Groovy end for Shadle girls
Shadle Park saved its best field-goal shooting for last, and the result was a 43-39 comeback victory Thursday over North Central in Greater Spokane League girls basketball.
The prelude to the Groovy Shoes spirit competition was in the Indians’ (9-8, 2-8) grasp for most of the game, but the inability to rebound all night and to score a fourth-quarter field goal until five seconds remained proved to be their undoing.
By contrast, the Highlanders (5-13, 4-6) had eight field goals in the final quarter-and-a-half to rally from an eight-point deficit. They scored only four baskets all game up until the 4-minute mark of the third quarter.
“We were a little cautious on offense and I’m not sure why,” said Shadle coach Chad Dezellem. “NC doesn’t make things easy, but when we started to move the ball and reverse it we got good looks.”
The best looks were by sophomore Lexi Bishop, who scored 13 of her game-high 15 points in the second half. She hit a 3-point basket late in the third quarter and another during Shadle’s decisive 10-point run that put the Highlanders ahead 41-33 with 2:05 to play.
“Mostly what it was is we weren’t composed,” said Bishop of the Highlanders’ early scoring dearth. “After we came out at half, we were ready to win and showed a lot of intensity at the end.”
The other part of Shadle’s offense was the inside play of 6-1 freshman Lexie Petterson. She scored 14 points, getting eight in the final quarter.
North Central had started hot in the Arena, and built a 16-5 lead midway through the second quarter. But Shadle offset NC’s 11-4 field-goal edge and got back into the game by making 9 of 14 free throw tries to trail only 18-17 early in the third quarter.
And a 40-20 rebounding advantage sealed the deal when the baskets finally came.
“Being Groovy Shoes, we had our adrenalin going,” said Bishop. “We wanted this win.”
The Indians were without third-leading scorer Alie Hansen, who sprained an ankle. Three players, Ashlee Michelson, Alaina Smith and Shantel Haugen scored all but four of NC’s points.
Gonzaga Prep 68, Mt. Spokane 59
The Bullpups (13-4, 8-2) lost an eight-point halftime lead when the visiting Wildcats (13-4, 7-3) went on a third-quarter 19-9 tear. But Prep outscored Mt. Spokane 11-3 in the final three minutes to lay claim to third-place outright in the GSL. Sophomore Tara Cronin was 8 for 8 from the free throw line and had 10 of her 21 points in the fourth quarter. Alex Butler added six points, including 4 for 4 from the line. Leah Pomante led Mt. Spokane with 19 points.
Lewis and Clark 50, CV 32
The Tigers (17-0, 10-0) outscored the host Bears (12-5, 7-3) 36-11 in the second and fourth quarters. Briann January scored 18 points, seven of them during a 20-4 second-quarter outburst.
University 79, Ferris 53
A 25-6 kick-start in the first quarter was all the Titans (17-0, 10-0) needed against the visiting Saxons (7-9, 5-5). Sophomore Dara Zack scored 13 points to complement the 44-point combination by Angie and Jami Bjorklund.
Mead 49, Cheney 29
The middle quarters were good for the home team when the Panthers (9-7, 6-4) had a 29-11 advantage. This came despite Cheney’s (3-14, 1-9) 17-4 offensive rebounding edge.
Clarkston 69, East Valley 64 (OT)
The Bantams (9-8, 4-6) were 24 for 38 from the free throw line, EV (8-9, 4-6) just 8 for 11 as the hosts won to tie the Knights for top seeding among GSL 3A teams. Clarkston rallied from a six-point deficit to force overtime in the final two minutes. Kathryn DeVleming scored seven of her game-high 24 in the extra period. She also had five steals and six rebounds.
West Valley 48, Rogers 45
The Eagles (2-15, 2-8) nursed a five-point halftime lead as Krystal McCarthy (15) and Jackie Rouse combined for 27 points at Rogers. Denisha Whitehead hit a 3-point basket with 7 seconds left, but the Eagles ran the clock out on the Pirates (0-17, 0-10).
Caribou Trail League
Barry picks apart Okanogan
Tiffany Barry finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds to lead Lake Roosevelt (12-4, 5-2) to a 55-38 win over visiting Okanogan (8-9, 3-4) at Coulee Dam.