GSL boys: Shadle, Brown edge NC

Shadle Park ran into a formidable obstacle during Thursday’s Groovy Shoes spirit game against North Central in the Spokane Arena.

But Anthony Brown, who had done so much to keep his team in the game, produced a most amazing finishing shot for a 47-45 Greater Spokane League boys basketball escape.

It was a heart-rending loss for the Indians (4-12), whose Nick Rijon had fueled the near upset along with huge contributions from Cory Swennumson and superb defense by Boone Plager.

Swennumson had several clutch points and rebounds at key times. Plager held Shadle scoring leader Zack Humphrey to one field goal.

“I’m just disappointed we came out on the short end,” said NC coach Jay Webber, whose team led by six points with 4 minutes, 4 seconds to play, but didn’t score again. “We had our chances, we just didn’t execute down the stretch.”

Brown, who finished with 23 points, started Shadle’s comeback with a three-point play and won it with an acrobatic shot off the glass with 4 seconds left.

“I kind of double pumped which I shouldn’t have done,” he said, of the shot around NC’s 6-foot-7 Justin Anderson. “I brought it over sideways and it went in. It shocked me.”

A slow start by the Highlanders forced them to dig out of a first-half hole. Rijon and Anderson shot them to an 11-2 lead midway through the first quarter. It took sophomore Brown to jump-start the offense.

Shadle caught up 17-17 with 4:26 left in the half, before the athletic Rijon took it inside for two baskets, including an electric reverse flip layin, and NC was up 25-22 at intermission.

Brown scored four free throws to open the third quarter giving Shadle its first lead since the start of the game. At one point he had scored seven points, had two blocks, a steal, an offensive rebound and an assist.

NC rallied from four points down, outscoring the Highlanders 12-2 for a six-point lead. But freshman Aaron Dunn, playing like a veteran in his first Arena appearance, scored five of his 11 points in the fourth quarter, including a three-point play with 1:55 left to tie the score.

“They were trying to keep the ball from Anthony and I just scored when I got the opportunity,” he said.

Shadle coach Tim Gaebe gave credit to NC for taking Humphrey out of the game, and credited the efforts of his duo.

“Houdini lives,” he said.

Mead 60, Gonzaga Prep 56: For a while in the fourth quarter the second-place Panthers (14-4) couldn’t buy a free throw. Late in the game they didn’t miss, making seven straight in the final 1:10, four by Desmond Seay, to rally from 48-44 down.

Seay also had a breakaway layin off one of his steals with 14 seconds left to seal the outcome.

“That’s nothing new,” said coach Glenn Williams. “We call him ‘The Great Anticipator.’ The kid’s amazing.”

Mead led 22-15 in the first quarter, Brendan Ingebritsen with 12 of his team-high 23, ending a three-game scoring slump.

He was nearly matched by G-Prep’s Beau Azadganian, who finished the night with 25.

G-Prep went up by a basket entering the fourth quarter. But the Bullpups missed two late 2-on-1 fast break layins and were outscored 9-4 in the game’s final minute.

“Tremendous fourth quarter by the kids,” said Williams. “They were dragging a little bit tonight and yet they found the energy in the second half.”

Lewis and Clark 52, Central Valley 48: The Tigers (7-11) took a major stride toward postseason with the home win over the Bears (7-11). Sophomore Taylor Eglet scored a career-high 14 points and Nick Hardrick had 10 rebounds.

University 88, Rogers 71: The Titans’ (6-12) pressure was too much for the host Pirates (6-13) at Shaw. U-Hi had three double-figure scorers, including Mason Johnson with 24 points.

Ferris 77, East Valley 40: The unbeaten Saxons (18-0) scored 48 first-half points against the host Knights (3-13). Shawn Stockton scored 18.