Shadle has shot at title

Shadle Park shooting guard Zack Humphrey is that rarity among Greater Spokane League basketball players – a fourth-year starter who has been one of the Highlanders’ scoring leaders every season he’s played.

But it should have come as little surprise. Humphrey is a third-generation member immersed in the sport.

“I could probably say it’s the family business,” said Zack, who begins his senior season, health permitting, when the GSL begins play tonight. An injured hamstring has limited his practice time and how it feels will determine how much he plays.

He plays for his father Jay, a Highlanders assistant and former head coach at North Central and University. Jay in turn played at Ritzville for his father, Denny, one of the winningest basketball coaches in state history.

As Jay said, his Ritzville teammates’ parents were farmers. They grew up on tractors, and that was what they were going to do some day. He and Zack grew up in the gym and became basketball players.

“It’s the best thing and sometimes the worst thing,” said Jay Humphrey of the father-son, player-coach symbiosis. “I had some really tough nights (playing for his dad), but when I look back on it, it made me a better player and person. Hopefully, Zack can say the same when he looks back.”

Zack said he has no complaints and Shadle, which came within a win of qualifying for state last year, is considered the logical challenger to favored defending state champ Ferris.

While the Saxons’ start in their quest of a fourth straight league title has been delayed until Saturday afternoon at Central Valley because of the prolonged football season, Shadle begins tonight against the Bears.

Zack Humphrey has averaged double figures in each of his first three seasons and has 935 career points.

One of the distinguishing characteristics of his game has been the ability to shoot the 3-pointer – the deeper on the court, seemingly, the better. He said it came naturally, but also from necessity.

“I keep getting hounded a lot and sometimes I have to scoot back a bit if I want to get a shot off,” Zack said.

He was chased probably 80 percent of the time, said head coach Tim Gaebe, as opponents used a box-and-one defense to contain him.

“For a kid to deal with that on a nightly basis says a lot mentally,” Gaebe said.

Jay said he had hoped Zack might make junior varsity as a freshman. Gaebe figured there would be a spot for him on the varsity.

“I said, ‘are you sure you want to do this?’ ” Jay recalled. “After two days of practice, Tim said, ‘that little bugger’s starting this year.’ “

“I’m not going to lie,” Zack said. “I was pretty happy.”

Part of it was his temperament and attitude. From Denny on down, the Humphreys have stressed humility in athletics. But growing up in gymnasiums, and then watching his uncle Rhett at Cheney, was a factor.

“I think that’s when I really started to love the game,” Zack said.

On a little toy hoop at home, he would emulate players Jay was coaching at North Central.

“He would be Jesse Etter or Aaron Shephard,” said Jay. “If Aaron had an arm taped, he would tape his arm.”

The hoop was a gift when he was born from then-CV coach Terry Irwin, whom Jay was assisting. It was on that toy Zack perfected the form that led to his scoring ability and has enabled him to shoot effortlessly from long range.

But this year Zack may not be asked to score as much from outside. As junior Anthony Brown and sophomore Aaron Dunn have improved, and because of injuries, the need for him to play some point guard has increased. That doesn’t bother him.

“I think we’ve got a chance to be pretty good this year,” he said. “With the weapons we have you can’t leave anyone open. I just want those wins.”