Saxons’ week perfect

Ferris started fast and finished with a flurry to complete a perfect first week of Greater Spokane League boys basketball.

The Saxons (2-0) romped past short-handed Central Valley 70-48, outscoring the visiting Bears 17-2 in the final 4 minutes, 23 seconds of a game between last year’s state qualifiers.

“I liked the way we started and liked the way we finished,” said Ferris coach Don Van Lierop. “From our jamboree, to Tuesday, to Friday, there was definitely progress.”

With an inside presence in 6-foot-8 junior transfer DeAngelo Casto, that had been missing at Ferris the last few years, the Saxons bolted to leads of 19-8 and 31-16 in the game’s first half .

Casto worked magic on the low block. In the first quarter his drop-step moves produced four layins on as many shots.

He had six rebounds and two blocked shots.

“Early on we were trying to get the ball to Dee,” said junior guard Shawn Stockton, “especially because man-to-man nobody in the league is going to be able to stop him.”

When the Bears (0-2) collapsed on Casto and clawed back and trailed 53-46 with 5 minutes left to play, Ferris spread its offense and roared away.

The final run started when Tyler Lynn hit a 3-pointer from the left baseline. As it played out, Casto put the exclamation mark on it with a pair of thunderous dunks.

CV, without starters Luke Clift and Chris Burdick because of injury and illness, abetted its own first-half demise with turnovers and by resorting to 3-point shots against its taller foe. The Bears made just 7 of 29 attempts.

“The big kid from Freeman hurt us and we settled for too many jump shots,” coach Rick Sloan said.

But in the third quarter, 6-3 1/2 sophomore J.C. Agen fueled a comeback by scoring on Casto, who picked up his third foul, and making the free throw.

With their lead just 35-28, Saxons 6-4 junior forward Jared Karstetter, the game scoring leader, and Stockton stemmed the tide. They hit back-to-back 3-pointers and between them scored 16 points as Ferris regained a double-digit lead.

“When they started to focus on Dee, it kind of opened things up for everyone else,” said Karstetter.

CV scored twice before Ferris finished off the win. The 6-4 Karstetter ended with 22 points and 13 rebounds. Casto wound up with 18 points and 12 boards. Stockton and guard Erick Cheadle were also double-figures scorers, the former with 11 of his 13 in the second half.

“It’s nice when two forwards have double-doubles,” said Van Lierop. “And I like our balance. You’re taking a risk if you double Dee because we have other threats.”

North Central 54, East Valley 53 (OT): Boone Plager made two overtime free throws for a 54-50 lead with 20 seconds remaining, enough for the Indians (2-0) to hold off the visiting Knights (0-1).

EV had led 30-21 at intermission before NC rallied behind Nick Rijon’s 16-point night. He also had eight rebounds and four assists.

Trevor Slocum hit a 3-pointer for EV with 8 seconds left in OT to pare the Indians’ winning margin to a point.

Mead 59, Rogers 51: The two teams – and two individuals – traded basket for basket until the closing minutes of the game before the Panthers (1-1) slipped away from the Pirates (1-1) at Shaw Middle School.

Mead junior Brendan Ingebritsen scored 31 points, hitting five 3-pointers. Rogers senior Scotty Livengood scored 25 to go with the 32 points he had Tuesday.

Lewis and Clark 67, University 52: The host Tigers had three players in double figures, including Nick Hardrick before he fouled out in the third quarter. Hardrick had 15 points and 13 rebounds before he departed, but LC (1-1) outscored the Titans (0-2) 24-16 thereafter.

Cole Poland scored 15 points and Alex Gauper added 13.

The Titans also had three double-figure scorers, but were dominated 22-9 on the defensive boards. Skyler Kliewer had 11 rebounds for the Tigers.