Mead making big statement
Mead’s boys basketball team had a defining three-win Greater Spokane League week.
The second-place Panthers (6-1) defeated district rival Mt. Spokane 54-48, weathered a 15-point third-quarter deficit to rally past University 61-57 and a night later beat Gonzaga Prep 57-46.
Since Mead’s second-place state finish of 2003 during the Adam Morrison-Bryan Williams era, the Panthers have hovered around the .500 mark in the GSL.
Three players, junior Brendan Ingebritsen, Lucas Ashe and currently injured Ben Loewen are third-year varsity players and among six veterans back from last year. The secret, said coach Glenn Williams, was in how well more mature players accepted their roles and played together.
Even with a let-down following the Mt. Spokane win that necessitated the huge comeback against U-Hi, Williams had expressed pleasure with their selflessness.
The victory over Gonzaga Prep, which entered the game 3-1, simply reinforced that the Panthers are among GSL 4A contenders. Mead’s only loss is to unbeaten Ferris (6-0). Shadle Park (5-1) is another half-game back.
Bad ankles change game
Leading scorers for both University and Rogers watched from the bench Saturday when the Titans won their first game of the Garrick Phillips coaching era.
The Pirates’ Scotty Livengood and U-Hi’s Mason Johnson were both nursing sprained ankles, Livengood’s coming in the first quarter against Shadle Park the night before. He played that game, finishing with 17, and is averaging 21.2 points per game for the year.
Johnson is averaging 17.2 after scoring 17 the night before against Mead.
U-Hi simply had more supporting firepower. Three players, led by Ryan Dixon‘s 18 points, finished in double figures. A fourth, Trevor Wakem, had four fourth-quarter baskets. Trevor Anderson scored a season-high 13 points for Rogers.
A blend of young and old
Mead’s girls basketball team could have had seven players back from last year’s 16-5 basketball team. Three of those, including leading scorer Nikki Nelson, back in Chewelah, didn’t return.
No worries. Three freshmen replacements have joined three veterans and the transition appears seamless. Seniors Kami Clark, (up to 10.3 ppg) Alysha Green and Kelli Valentine are scoring at the same clip, combined, as a year ago. Valentine had a season-high 16 against U-Hi.
Frosh Jazmine Redmon has made a spectacular debut, averaging 12 points per game. Another freshman, 6-foot-5 Alexis Olgard, has been a defensive force inside. A third, Kristina Puthoff, has been in double figures twice.
The Panthers (5-2) on Friday gave University (6-1) everything it could handle and beat Gonzaga Prep (2-3) easily on Saturday. Mead is third, behind the Titans and unbeaten Lewis and Clark (7-0).
Change is good
Last year Clarkston’s only win in boys basketball was a non-league victory over Cheney. This year the Bantams defeated the Blackhawks 57-51. Only this time, because of an early 2A Great Northern League start for the pair, this victory counts in league.
“Liberty and Northwest Christian boys and the Liberty girls are off to 4-0 starts in Bi-County League basketball. The defending state champion Crusaders go nine deep, led by Chase Ramey‘s 16 points per game, and have already beaten GNL Riverside and NEA Lakeside in non-league games. Aaron Weiss is averaging 20 per game for the Lancers.
“In the Panorama League, 2B Republic and 1B Curlew are both 4-0 and Curlew’s girls are also perfect after four games. In seven games overall Republic’s Derek Gianukakis is averaging a shade under 30 points per game.
Local Tri-State recap
University wrestlers finished seventh, the highest finishing Spokane-area school, at the Tri-State Tournament at North Idaho College.
Titans two-time state finalist Brian Owen beat Auburn’s Matt Sencenbaugh 5-3 at 119 pounds. It was his second title in three Tri-State championship match appearances.
Riverside’s defending 2A state champion Ryan DesRoches beat Tri-State team champion Sedro-Woolley’s Michael Lomsdalen 3-0 to win at 160 pounds. Lomsdalen is a returning 3A state champ. Deer Park’s Sam Lane was second at 130.