GSL boys basketball: Rogers still on a roll after double-overtime win over Ferris

Of the Rogers boys basketball team’s seven Greater Spokane League-leading victories, five have involved games that weren’t decided until the final minute.

Form held Tuesday. But the Pirates had to find a different way to pull out a 71-67 double-overtime win over the visiting Ferris Saxons.

The Pirates (8-2 overall, 7-1 league) had to dig out of a double-digit deficit.

With shots not falling, the Pirates gave themselves a chance with defense.

They might have won going away in the second 4-minute overtime had they been able to make more free throws. The young Saxons – whose starting lineup includes two freshmen and two sophomores – were given a chance to hang around when Rogers made just 5 of 10 foul shots.

“We’re going to be shooting free throws (today) at practice,” Rogers coach Joel Soter said through a forced smile.

Soter called a timeout with 3:43 to go in the third quarter. He had his players jump into a three-quarter court trap.

It didn’t yield immediate dividends. In fact, Murphy Butte hit a 3-pointer to give the Saxons (3-6, 1-6) a 50-39 lead at the 2:06 mark.

From that point on, the Saxons struggled mightily to make baskets. And Rogers used a sagging defense to start turning things around.

“We really work on defense more than anything,” Soter said. “It hasn’t showed night in and night out. We started packing it in more in the fourth quarter and in overtime.”

Rogers cut the deficit to 50-44 going into the fourth.

The Pirates drew even at 52-52 when Asante Fields made a 3-pointer with 4:03 to go in regulation

Freshman Shamrock Campbell scored the Saxons’ first basket since late in the third when he drove baseline, putting Ferris ahead 54-52 with 3:30 remaining.

Both teams had opportunities to win late in the fourth. A free throw from Jace Van Lierop with 9 seconds left forced the first overtime.

Late in the first overtime, Butte posted up in the key and spun around for an easy basket to put the Saxons ahead 62-59 with 40 seconds remaining.

Tate Dunbar hit a 3-pointer to force double overtime.

Dunbar got Rogers out quick in the second overtime when he hit another deep trey.

Melik Hampton led Rogers with 18 points, 11 rebounds and three steals, Dunbar had 14 points and KJ Hassett had 12.

“(Soter) kept telling us to keep fighting and playing,” Dunbar said. “We made some big plays.”

Campbell led Ferris with 20 points while Butte and Van Lierop had 18 apiece.

University 58, North Central 49: The visiting Titans (8-2, 6-2) reeled off their seventh straight win. Spencer Matt led with 16 points and Austin Dill added 14. Riley Smith and Austen Scally had 12 apiece for NC (1-9, 0-8).

Lewis and Clark 44, Mead 41: The Tigers (8-2, 6-2) overcame a 17-12 halftime deficit on the road. Freshman Naje’ Smith scored all eight of his points in the decisive fourth quarter including two 3-pointers. Isaiah Hernandez led Lewis and Clark with 12 points. Max Hess had 16 and Brandon Pettersen 11 and 10 rebounds for the Panthers (5-5, 3-5).

Central Valley 56, Mt. Spokane 35: All 10 Bears scored as they outrebounded the visiting Wildcats (1-8, 1-6) 31-19. Cameron Tucker led CV (8-2, 6-2) with 10.

Shadle Park 62, Gonzaga Prep 52: The Highlanders (7-3, 5-3) outscored the visiting Bullpups (5-5, 4-4) 33-23 in the final two quarters. Kobe Reece led Shadle with 18, N’Keil Nelson had 16 and George Pilimai added 14 for Shadle. Logan Adams and Nick Wood had 16 and 11, respectively, for G-Prep.