Gonzaga Prep takes step toward postseason with win

Freshman standout Tia Presley scored 17 second-half points to rally Gonzaga Prep, and Jenna Sayman scored the winning basket with 30 seconds remaining at Ferris in a Greater Spokane League basketball game of district playoff import.

The sixth-place Bullpups (8-10) moved two games ahead of the Saxons (6-11) in the win column with the 52-49 victory after rallying from a six-point deficit early in the third quarter.

Presley hit a basket and two 3-pointers to tie the game at 28 after the Bullpups fell behind 26-20 early in the second half.

She scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter to stake G-Prep to a 41-34 lead.

But it was left to Sayman, in and out of the game late in the final period after picking up her fourth foul, to complete the task.

Ferris, on the efforts of 5-foot-11 sophomore Hailey Dahlstrom, who scored nine of her 15 points in the fourth quarter, had come back for a 49-48 lead on a pair of Amber Quann free throws.

But Sayman drove the lane for the layin, and in the final 30 seconds Ferris turned the ball over twice and Sarah Manix converted two free throws.

The game was one of two GSL contests played as part of makeups from the week’s snowed-out games.

G-Prep finishes against Mt. Spokane and Mead, needing a win to assure at least a tie for the final district spot. Ferris has games left against University, Central Valley and East Valley.

Presley finished with 21 points to lead all scorers. Sayman and Manix divided 17 more between the two halves.

Quann scored seven of her 12 points late in the first quarter and early in the second for a 15-12 lead that stretched to 23-18 by intermission.

Liz Boyden, who totaled 10 points for the game, and Dahlstrom scored 20 of the Saxons’ 26 second-half points.

Mt. Spokane 59, Rogers 29: The Wildcats (5-12) platooned 10 players evenly throughout the game and all scored as the hosts moved a game up in the win column over fellow GSL 3A schools East Valley and North Central.

Sophomore Leanna Lloyd scored a season-high 12 points as Mt. Spokane outscored the Pirates (0-17) 12-0 in the second quarter to take command of the game. Jesica Carpenter scored 11 points and Samantha Roybal 10 for most of Rogers’ points.