Titanic effort

Angie Bjorklund discovered her shooting touch in the third quarter Tuesday and approached another milestone as the University Titans regained second place in Greater Spokane League girls basketball action.

The Titans (12-2) beat visiting Mead (11-3) 64-54 as Bjorklund scored 31 points and moved within a basket of the GSL single-season points record of 363 set by Central Valley’s Emily Westerberg.

It was the fourth time this year Bjorklund has gone over 30 points in a league game and 21 of them came in the second half as U-Hi was able to shake off the cold-shooting Panthers.

“It’s not like we really lit up the scoreboard either,” said Titans coach Mark Stinson. “Angie got a couple of shots to go down and what Angie can do a lot of other people can’t.”

U-Hi led 32-27 when Bjorklund went to work early in the second half.

She scored three baskets as the Titans took a 40-29 lead that ultimately stretched to 15 points when the Panthers had numerous misses, many from outside the 3-point arc. They could come no closer than 10 thereafter.

“I think we were rushing ourselves,” Mead coach Regan Drew said. “We weren’t taking the good shots we can take. I think they were taking their shots early. But give credit to U-Hi. They were physical, moved well and played good defense. Our shots weren’t falling and then we felt pressed to score when we were down.”

University had taken an early 7-4 lead before Mead’s Kelli Valentine hit a couple shots to put the Panthers ahead 10-7.

Bjorklund tied the game right before quarter’s end with one of her three 3-pointers. But it was only her second basket in six tries and she was 3 for 10 from the floor at halftime.

Riki Schiermeister and Dara Zack combined for a dozen points in the second quarter and the Panthers struggled at the free-throw line enabling the Titans to break the tie and build a five-point lead at intermission. Schiermeister shared the halftime individual scoring lead with Bjorklund at 10 points and finished with a dozen. She had a pair of 3-pointers and some nice inside efforts.

In the third quarter Bjorklund scored eight points that put Mead in a rush, and the fourth-year starter had 13 of U-Hi’s 18 points in the final quarter to keep the Panthers at bay. She finished a perfect 10 for 10 from the free-throw line.

Mead, despite its shooting woes, had three players finish in double figures, Kami Clark (12), Kelli Valentine and Alysha Green (10 apiece). Jazmine Redmon was a point away, hitting a 3-pointer at game’s end.

Stinson said that Mead posed problems.

“It’s a team you really don’t like to match up against because you don’t really have an answer for their post, they have good outside shooting, plus play good defense,” he said. “That’s the recipe for a good team.”

But he said he thought University did a decent job defending inside despite Mead’s matchup advantage, and maybe benefited by playing the game at home.

“They’re a really good team and have all the pieces,” he said. “They just missed a few more shots this time and that was the difference.”

Gonzaga Prep 49, East Valley 44: The host Bullpups (9-4) broke the press and a tie after three quarters to beat the Knights (4-8) for the second time this season. EV pressured from the outset to lead 12-6, but the advantaged disappeared after Gonzaga’s 21-point second quarter. Junior Jenna Sayman finished with 18 points and 14 rebounds for the game and veteran Tara Cronin added 14 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Bullpups. Sophomore Kelsi Jacobson had 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Knights.

Shadle Park 53, Rogers 50: The host Highlanders (9-4) weathered a Pirates’ (2-12) fourth-quarter rally. A charging foul on Rikeya Crossley nullified a basket that would have cut Shadle’s lead to a point with 2 minutes left. Shadle’s Nicole Cantu hit 5 of 6 free throws to keep Rogers at bay, rendering Denisha Whitehead’s half-court buzzer beater moot at the end. Lexie Pettersen scored 17 points and had nine rebounds. Whitehead finished with 22 points and D’Erica Jones added 14.

Central Valley 45, Mt. Spokane 42: Both teams had 12 field goals, but the host Bears (4-10) had three more 3-pointers to hold off the Wildcats (2-11). Justine Bowman, Lauren Ambrose, Tristina Kline and Kelsey Matthews all connected out front. Mt. Spokane’s Sam Patrick led all scorers with 18 points, including 10-for-14 free-throw shooting.

Lewis and Clark 77, North Central 28: The league-leading Tigers (13-0) had little trouble in their game at NC (0-13). They led 45-11 by halftime. Eleven players scored, freshman Daisy Burke (10 points) one of three players in double figures. NC was led by Mariah Alexander.