter — the damage had been done.
“That was probably one of the best quarters we’ve put together,” said LC coach Jim Redmon, who was coaching against his niece, Mt. Spokane sophomore Katelan Redmon.
“Offensively and defensively it just seemed like everything was clicking. A lot of times we get steals but don’t finish. In that quarter it seemed like everything was going our way.”
Lewis and Clark’s fullcourt press flustered the Wildcats, who froze at times and were ripe for the picking. And if they did break it, the players would hurry the few good shooting opportunities they had in the first quarter.
In transition, Tigers Briann January and Heather Bowman combined for 17 points and Lyndi Seidensticker added a pair of baskets from out front to lead the hot start.
“They have great quickness,” said Mt. Spokane coach Jeanne Helfer, who admitted that her young team played scared in the first quarter. “They made it hard on us, but we made it a little easier on them. LC is too good to overcome that.”
The score was 8-0 before the Wildcats scored their first point. After allowing their first basket, to Redmon with 2:20 remaining in the first quarter, LC ran off 14 straight points, six by January, who scored 20 in three quarters, nine coming on 3-point shots.
“Jim’s been encouraging me in practice and I’ve just been letting them fly,” January said. “You miss the shot you don’t take, I guess.”
After Mt. Spokane cut it to 34-21, the Tigers went on another tear, bumping their lead back to 54-25 with less than a minute remaining in the third quarter.
Bowman finished with 17 points for the Tigers and Seidensticker had 11.
Redmon, who entered the game averaging 15 points per game for Mt. Spokane, was stymied by January’s defense and limited to eight.
“I teased her all week abut doubling her and all types of things,” said her uncle. “We’ve always put Briann on her. When you’re a sophomore and we’re putting our best defender on you, I wanted her to know that we showed respect for her game.”
That, said Helfer, is all this loss was, one game, and it won’t affect what can still be a tremendous season.
“Good teams make you pay and obviously they made us pay,” she said. “But this is a quality basketball team and I say it even after turning the ball over (so many) times.”
Shadle Park 55, West Valley 26
The visiting Highlanders (3-10, 2-4) caused 27 turnovers during its easy victory over the Eagles (1-12, 1-5). Lexi Bishop scored 17 points and Lexie Pettersen added 13 in victory. WV’s Jackie Rouse scored 10.
University 62, Cheney 16
It was another one-sided win for the GSL’s other unbeaten and another double figures night for the Bjorklund sisters, Angie and Jami. The Titans (13-0, 6-0) allowed just eight points in three quarters to the host Blackhawks (2-11, 0-6).
Gonzaga Prep 68, Rogers 25
Corrina O’Brien had a triple-double in rebounds, steals and assists, with 10 of each, but let Sarah Jennings and Shannon Murray do the double-figure scoring. The host Bullpups (10-3, 5-1) moved into a three-way tie for third in league. Rogers remained winless (0-13, 0-6).
Mead 64, Clarkston 57
Panther Kelli Valentine had a career night as the Bantams, (7-6, 3-3) succumbed to another big second half by a visiting foe. Mead (6-6, 3-3) was outscored 23-8 in the second quarter to trail by 13 points, but outscored Clarkston 42-22 in the second half when Valentine scored 18 of her 32. Misty Atkinson had 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Bantams.
Ferris 66, North Central 46
The Saxons (5-8, 3-3) took a liking to their home court, hitting five 3-point baskets in the first quarter to take a 13-point lead over the Indians (9-4 (2-4). Foul troubles benched Stacey Cox, who scored 21 points, and Lexi Lallas and NC rallied to within three points at half before Ferris took control. Jenna Galloway scored 16 points. NC’s Ashlee Michelson had 19.