GSL boys: Anton Watson helps Gonzaga Prep to undefeated season and third straight league title
Third time’s a charm.
Junior Anton Watson scored 16 points and Gonzaga Prep won its third consecutive 4A Greater Spokane League boys regular-season title in style – completing an undefeated season in the process – as the Bullpups defeated visiting Central Valley 60-43 on Thursday.
Liam Lloyd added 12 points – all on 3-pointers – for Gonzaga Prep (20-0, 14-0), rated No. 1 in Class 4A in the WIAA RPI system.
“This was a great moment for the kids and something they’ll probably remember for the rest of their lives,” Gonzaga Prep coach Matty McIntyre said. “I think after the season is over, it’ll be even a little bit more meaningful than it is now. Right now, we’re still in the heat of the moment and we know there’s challenges ahead.”
“This feels really good,” Watson said. “This was one goal that we’ve been trying to reach. It’s a great achievement.”
“We’ve been waiting on this moment for a long time,” senior Devin Culp said. “Back-to-back-to-back now.”
Culp was happy the Bullpups broke through with win No. 20.
“19-1 back-to-back years, it feels really good to get over that hump and to have a perfect season,” he said. “It feels really good and I’m super proud of my guys.”
“Step one,” senior Sam Lockett said. “Now we’re just going to build throughout the playoffs and take it one at a time, creating better habits.”
No. 16 Central Valley (10-10, 8-6) was led by Jase Edwards with 12 points and Zach Stocker with 10.
The game started raggedly, with fouls and turnovers outnumbering made shots two to one early on.
Midway through the first quarter Lloyd drilled a 3-pointer from the right wing to put G-Prep up 7-2, but CV countered. Stocker hit a 3 and a floater, and Edwards’ short jumper put the Bears up 9-7 after one.
The Bullpups scored the first 12 points of the second quarter to open it up a little. Noah Drynan hit from 3, and then Culp scored inside and was fouled but didn’t convert the free throw.
Later, Watson converted a backdoor alley-oop pass from Jacob Parola and G-Prep went up 19-9.
Edwards stopped G-Prep’s run with a midrange jumper and his layup near the end of the frame trimmed the Bears’ deficit to 21-15 at intermission.
Central Valley came out after the break, packing the defense in to guard against the inside game of Watson and Jamaari Jones. It worked – to a degree. Watson went scoreless in the third, but G-Prep lit up from the outside.
Lloyd hit three 3-pointers in a row, then Sam Lockett made back-to-back from distance and Gonzaga Prep opened up a 40-24 lead midway through the third. Parola hit a 3-pointer toward the end of the quarter and the Bullpups led 45-28 after three.
“If they’re going to compact it and not let us get to the rim, we’ve got shooters to open up that space,” Watson said.
Watson picked up a couple of layups at the start of the fourth, and the Bullpups cruised the rest of the way to the GSL regular-season title.
Around the league
Ferris 73, Mead 31: Damion Carter and Ryan Christy scored 13 points apiece and the No. 6-rated Saxons (17-3, 11-3) beat the visiting Panthers (3-17, 1-13).
Ferris finished second in 4A.
Seniors Mike Ervin scored 10 points and Shamrock Campbell added nine points to move into 10th and 11th on the all-time GSL boys scoring leader list.
Tyson Rogalette led Mead with 15 points.
Lewis and Clark 65, University 50: Griffin Effenberger scored 18 points, Naje Smith had 16 and the Tigers (13-7, 10-4) beat the visiting Titans (10-10, 5-9).
The Tigers finished third in 4A
Tanner Christensen led University with 16 points.
Mt. Spokane 65, North Central 45: Jerry Twenge scored 17 points, Tyson Degenhart added 13 and the Wildcats (15-5, 8-4) beat the visiting Indians (10-11, 3-9).
Isaiah Lockett led North Central with 15 points.
Rogers 58, Shadle Park 51: Maks Babich scored 17 points and the Pirates (8-12, 4-8) beat the Highlanders (6-13, 2-10).
Jahlil Frans had 14 points and 11 rebounds for Rogers, while Jake Groves led Shadle Park with 15 points.