Saxons keep perfect mark intact
Little things meant a lot when Greater Spokane League boys basketball heavyweights Ferris and Shadle Park squared off Thursday.
The Saxons (16-0) faced their sternest test of the season before a sizeable crowd at Spokane Falls Community College. They escaped with a 53-50 victory when 38 seconds of impenetrable defense denied the Highlanders a decent look for a tie.
“We were right there,” said Shadle coach Tim Gaebe after Anthony Brown’s forced 3-pointer with 3 seconds left didn’t find the target.
Not lost in this suspenseful game – in which no more than six points separated either team – was a steal and basket with 2 minutes, 36 seconds remaining by Erick Cheadle that put the Saxons ahead 49-44. Those were his only points of the game, but they forced Shadle into a fouling mode and Ferris held on.
“We were foolish with the ball there,” Gaebe said. “But we battled hard.”
That could be said for both teams in a game that moved Ferris two games ahead of Shadle (14-2) in the GSL race and gave the Saxons a boys GSL record 45 consecutive league wins. Each team was sticky on defense, forcing the other to battle hard for everything it got.
Jared Karstetter was Ferris’ spark early, scoring seven first-quarter points for a 13-9 lead. Zack Humphrey fired the Highlanders back into the game in the second quarter with two long-range rainbow 3-pointers and seven total points. His second long shot tied the game at 19 and the teams headed to the locker knotted at 23.
Shadle’s defense continued to test Ferris’ mettle in the third quarter and fouls mounted up as calls went against the Saxons. Karstetter and DeAngelo Casto, who had eight points in the first half, remained the offensive constants.
They each had five third-quarter points for a 32-29 advantage. Humphrey scored twice in 38 seconds as Shadle went ahead 36-32 with 1:12 left in the period and he added two more baskets to make it 42-37.
But Ferris, as it always seems to do, found a way to come back. Five Saxons scored in a 14-4 run.
“This is a special group,” said Ferris coach Don Van Lierop. “Even when things are not going their way, they just bear down. Erick is a good example.”
Evan Ewing scored inside following a pretty back-handed pass from Shawn Stockton. Shortly thereafter, Cheadle stripped the ball and scored for the five-point lead.
“It was pretty big,” said Cheadle. “I was looking for it the whole game.”
With 1:36 remaining, Ferris had a 51-46 lead. But Stockton missed twice at the line and Shadle cut the lead to 52-50 with 40 seconds remaining. Defense did the rest.
Karstetter finished with 18 points, Casto 13 and Jeff Minnerly 11. Humphrey wound up with 19 points and Shadle’s Aaron Dunn and Robby Douglas had big plays to finish in double figures.
“That was just a really good high school game,” said Van Lierop. “That game will help both of us.”
Rogers 63, Central Valley 53: The host Pirates (5-10) forced their way back into the playoff picture with an upset win over the Bears (8-8).
Three double-figure efforts helped and Rogers outscored CV 19-11 in the third quarter for a 12-point lead. Jessie Vaughan had 17 points and eight rebounds for Rogers, and Zach Nelson scored 14.
Mead 55, Mt. Spokane 46: The visiting Panthers (7-8) took advantage of cold shooting early for a lead they nursed until putting the game away in the fourth quarter. Kyle Baird scored eight of his 11 points in the fourth quarter, including 6-for-6 free-throw shooting. Mead’s Brendan Ingebritsen led all scoring with 23 points.
Lewis and Clark 60, East Valley 57: The visiting Tigers (3-8) ended an extended losing streak by rallying from a five-point halftime deficit. Danny Marshall scored 29 points for the Knights (1-13), but missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Gonzaga Prep 69, University 51: Sean Fischer outside and Ryan Nicholas inside each scored 17 points as the home-standing Bullpups (11-4) outscored the Titans (5-10 18-9) in the first quarter and added on in each period.