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GSL boys basketball: Ferris holds off Lewis and Clark in overtime

Ferris Shamrock Campbell (22) takes to the court during player introductions of a high school GSL boys basketball game, Thurs., Dec. 15, 2016, at Ferris High School. (Colin Mulvany / The Spokesman-Review)
Ferris Shamrock Campbell (22) takes to the court during player introductions of a high school GSL boys basketball game, Thurs., Dec. 15, 2016, at Ferris High School. (Colin Mulvany / The Spokesman-Review)
By Kevin Dudley Correspondent

There were merciless student sections, a brief clock controversy, a buzzer beater and an intense overtime Thursday between Spokane’s two South Hill rivals.

And it ended with the Ferris student section celebrating on the floor and the LC student section springing for the exits.

The Ferris Saxons came out on top over the Lewis and Clark Tigers 65-62 in OT in an important game that keeps them in the Greater Spokane League playoff race.

“That was two really good teams,” Ferris head coach Sean Mallon said. “We played them a bunch this summer and into the fall and it always came right down to the end.”

Ferris made two free throws with the clock winding down to go up 50-47. A quick LC basket followed by a quick foul stopped the game – but not the clock.

Officials talked it over and instead of 2.3 seconds on the clock, they decided the game should have stopped with 5.5 seconds to play.

Then, under the din of a rowdy LC student section, Ferris junior Shamrock Campbell missed the front end of a 1-and-1. The Tigers raced up the court and Naje Smith hit a fadeaway jumper as time expired to send the game into OT.

LC took command in OT and a Griffin Effenberger 3-pointer gave the Tigers as 59-52 lead.

But a 3-pointer by Ferris’ Jace VanLierop and a basket by Michael Ervin got the Saxons within one. After a Smith basket, VanLierop converted a three-point play to keep pace.

LC’s Cameron Duncan then made 1 of 2 free throws, which turned out to be costly, because VanLierop struck again with a three-point play to give Ferris a 63-62 lead. Ferris added two free throws by Reece VanLierop to seal the victory.

“We tell (our team), ‘If things aren’t going our way, then so what?’ ” Mallon said. “Just keep playing, keep playing hard and doing the things we do and good things will happen.”

Things were going Ferris’ way in the second quarter, which the Saxons began on a 12-2 run to jump out to an early lead. LC found its rhythm, though, and relied on Smith to carry the load. Smith finished with 29 points and made all nine of his free throws. He was the only Tiger in double figures.

Ferris had three players in double figures with Ervin’s 22 points leading the way. Jace VanLierop and Shamrock Campbell finished with 15 and 16 points, respectively.

The win moves Ferris to 3-2 in league play and drops LC to 4-1.