‘Hot Rod’ Stockton, Ferris drive by Redmond, into semis

TACOMA – When the Ferris Saxons really needed him, Shawn Stockton drove them to victory – on both ends of the court.

The Saxons’ undefeated season, and State 4A boys basketball title hopes were on the line, as Ferris trailed upstart Redmond by three early in the fourth quarter.

So Stockton took the wheel, scoring eight points in the quarter and helping to lift Ferris past the Mustangs, 57-48, on Thursday night in the Tacoma Dome.

“I told Shawn two weeks ago I was giving him the keys to the car, so don’t run it into the ground,” Ferris coach Don Van Leirop said. “He hasn’t.”

Just the opposite; he’s driven the 27-0 Saxons into the semifinals tonight at 8:30 against Franklin, a 62-49 winner over Eisenhower. Ferris’ 27 wins is a school record, surpassing the 26 the 1998-99 state runner-ups won.

But Stockton didn’t ride there alone. Ferris used the power of its big three: Stockton, who finished with 16 points; 6-foot-8 post DeAngelo Casto, who added 12 and 15 rebounds, including three in the final minute; and Jared Karstetter, who kept Ferris in the game in the first half with 11 points – he finished with 17 points and nine rebounds as Ferris had a 34-19 edge on the boards.

The three juniors offset Redmond’s spread-the-court attack, which led to nine 3-point baskets, though none in the crucial fourth quarter.

A quarter which started with Redmond (14-13) leading by one, though that quickly became three when Marcus Flynn scored on a putback of Bryce Bircher’s missed 3-pointer.

“We knew they couldn’t make all their shots,” Stockton said. “The time would come when we would make a little run. Redmond couldn’t stay hot forever.”

The Mustangs didn’t. And Ferris took off.

Karstetter got to the line twice, the second time after a Stockton steal (he had three), and made 3 of 4 to tie it at 42. The Mustangs missed another 3-pointer – they were 9 of 24 overall but 0 of 6 in the fourth – and Casto scored in traffic to give Ferris its first lead. There were 4 minutes, 49 seconds left.

In the next five Ferris possessions, Stockton scored his eight points, six from the free-throw line. The Saxons were 22 of 30 from there, while Redmond, which rarely ventured in the key, was 5 of 7.

“Coach wanted the ball in my hands because I shoot free throws well,” Stockton said. “I like shooting free throws because I hate to lose.”

The Mustangs’ game plan was simple and it manifested itself right from the opening tip.

“It was like watching Gonzaga play Butler,” Van Lierop said, putting Ferris in the GU role, “the way they spread the court, drove and kicked it out for the 3.

“Playing catch up against these guys was not fun.”

Redmond, using four guards, spread the Saxons’ zone, moved the ball quickly and then pulled the trigger from long range.

It worked, especially in the first quarter.

Redmond jumped ahead 8-0 as Bryce Bircher hit two 3-pointers and the Mustangs defense forced three quick Saxon turnovers. The Saxons also chipped in some help by missing their first four free-throw attempts.

“They are well-schooled and well-disciplined,” Van Lierop said. “You have to cover four shooters and several drivers. If you close out hard, they drive by. If you help, they kick it out for a 3.”

But, keyed by a more aggressive defensive posture, the Saxons started to make inroads into the lead in the second quarter.

Ferris pulled within one at 20-19, but the Mustangs’ hot outside shooting – they were 6 of 10 in the first half from beyond the arc – continued as Keegan Acker nailed two 3-pointers – part of his team-high 14 points – and Redmond headed into the half up by four, 28-24.

The Saxons finally climbed out of the early hole with 1:37 left in the third, when Stockton converted two free throws – he was 8 of 8 for the night – to tie it at 37.

“Yesterday we played a tall team (Kentwood) with inside power and their guards were secondary,” Van Leirop said. “Today we had the flip side. I’m proud of how we adjusted.”