Bullpups stop Shadle

Greater Spokane League boys basketball heavyweights Gonzaga Prep and Shadle Park squared off in a game of thrust and parry Saturday afternoon.

For every Highlanders lunge, however, the host Bullpups had a riposte, a 21-6 finish in the game’s final four minutes securing a 75-61 victory for G-Prep.

They Bullpups lead the league with two weeks remaining.

“Every time we got something going they had an answer,” Shadle coach Tim Gaebe said. “They had too much firepower. They just made more plays than we did, but we don’t have anything to hang our heads about.”

The game had little of the finesse of fencing. Instead it was a rugged up-and-down contest between once-beaten title aspirants. There was hands-on defense and numerous collisions – to be expected what with four burly 6-foot-7 athletes filling lanes on the fast break and banging each other on the boards.

Shadle (12-4, 8-2 GSL) attacked early from afar, filling the basket with 3-pointers, either from beyond the arc or at the free-throw line after getting hit on shots out there.

Sweet-shooting guard Robby Douglas, who scored 26 of his game-high 31 points off 3-point shot attempts, hit two 3-pointers and 5 of 6 at the line following fouls on two more long-range attempts. Brett Boese, one of the 6-7 starters, also made three free throws after being fouled outside and the Highlanders led 16-9.

G-Prep (16-1, 11-1) outscored the visitors 24-10 thereafter – reeling off 18 points during a 5-minute span in the second quarter. The Bullpups’ relentless 6-7 post Ryan Nicholas was a big part of a 36-29 lead, powering for 15 of his 29-point total, often after leading transition, or passing to teammates for others.

One play in particular defined the nonstop hustle of Nicholas. In the fourth quarter with G-Prep leading by a point, he chased down a loose ball after a missed shot, passed to a teammate who also missed, but followed and tipped it in and added a free throw to make it 59-55 for the Bullpups.

Shadle had rallied for a 55-54 lead on the last of Douglas’ seven 3-pointers and 6-7 post Jake Rodgers, even broader than Nicholas, did his part inside to keep it close.

But the Bullpups had one 6-7 post too many to defend in Charlie Hopkins. And two 6-4 guards, Parker Kelly and Chris Sarbaugh, provided key contributions as the team, leading 61-58 finished off Shadle with a 21-6 flourish.

Rogers 69, Ferris 66: Derek Foote took a charge from Riley Stockton with the Pirates (8-9, 4-7) leading by a point and Theron Tillett later made two free throws in an upset victory at home over the Saxons (9-7, 7-4). The game was close throughout and Ferris tied on Chris Wilson’s 3-pointer. But the Pirates were fouled with 7 seconds left and made the free throw to take the lead. Dillon Franklin with 19 points and Tillett with 11 paced the victors. Wilson had a game-high 23 points and Stockton added 16.

Mead 61, East Valley 50: Leading comfortably 30-9 about halfway through the second quarter, the host Panthers (12-4, 10-1) suddenly found themselves clinging to a 37-35 lead over the Knights (3-14, 2-9). Bo Tully hit a 3-pointer to end the period and the Panthers held tough to remain right behind G-Prep. Aaron Dunn scored 18 points and pulled down seven rebounds. Korie Sherman came off the bench to score 17 for EV.

North Central 57, Central Valley 54: No more than six points separated the teams and the game was tied after three quarters at NC. But the Indians (8-8, 6-4) survived the Bears (5-11, 1-10) as Ed Richardson had a season-high 20 points and Lucas Evans added 14 points and had 11 rebounds.

University 58, Mt. Spokane 42: The visiting Titans (8-8, 5-6) built a 17-point lead through three quarters. Much of their victory margin came at the line as they outscored the Wildcats (1-16, 0-11) 22-5.

Girls

Gonzaga Prep 48, Shadle Park 46: The Bullpups built an early double-digit lead and it was enough to hold off the hard-charging Highlanders. The Bullpups (12-5, 8-4) won 48-46 to move into fourth place in the GSL behind the trio of Lewis and Clark, Mead and Central Valley, all at 9-2.

Tia Presley scored 16 points and had seven rebounds for the victors. Aleisha Hathaway and Chelsea Chandler combined for 24 of Shadle’s points.

Mead 45, East Valley 33: The Panthers (13-3, 9-2), playing at home, outscored the Knights (4-13, 3-8) 14-3 in the third quarter to secure their share of the league lead. Taylor Ingebritsen scored 13 points and pulled down eight rebounds for the winners. Jenni White led all scorers with 16 for EV.

Central Valley 46, North Central 45: The visiting Bears (12-4, 9-2) escaped the Indians (9-7, 6-4) at NC to be part of a first-place knot. The game was tied late before Sydney Emory made 1 of 2 free throws to break it. Riley Holsinger’s shot fell short and time expired as a tip-in and rebound attempts were waved off. Holsinger scored 23 points and had 10 rebounds.

University 44, Mt. Spokane 36: The visiting Titans (7-9, 5-6) broke away from the Wildcats (3-14, 2-9) in the second half of the low-scoring game. Amy Thornton, with 13 points, paced U-Hi, while Sammie Pedersen tallied 17 and Brooke Reilly had 12 rebounds for Mt. Spokane.

Ferris 57, Rogers 24: Jozlin Hicks’ 12 points was a game-high as the Saxons (4-12, 3-8) cruised to a win over the host Pirates (0-17, 0-11).