GSL boys: Home court the difference as U-Hi tops Mead

A month ago University’s boys basketball team gave Mead a Greater Spokane League scare on the road, leading big early before losing by five points.

On Tuesday, the Titans (5-9) had a similar advantage, but this time were able to finish the deal at home, upsetting the third place Panthers (10-4) 64-63.

U-Hi rallied from a six-point first-half deficit to lead 58-47 with 5 minutes, 5 seconds remaining in the game.

Mead came back behind Ben Loewen, but missed two inside shots for the win after the Titans had come up empty on a pair of free throws in the game’s final 15 seconds.

With the victory, U-Hi holds seventh place in league and is sixth among eight 4A teams vying for six district playoff berths.

The loss dropped Mead two games behind second-place Shadle Park.

The Panthers led after a quarter on the shooting of Lucas Ashe, who would finish with 20 points, Brendan Ingebritsen (14) and Tyler Mounce.

The trio combined for all 17 points and a five-point advantage.

But the host Titans hung tough on the scoring of Mason Johnson, who would finish with a game-high 25, and James Seely.

Johnson scored eight points in the third quarter and Ryan Cornell six as the team erased a 31-27 halftime deficit. U-Hi led 47-42 after the quarter.

It was Johnson again in the final period. He made a basket and two free throws to give the Titans their biggest lead.

He and Cornell divided up the team’s final six points of the game and the Titans hung on.

Ryan Dixon added 14 points inside and Seely finished with 10.

Shadle Park 70, Rogers 55: The league-runnerup Highlanders (11-2) had a 10-0 third-quarter run to turn back the visiting Pirates (4-10). Shadle led 34-27 at half before making the outburst to put the contest away.

Season scoring leader Zack Humphrey scored 18 points, including four 3-pointers. Trevar Hall had a season high joining teammate Anthony Brown with 12 points. Scotty Livengood had 11 points for Rogers, while Trevor and Daniel Anderson each scored 10.

Shadle is at unbeaten Ferris on Friday, 5:30 p.m.

Central Valley 46, Mt. Spokane 38: The Bears (6-8) bolted to a 17-8 first quarter lead and never trailed the visiting Wildcats (6-7). Mt. Spokane chipped its way back into the game in the middle two quarters to cut CV’s lead to five points, but the Bears pulled away again. A team struggling with turnovers, CV committed just 9 and shot 47 percent from the field. Nick Ambrose finished in double figures, the only Bear to do so, on 6-for-9 shooting. The Bears also welcomed back Luke Clift, who, because of an injury, played in his first game this year. Ryan Selland and Kyle Redmon combined for 25 of Mt. Spokane’s 38 points.

Lewis and Clark 55, North Central 52: The visiting Tigers (4-9) swept their season series with the Indians ( 4-9) by taking a 41-36 lead at the start of the fourth quarter and maintaining it until Nick Rijon’s 3-pointer that ended the game. The Tigers had trailed after a quarter, but caught up at intermission. NC junior Rijon led all scorers with 20 points. Eight different players scored for LC, with Doug Talkington tallying a team-high 14.

Gonzaga Prep 73, East Valley 41: The hot-shooting Bullpups (8-5) notched their second straight 30-point victory, beating the visiting Knights (3-10, 2-10) to move closer to third place. They trail the Panthers by a game in the loss column. Gonzaga shot nearly 60 percent from the field (30 for 54) and took command of the game in the second quarter outscoring EV 27-11. G-Prep’s Travis Long was 9 of 11 from the floor for 18 points to lead all scorers. Michael Stockton added 15.