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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Panthers get untracked

After slow start, Mead overtakes CV to win GSL opener

The basketball didn’t fall early for Mead’s Jazmine Redmon in a season-opening basketball game, and host Central Valley enjoyed leads of as many as 13 points.

But that didn’t flood Redmon’s motor, or those of her teammates, in their 62-58 comeback triumph to open the Greater Spokane League season Tuesday night.

Redmon finished with 20 points, remarkable considering her 2-of-17 start.

“That basket was jinxed,” she said.

But she also had 13 rebounds, 10 at the offensive end, and four steals. All told, Mead had 29 offensive rebounds (to just six by the Bears) and that, coaches of both teams agreed, was where the game was decided.

“The offensive rebounds killed us,” CV coach Freddie Rehkow said.

Mead coach Regan Drew called Mead’s boarding effort phenomenal.

“We have a group of kids concerned with doing things right,” she said. “They are buying in that defense and rebounding is No. 1, not shooting.”

Certainly shooting wasn’t going to win this game, the Panthers making just 8 of 36 attempts in the first half .

Meanwhile, three Bears freshmen, playing like it was just another game, came out smoking. Katie Estey hit two 3-pointers and Brooke Gallaway another – junior veteran Kelsey Matthews had a fourth – as CV built a 14-4 lead.

That lead was extended to 28-15 in the second period and the Bears held an 11-point halftime lead, Estey, Gallaway and fellow freshman Whitney Black totaling 15 of CV’s 32 points.

“I was worried about our youth a bit but thought the kids were solid,” Rehkow said.

Mead’s players, however, responded. Veterans Redmon and Tifa Puletasi combined for 25 of Mead’s 41 second-half points.

Taylor Ingebritsen, who scored 17 for the night, got 11 more and hit all six of her free-throw attempts. Five minutes into the third quarter, the Panthers had caught up at 34-all and by quarter’s end matched a six-point spurt by Gallaway and Estey to tie it again.

Mead led 57-56 in the game’s final 30 seconds when, following a scramble for another offensive rebound and timeout, Alisa Beard took an inbounds pass and drilled a 3-pointer. It was only her second basket in 11 attempts, but a defining moment in the outcome.

“It was just confidence,” she said. “My teammates pass me the ball because they trust me.”

CV cut the deficit to a basket, but following one last offensive board, with 8 seconds left, Ingebritsen made her final two free throws to ice the win.

“It was a good start for us, and a good battle by both teams,” Drew said.

Gonzaga Prep 58, University 41: Sarah Manix had 18 points, six rebounds and three assists as the host Bullpups rallied from a 9-2 deficit to methodically pull away. Tia Presley added 11. Titans Chenise Pakootas and Zoe Scott scored 15 apiece.

Lewis and Clark 66, Ferris 36: Jeneva Anderson scored 14 points and Sarah Kliewer had 13 rebounds as the visiting Tigers stormed to a 17-4 lead en route to an easy victory. Ashley Lockmer scored 11 for the Saxons.

Shadle Park 76, Rogers 21: The Highlanders scored 25 points in the second quarter to pull away and successfully christen their new gymnasium. Sophomore Kendra Knutsen scored 16 points and Chelsea Chandler 14. Samantha Roybal had 17 of the Pirates’ 21.

East Valley 49, North Central 32: Host EV led 26-7 at intermission en route to victory. Janea Knopp scored 15 points and had nine rebounds, while Jenni White added 14, including two 3-pointers.