Prep feasts on turnovers
Turnovers, that bane of high school basketball, figured mightily in Gonzaga Prep’s 66-38 Greater Spokane League girls basketball romp Tuesday night at Central Valley.
The win for the Bullpups (12-4, 7-2) was in dramatic contrast to their loss to the Bears (12-4, 7-2) on Dec. 20 and as a league counter moved them into a tie for third place with CV and Mt. Spokane.
It was not the 18 first-half miscues by CV that figured so prominently in the outcome, but the first three of the third quarter that started the Bullpups’ rout.
Those turnovers produced seven points in just more than one minute of the quarter’s start. Coupled with Shannon Murray’s second 3-pointer two minutes into the half, and Gonzaga led 38-26.
“Defensive pressure,” said Bullpups coach Mike Arte. “We fueled everything with our defense and we got good looks because of our defensive pressure. That was it.”
The swarming Bullpups and Bears cast caution to the wind in the first half with their open-court style. CV, however, was without scoring leader Heidi Heintz because of an ankle sprain, and Salena Leavitt played sparingly because she’s been ailing.
The result was more turnovers than points early in the back-and-forth game. Neither team led by more than four points.
Between them there were 35 first-half turnovers. G-Prep led 28-26 at intermission on Corinna O’Brien’s basket with 12 seconds left.
CV’s Kayla Reilly scored 16 of her game-high 20 points in the first half.
“In the first half, we weren’t getting any defensive pressure so therefore we weren’t getting good looks at the basket,” said Arte. “We made no adjustments at halftime, other than to tell them to stop fouling so much and to take care of the ball. In the second half, that was a huge difference.”
The Bears kept losing the basketball after intermission. The Bullpups did a better job of hanging on to it and the game got out of hand.
Murray hit four 3-pointers in the second half and scored 13 of her team-high 17 points. Sarah Jennings added a third-quarter 3-pointer as the Bullpups took an 18-point lead. Prep scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter.
“Corinna started getting the ball to our shooters when they were wide open and I know that we did a better job of guarding their posts in the second-half,” said Arte.
O’Brien finished with 14 points, eight assists and seven steals.
Next up for the Bullpups is Mt. Spokane on Thursday, a game that will just about secure a playoff berth for the victor.
“So this is a big week for us,” said Arte. “This was a good job, half done.”
Mt. Spokane 61, Ferris 48
The visiting Wildcats (13-3, 7-2) trailed after a quarter, but had a 25-point, second-quarter burst to get past the Saxons (7-9, 5-4) and become part of a three-way third place GSL tie. Mt. Spokane’s Leah Pomante totaled 15 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and three steals. Katelan Redmon added 20 points eight rebounds for the Wildcats, who had four players in double figures. Mt. Spokane shut down Ferris’ season offensive leaders.
Cheney 38, Shadle Park 36
The Blackhawks (3-13, 1-8) outscored the visiting Highlanders (4-12, 3-6) 10-4 in the fourth quarter for their first GSL triumph. Cailynee Oyoloker hit a jumper with 21 seconds to go to take the lead. Shadle followed with a turnover. Sophomore Lexi Bishop scored a game-high 23 points for Shadle.
East Valley 50, North Central 35
The Knights (8-8, 4-5) won their second straight game over a fellow 3A foe by outrebounding and out-shooting the visiting Indians (9-7, 2-7) to take an 18-6 first-quarter lead. Lindsey Jacobs had 10 rebounds and 10 points for the Knights. Ashlee Michelson led NC with 15.
Clarkston 56, Rogers 44
The Pirates (0-16, 0-9) are still winless, but the young team is getting closer as it gave the host Bantams (8-8, 3-6) all they could handle. Senior Sophie Miraglio, in her first start, scored a career-high 19 points, including 13 in the first half, for Clarkston. Her previous best was six points. Teammate Misty Atkinson added 17 points and had 14 rebounds.
University 67, Mead 51
Angie Bjorklund scored a game-high 30 points in leading the unbeaten and state top-ranked Titans (16-0, 9-0) to a victory over the host Panthers. Fellow sophomore Kelli Valentine had 22 points for the Panthers (8-7, 5-4).
Lewis and Clark 81, WV 25
The unbeaten Tigers (16-0, 9-0) cruised against the outgunned host Eagles (1-15, 1-8), Heather Bowman scored 22 points for the Tigers, and Briann January added 15, including three 3-pointers. LC, ranked No. 3, doesn’t play U-Hi until Feb. 17, the final game of the league’s regular season.