The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
Current Temperature
51°F
Current Conditions
Overcast clouds
View complete weather report
Subscribe now

GSL boys: Freshman Watson pushes Gonzaga Prep past CV for district crown

Gonzaga Prep forward Anton Watson (40) competes for a rebound with Central Valley guard Ryan Rehkow, left, and guard Cameron Tucker during the first half. (Colin Mulvany / The Spokesman-Review)
Gonzaga Prep forward Anton Watson (40) competes for a rebound with Central Valley guard Ryan Rehkow, left, and guard Cameron Tucker during the first half. (Colin Mulvany / The Spokesman-Review)Buy a print of this photo
Mike Vlahovich Correspondent

Youth ultimately was served when clone-like basketball teams Gonzaga Prep and Central Valley squared off in the Greater Spokane League boys district championship.

The intensity was electric, but ultimately the host Bullpups (21-1) wore down their foe, beating the Bears 54-46, thanks to a 16-7 run midway through the second half that was fueled by 6-foot-6 freshman Anton Watson.

Leading by a point in the third quarter, Watson score half of Prep’s points during the run that pushed the team’s lead to 45-33 with 5 minutes, 18 seconds remaining in the game.

Watson finished the night with 14 points and 6-4 sophomore Devin Culp pitched in with 13, 11 of those in the second half in what until then had been a gripper.

The high-energy teams had players sprawling for loose balls, clogging the passing lanes and colliding with each other much of the game. Gonzaga raced to an 8-0 lead midway through the first quarter as CV couldn’t buy a basket. Yet the Bears managed a 21-20 halftime lead, finishing the second quarter on a 10-2 tear capped by back-to-back 3-point baskets by Justice Simmons and Tanner Sloan.

Following the break, Culp pushed Gonzaga back in front for good , scoring five points for with two baskets, including an and-one. And things went south for the Bears thereafter.

“We knew it might take a little more energy, intensity and focus to beat such a quality team,” coach Matty McIntyre said. “And in a lot of ways we mirror each other and play similar. Being able to hang in there and withstand the runs, I’m very proud of the kids.”

There was one stretch in the third quarter where 6-6 senior Braden Morse, battling for a rebound knocked the ball into the net and not long after made a slick move, flipping in a reverse layin. Not long afterward, Watson made a pair of free throws and scored on a nice back-door cut, both coming with less than a minute left in the third period.

But he wasn’t done, combining with Culp for a dozen of Prep’s final 19 points.

“My dad always taught me to just keep playing,” Watson said. “It was just be strong on the boards. (CV) was tough, but we were tougher.”

It was a grind-it-out game McIntyre said, so getting to the rim paid off. “That little spurt was probably the difference in the game.”

The Bullpups will host a sub-regional game next week. Central Valley, led in scoring by Justis Simmon’s long-range acumen good for 19 points on five 3-pointers, and Lewis and Clark (both 17-5) also advance in post-season.

Richland (17-3) hosts Walla Walla (14-7) tonight to decide 4A MCC title and seeding. Lewis and Clark travels to the loser on Tuesday in a loser-out subregional game. CV goes to the MCC No. 1 on Friday

Lewis and Clark 76, University 68: The middle quarters were kind to the Tigers (17-5), who eliminated the visiting Titans (10-13). LC outscored U-Hi 52-32 in the second and third periods. Naje Smith led the Tigers with 20 points, Isaiah Hernandez had 14, Justin Martin added 11 and Anthony Smith chipped in 10. Spencer Matt led U-Hi with 23 points and Elijah Hernandez and Austin Dill had 17 apiece.