It’s habit-forming: Tigers rally

Lewis and Clark’s girls basketball followed a pattern this week. Successful though it was, coach Jim Redmon would prefer it doesn’t become a habit.

The Tigers (8-0) dug themselves a 14-point first-half deficit at home against Mead Friday night in a game between Greater Spokane League co-leaders.

But they put together three double-digit runs – similar to the 20 straight second-quarter points that rallied them past Central Valley two days earlier – and defeated the Panthers (7-1) 60-47.

The first came after trailing 21-7 early in the first quarter. Within 5 minutes, the Tigers had it tied at 21. Following Tifa Puletasi’s three-point play that opened the third quarter, LC ran off 13 straight points, and later scored 11 in a row for a 47-31 lead early in the fourth quarter.

“I kind of just talked to the kids about our starts,” Redmon said after LC extended its winning streak to 41 games. “Holy Moley! We’ve got to do better than that.”

Mead outscrapped LC for rebounds and loose balls and knocked down three 3-pointers, two by Heidi Lague who had 10 of those 21 first-half points.

The Tigers turned around the rebounding advantage and tightened up their defense. University of Washington-bound Jeneva Anderson, who finished with a game-high 15 points and 12 rebounds, and freshman Devyn Galland off the bench fueled the 14-point run that tied the game in less than 4 minutes.

“(Mead) came out and wanted it a bit more than we did and we forgot our team concepts,” Redmon said. “What I was proud about is I thought our defense gave them a lot of trouble and allowed us to at least get back to within a reasonable amount. Then they came out in the third quarter and got a bucket on us (for a 27-21 lead) and I thought, ‘Man, here we go again.’ ”

Two baskets each by Daisy Burke and Sarah Kliewer, including a 3-pointer by the latter, were a big part of LC’s 13-point run and 34-27 advantage with 3 minutes, 25 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

Kliewer, who scored 12 of her game total 14 points in the second half, added four more points during the 11-point run, and sophomore Riley Holsinger finished it with two baskets to open the fourth quarter, one following a steal, the other on a rebound putback.

That diversity of contribution is what Redmon said he prefers in a Tigers team.

The constants were his veterans, including seniors Anderson and Kliewer and junior Burke. But newcomers Galland and fellow fellow freshman Nakia Arquette, as well as sophomores Hayley Hendricksen, a transfer from Northwest Christian, and Holsinger, came off the bench to provide contributions at varying times.

“I think that’s what always made us what we are,” he said. “On a given night it could be four or five different girls. Riley came in and gave us a huge lift.”

LC’s early defensive emphasis on junior Jazmine Redmon provided openings for others making Mead tough to defend, and Lague and Puletasi took early advantage before the Tigers adjusted. Puletasi, a 6-foot-2 post, led Mead with 14 points.

“The girls came out with great energy and then we had a lull,” Panthers coach Regan Drew said. “We need to be more consistent. We will learn from this and get better.”

Mt. Spokane 57, North Central 42: Courtney VanderLinden scored 13 of the host Wildcats’ (2-5) 23 points in the decisive third quarter, making three free throws when she was fouled shooting a 3-pointer at the buzzer. VanderLinden finished with a game-high 17 that helped keep the Indians (0-7) winless.

Shadle Park 45, East Valley 32: The Highlanders (6-2) shot nearly 50 percent from the field (15 of 31) and played tough zone defense to stifle the host Knights (3-4). Kendra Knutsen and Lindsay Niemeier combined for 25 points.

Central Valley 60, University 47: Kelsey Matthews scored a career high with 26 points and six 3-pointers as the host Bears (5-3) broke a halftime tie to beat the Titans (4-4). The victory came despite U-Hi’s 34-18 rebounding advantage.

Gonzaga Prep 45, Ferris 42: Sophomore Tia Presley scored 26 points, including a steal and decisive layin with 40 seconds left, and made three free throws in the final 20 seconds as the Bullpups (5-3) rallied against the host Saxons (2-6).