Top-ranked Ferris Saxons 15-0 after win over Mead

Ferris boys basketball players have discovered on a nightly basis that when you’re No. 1 opponents are going to bring their best.

It might not produce the most aesthetic result, as Tuesday night’s 48-29 Greater Spokane League victory at Mead revealed, but some of that had to do with the Panthers’ defensive intensity.

“That’s probably winning ugly,” said Saxons coach Don Van Lierop. “But at the same time I would give Mead some credit for that. Mead’s improved.”

The Panthers did a superb job of getting back in transition to take away Ferris’ preference for an up-tempo game and stayed patient on offense.

Mead rallied from a 14-5 first-quarter deficit to trail 23-21 on Kyle Baird’s four-point play with 6 minutes, 32 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

However, the Panthers succumbed to a 7-minute scoring drought and the Saxons finally imposed their will to improve to 15-0 in the GSL and run their winning streak to 44.

Next up for the Saxons is a Thursday showdown at Spokane Falls Community College with once-beaten Shadle Park, a 79-56 winner over Central Valley.

The Saxons didn’t bring their ‘A’ game on offense and points proved hard to come by against Mead.

Shawn Stockton was the catalyst for their nine-point first-quarter lead, but turnovers and missed layins by Ferris enabled the Panthers (6-8) to come back.

“We had a good start and then it got ratty,” said Stockton. “When you have teams who play up and down you’d think it would be high scoring, but nobody could throw it in the ocean.”

Baird inspired Mead’s rally, scoring seven straight points as they took a 17-14 second-quarter advantage.

On a night when free throws proved the difference, Ferris made five to regain the lead at halftime. The Saxons were 7 for 11 from the line in the half. Mead didn’t shoot one.

Beau Brett off the bench was a big part of that for Ferris. He pulled down clutch rebounds and made four free throws in as many attempts..

“He was a steadying influence,” said Van Lierop.

After Baird hit a 3-pointer and added the free throw in the third quarter, Mead had hope.

But Ferris outscored Mead 18-5 over the next 12:48, limiting the Panthers to just 12 second-half points.

Brendan Ingebritsen, with Jeff Minnerly hounding him, scored only two field goals and finished with seven points. Baird led the game with 16.

Ferris scoring leader Jared Karstetter had 14 of his 15 points in the second half when he was 10 for 10 from the free-throw line. The Panthers committed 27 fouls to Ferris’ 12 and the Saxons finished 24 for 37 from the stripe, while Mead would up 4 for 7.

The Shadle-Ferris game has been moved to 7:30 p.m. SFCC.

“The guys kept their composure when things were not going their way,” said Van Lierop. “But against Shadle we’ll have to play better than we did tonight.”

Shadle Park 79, Central Valley 56: Zack Humphrey scored 12 second-quarter points en route to a whopping 30 to carry the Highlanders (14-1) past the visiting Bears (8-7). His effort rallied Shadle to a 29-29 halftime tie and a 50-point second-half put the game away.

North Central 61, University 42: The visiting Indians (5-10) outscored the Titans (5-9) in every quarter. Nick Rijon scored 18 points, one of three NC players in double figures, and had 10 rebounds. Guard Mason Johnson scored 19 for U-Hi.

Mt. Spokane 43, Lewis and Clark 24: Tigers’ (2-10) scoring leader Alex Gauper was back after a six-game injury absence, but to little avail as the visiting Wildcats (7-6) proved stingy in the easy road win. Mt. Spokane’s Jordon Poynor was 4 for 5 on 3-pointers, hitting three in a row in the third quarter. He scored 15.

Gonzaga Prep 68, Rogers 58: The third quarter, when Sean Fischer scored nine points, was the difference in the Bullpups’ (10-4) win at the Pirates (4-10). Ryan Nicholas had 17 points and nine rebounds for G-Prep. Jesse Vaughan led Rogers with 17.