GSL BOYS: LC uses second-half surge to handle NC

While most of Lewis and Clark’s team is still working to convert muscle memory from football to basketball, Sean Hoffman had his game fine-tuned Friday night at North Central.

Hoffman, a 6-foot-7 junior, scored 17 of his game-high 29 points in the fourth quarter as the Tigers rallied in the second half to beat the Indians 61-51 for their second straight victory to open the Greater Spokane League season.

LC got a late start to the season and players are dinged up and weary because of the prolonged state championship football season, said coach Jeff Norton. It showed early with 15 first-half turnovers, mainly on errant passes. And at one point in the fourth quarter, the Tigers had missed 8 of 11 free throws.

But Taylor Eglet and Hoffman each made two for a 56-51 lead with a minute remaining and the Indians (3-2) couldn’t respond.

“We’ve only had seven practices,” said Norton. “I don’t know how many the normal teams have had, but they’ve all played four or five games. Seven practices and two games and you know you’re going to have some troubles.”

LC shot out of the blocks like a rocket, however, taking an 8-0 lead in the game’s first two minutes on the work of Hoffman and 6-5 senior Alex Gauper.

But then NC’s full-court pressure began to pose problems and the Indians ran off 10 straight points, a lead it kept to halftime, abetted by LC’s passing woes. The points were divided evenly among eight players, but they couldn’t keep Hoffman away from the basket. He finished with 12 on a variety of layins and dunks.

NC led 26-22 early in the third quarter before the Tigers went on a 3-minute, 14-1 run. Gauper scored six and Hoffman four for a 36-27 lead that held up.

Nick Rijon did his best to keep NC in it, scoring 17 second-half points. With 1:37 remaining he willed in a basket in traffic, added the free throw and NC trailed just 53-51. But he also had a couple of late turnovers and the free throws by Eglet and Hoffman pulled the Tigers through.

“I knew at the beginning of the week we wouldn’t shoot the ball well and were going to turn it over, but if we could keep the game in the 40s and 50s we’d have a chance,” said Norton.

He also liked the defense that Jordan Hanson and Alex Shaw played on Rijon, despite his final statistics.

“I don’t know that Nick’s going to have a tougher night this year,” he said.

As for Hoffman, last year he averaged just over three points a game. Friday night he was unstoppable. One of his second-half dunks came off a behind-the-back assist from Eglet.

“It was just a lot of hard work over the summer,” he said. “Taylor gets the ball to me and I put it in. It works pretty well and I’m happy.”

NC coach Jay Webber said Hoffman, in his eyes, was the difference.

“He seems to be much more aggressive and wants to take it hard to the bucket, which he did,” said Webber. “We didn’t have an answer for him.”

Rijon finished with 20 ponts and Gauper scored 15, 11 in the second half.

Gonzaga Prep 78, East Valley 48: Guards Sean Fischer and David Stockton combined for 48 points as the Bullpups (3-1) rolled at home. It was the second straight game over 20 points for Fischer, who finished with 24. Gonzaga polished off the Knights (0-5) with a 34-point fourth quarter.

Central Valley 60, Mt. Spokane 54: A hot start paid off for the home-standing Bears (3-3), whose three-pronged guard attack of Michael Williams (16 points), William Davis (15) and Luke Clift (14) did most of the damage. The Bears led 22-13 after a quarter and by 11 points at the half before weathering the Wildcats’ (2-3) third-quarter comeback. Ryan Selland led all scorers with 18 points and Connor Haley added 15 for Mt. Spokane.

Shadle Park 64, Rogers 49: Zack Humphrey and Robby Douglas hit three 3-pointers each and finished with 16 points apiece as the Highlanders (4-1) outscored the host Pirates (1-4) 38-19 in the middle two quarters of their victory. They were among four Shadle players in double figures. Rogers had three, led by Andrew Durant’s 15.

University 85, Mead 78: It was a typical game between race-horse teams, and the Titans (2-3) continued to trouble the Panthers (1-4), but not before blowing an 18-point third-quarter lead. The game was tied at 73 with 21/2 minutes left, but the hosts, with four double-figure scorers and two others with eight points, made most of their 20 free throws in the final quarter. Mead’s Brendan Ingebritsen scored 27, going 13 for 13 at the line.