GSL GIRLS: Shadle Park routs North Central

On a night when Shadle Park’s starters saw little playing time Thursday during the Groovy Shoes spirit game against North Central, Highlanders sophomore Lindsay Niemeier made the most of hers.

Niemeier scored all of her team-high dozen points in the first half of the Highlanders’ 53-21 Greater Spokane League basketball triumph.

Shadle (13-5) fell behind early 6-3 but then scored the game’s next 14 points. Another 15 in a row put them ahead 32-8 with 1 minute, 42 seconds remaining until half.

After an Indians (0-16) score, Niemeier converted all three free throws after being fouled attempting a 3-pointer and her night’s work in front of a noisy crowd in excess of 4,300 at the Spokane Arena was done.

“It’s a different setting, but it’s fun with all the fans and stuff,” Niemeier said of the annual spirit game between North Side rivals.

NC won this year’s spirit competition.

One of the Highlanders’ best defenders, Niemeier’s offensive game has lately become a factor as a complement to shooting stars Lexi Bishop and Lexie Pettersen.

“I’ve just gotten more confidence in my shooting,” Niemeier said. “And we’re passing well as a team and just moving the ball a lot better.”

Shadle improved its lead to 47-19 after three quarters. Neither team scored again until 3:26 remained in the game.

Bishop and Sara Nichols each added nine points for the victors.

While the win for Shadle was easy, it was a difficult one to coach, said Chad Dezellem.

“I feel bad for the starters, they didn’t get to play that much,” he said.

Shadle finished with five junior varsity players on the floor.

Mead 62, Gonzaga Prep 34: The Panthers (15-3) maintained their two-game lead over Shadle in third place with two games left to play. A pressure zone-trapping defense forced the host Bullpups (11-7) into an off shooting night resulting in the easy win, even without 6-foot-5 post Alexis Olgard. Alysha Green scored 15 points and Beth Altena had a season-high 14 for the winners. Kami Clark added 12.

Ferris 54, East Valley 31: The visiting Saxons (9-9) made 18 of 37 shots while putting away the Knights (5-11). Ferris shut out EV in the second quarter and had a 17-7 third-quarter advantage as Jenna Galloway scored 22 points and Ashley Lockmer 19 during the triumph.

Lewis and Clark 69, Central Valley 21: The league-leading Tigers (17-1) hoisted 72 shots and had a 43-23 rebounding advantage in rolling past the Bears (4-14). Katelan Redmon, Brittany Kennedy and Lyndi Seidensticker divided up 38 points. Redmon and Ula Tauala had seven steals each and Kennedy had five assists.

University 72, Rogers 47: Angie Bjorklund and Dara Zack combined for 56 points in the Titans’ (16-2) win over the Pirates (4-15) at Shaw Middle School. Bjorklund and Zack scored all of U-Hi’s 20 points in the third quarter when the Titans put the game away. Bjorklund finished with 33 points while making 6 of 7 3-pointers. Denisha Whitehead had five 3-pointers for Rogers and finished with 24 points.