GSL boys: Anton Watson scores 26 points and Gonzaga Prep handles University

Gonzaga Prep didn’t extend its string of 20-point plus league wins at the start of the season. But then, Anton Watson spent the last seven minutes of the game watching from the comfort of the Bullpups bench.

Watson finished with 26 points and 11 rebounds and the visiting Bullpups beat University 72-58 on Thursday night.

Liam Lloyd scored 15 points while Carter Sonneborn and Sheadon Byrd added 11 points apiece for the Pups (6-1, 5-0), who had won their first four by 20-plus in Greater Spokane League play.

Marcus Lenker led University (6-2, 3-2) with 18 points and Logan Dreher had 13.

Watson scored the first two baskets of the game and had six of G-Prep’s first 10 points as the Pups went up 10-0.

Lenker heated up with three straight baskets and hit a 3 near the end of the first, and G-Prep led 18-12 after one.

It was a most efficient start for G-Prep.

“When we make simple plays, we’re at our best,” Gonzaga Prep coach Matty McIntyre said. “It’s when we try to do too much or make a spectacular play things don’t go as smoothly. It’s still a work in progress and we’ll keep hammering away at it.”

Watson picked up eight more points in the second quarter, including a thunderous alley-oop dunk at the buzzer, and the Bullpups led 38-24 at intermission, with Watson paving the way with 16 points.

“We told them at halftime that it doesn’t matter who we’re playing against, we have to hold ourselves accountable and hold ourselves to a high bar,” McIntyre said.

In the third, Liam Lloyd hit a long 3-pointer and picked up a couple of layups. Watson’s breakaway dunk at the end of the frame put G-Prep up 59-38 after three.

Despite his team’s margins of victory in the early going, McIntyre scoffed at the notion of any lack of challenge in league play.

“Teams in the GSL are well coached,” he said. “We’re going to get challenged night in and night out. I’m not worried about that.

“Obviously we want to play and to win. But as some point you’re not always playing against the score, you’re playing against yourself. And trying to get better and find areas to improve upon, which in my opinion we have a lot. This is very much an unfinished product and we’ll keep working to reach our potential,” McIntyre said.

“We haven’t played our best basketball yet. There’s a lot of room for growth – no matter who we play.”

Ferris 55, Lewis and Clark 45: McCoy Spink scored 16 points and the Saxons (7-2, 4-1) beat the visiting Tigers (2-7, 1-4). Cole Omlin and Reece Van Lierop added 11 points apiece for Ferris. Jacob Proost led LC with 17 points and Griffin Effenberger added 13.

Central Valley 63, Mead 46: Quinn Johnson scored 16 points, Jayce Simmons added 14 and the visiting Bears (5-3, 3-2) dropped the Panthers (1-7, 0-5). Shea Holmdahl had 10 points for CV. Sam Wenkheimer led Mead with 14 points and Tyson Rogalette added 11.

North Central 58, East Valley43: Leon Sayers scored 19 points, including five three pointers, to lead the visiting Indians (3-4) past the Knights (2-8). Parish Neil added 15 points for North Central while Tyrell Brown led East Valley with 15 points.