Saxons slam Shadle

Teams defending against Ferris in Greater Spokane League boys basketball must pick their poison. The Saxons have myriad ways to win, as host Shadle Park discovered during Tuesday’s 57-49 setback.

The victory leaves Ferris (5-0) alone atop the GSL. The loss was the first for the Highlanders (3-1).

While they neutralized some of Ferris’ inside attack, limiting foul-plagued season scoring leader DeAngelo Casto to eight points, it was impossible to contain all facets of the eight-deep Saxons attack.

Different players took turns contributing, from the outside shooting of three guards – including Erick Cheadle – to the inside-out game of Shawn Stockton; from the contributions off the bench of post Morgan Hyslop and the second-half surge of wing/post Jared Karstetter.

What Ferris coach Don Van Lierop also liked was the mindset of his players.

“When they (Shadle) made runs, we stayed calm,” Van Lierop said.

He pointed out Hyslop’s second quarter lift, when the senior scored four points and had four rebounds, three of them offensive, as the Saxons broke a 13-all tie to lead 24-15.

He thought that Stockton controlled things in the fourth quarter to help maintain the lead, even as Shadle’s 3-point shooters worked to erase it.

He said that Karstetter’s second-half rebounding, not to mention the eight points he scored, proved vital.

“He didn’t have a great first half,” Van Lierop said. “But he’s too good a player. I figured he’d get better in the second half.”

The Saxons led 9-3 in the first quarter before the Highlanders had a 10-1 run to take a 13-10 advantage. Jeff Minnerly tied the game with 2 seconds remaining following a turnover.

Ferris’ bigs, Hyslop and Casto, pushed the lead back to nine points.

Shadle’s Humphrey, who had five 3-pointers, hit two deep ones to cut the lead to 30-27 by intermission.

But Cheadle answered with two of his own in the third quarter and Karstetter scored twice for a 42-32 bulge.

“I wasn’t playing that well at the beginning of the season and coach just told me I had to be more aggressive and start shooting when I was open,” said Cheadle. “I was open on all those 3s and just took it.”

Humphrey (17 points) and Anthony Brown (15) made long shots to cut the deficit to 44-41 early in the fourth quarter. Shadle finished with eight 3-pointers.

Four free throws by Stockton, who scored 15 points, helped Ferris get away again.

The Saxons had 18 turnovers, but shot more than 60 percent from the field on a foreign court. They had a 3-to-1 rebounding advantage to remain perfect on the season and alone in first.

“That’s nice,” said Van Lierop. “It was our goal when we got on the bus to be there by ourselves.”

Rogers 66, Central Valley 61: Scotty Livengood may have had a “quiet” 25 points, according to coach Brian Kissinger, but he helped the Pirates (2-2) make big noise with their win over the Bears (2-3) at Shaw Middle School. Livengood scored 16 points in the second half as Rogers overcame a 37-30 halftime deficit. Josh Taylor had his second straight double-figure game. The Pirates, who outscored CV 18-8 in the fourth quarter, got their first lead with 3 minutes to play. Bears senior Nick Ambrose scored 24 points. Kevin Cameron and Chris Burdick combined for 25 more.

Gonzaga Prep 77, University 51: The host Bullpups (2-1) were led by sophomore Travis Long and point guard Michael Stockton to keep the Titans (0-5) winless. Long was 10 for 14 from the field and scored 22 points. Stockton finished with 21, including three 3-pointers. Mason Johnson scored 17 for U-Hi.

East Valley 55, Lewis and Clark 49: With Danny Marshall, Lonnie Quirk and Tanner Hamilton in double figures and two others just shy, the host Knights (1-3) won their first. EV built a 17-point second-quarter lead and weathered the Tigers (1-4) comeback.

Mead 54, Mt. Spokane 38: The visiting Panthers (4-1) forced 16 turnovers and controlled offensive rebounding to move into second place in the GSL. Mead’s Brendan Ingebritsen led all scorers with 18 points.