Ferris, CV flash notable Clifts

TACOMA – Ferris and Central Valley both advanced to the quarterfinals of the State 4A boys basketball tournament by surviving a pair of “Clift-hangers” on Wednesday at the Tacoma Dome.

Once Ferris’ Jon Clift got the ball extensively into his hands as point guard, he did it all, scoring all 11 Saxons fourth-quarter points, including the winning basket with 4 seconds remaining, for a 49-47 first-day escape over Evergreen-Vancouver.

After CV lost most of a 17-point third-quarter lead, Luke Clift’s late free-throw shooting enabled the Bears to hang on for a 59-52 triumph over Bellarmine Prep.

The Saxons play today at 5 p.m. against Franklin (20-5), which defeated last year’s second-place finisher, Kentwood. The Bears follow at 7 against Gig Harbor (20-6), which upset Inglemoor.

Ferris 49, Evergreen 47: In a game in which the Saxons’ defensive rebounding proved pivotal, but an inability to finish at the offensive end nearly was costly, Clift came to the rescue.

All 11 of his points either came on driving layins or at the free-throw line during a frantic final 8 minutes to help the Saxons (24-3) hold the Plainsmen at bay.

“I never really had the best second half,” said Clift. “But I wasn’t going to come over here and go two and out again.”

Coach Don Van Lierop said he knew that Evergreen was guard-oriented and that his posts would be a factor. Brian Hallett and Caleb Rath were terrific on the boards, combining for 23 rebounds, 16 of them on defense. They also combined for nine second-quarter points during the back-and-forth contest as the team rallied for a 28-all tie.

“Their guys are good shooters,” said Hallett, who finished with a team-high 15 points. “We couldn’t let them get second shots.”

A rebound and assist by Erick Cheadle was the key to a 7-4 second-quarter finish for Ferris. He gathered in the ball while lying on his back on the floor following a collision. He handed off to Hallett, who made the basket and free throw for a 28-26 lead.

Just as crucial were the nine successive Saxons points scored by Jace Mattinson in the first quarter, alternating with Evergreen’s Cory Neal, who scored 16 first-half points.

For all the second-half rebounding by Ferris’ post duo, the Saxons missed one easy shot after another.

Hallett’s six third-quarter points however, gave them a 38-35 lead.

“That’s a good problem to have,” said Van Lierop, of the shooting woes. “It’s easy to fix and a good sign we’re working hard.”

But Clift was money, weaving his way through traffic for three right-side layins, including the winner, and going 5 for 8 from the line.

“Coach told me to keep shooting,” he said. “This a tough place to shoot and you have to realize you’ve got to go to the basket and (score) or get fouled.”

Central Valley 59, Bellarmine Prep 52: Clift and Prep’s 26-point-per game scorer Vaughn Gaines sat early with foul trouble, but the Bears had more offensive resources in the first half.

Despite the reputation of the Tacoma Dome as a tough place to shoot, they made 11 of 17 shots.

Matt Morgan came off the bench to score a dozen points, as the Bears scored 11 straight for a 13-4 lead and then increased it to 30-15 by intermission.

“It’s similar to the Spokane Arena,” Morgan said. “I just focused on the basket, nothing else around it, and just shot it.”

He did admit to becoming nervous when CV’s 17-point advantage with 11 minutes to play withered to 50-46 with 1:46 still on the clock.

Clift did an admirable defensive job on Gaines after intermission.

CV held the Lions without a shot during one 1-minute, 26-second possession.

But Gaines eventually scored 11 points and had one of their four second-half 3-pointers that made things dicey.

Down the stretch Clift hit 4 of 5 free throws and made a layin following a turnover for the game’s final score.

“Actually,” he said, “it’s the best I’ve shot free throws all year.”

Coach Rick Sloan said that Gaines’ foul trouble helped CV early, but knew that Bellarmine was explosive, loved trap pressure and would probably mount a run.

“Their style is to get you out of control,” Sloan said. “The big key was how Kevin Cameron and Clift handled their press.”

Clift and Cameron scored a combined 17 second-half points to join Morgan in double figures.