Balanced CV prevails
When the game had ended and Central Valley boys basketball coach Rick Sloan browsed through the stat sheet of the Bears’ victory over rival University, he was at a loss to pick out one defining performer.
It was CV’s balance – three players with 12 points and a fourth with 11 – that had carried it to a 51-46 triumph in front of 5,045 raucous fans during Thursday’s Stinky Sneaker spirit game in the Arena.
“What I liked about it, it was a team win,” said Sloan. “We had four guys in double figures and that’s kind of a coach’s dream.”
Those four players at different times had a hand in helping the Bears blank U-Hi for nearly 9 minutes, stake them to comfortable leads and help them weather Titans comebacks.
The Bears built a 10-0 first-quarter lead and held the edge throughout. The cold-shooting Titans made charges, only to turn the ball over or miss easy opportunities that enabled CV to get away again.
The first CV run was the product of the inside play of J.C. Agen and the ball handling and shooting of Luke Clift. When U-Hi rallied to within three points to end the third quarter, Michael Williams scored five in a row to help create breathing room.
“We had to make plays, stop turning over the ball and do something to stretch the lead back out,” Williams said. “I think we said, ‘Let’s just go out there and play some team ball.’ “
The Bears were up by as many as 12 points and as few as three in the first quarter, then regained a 22-13 lead at halftime. Agen scored eight points and Clift had six.
“We were a little more patient on offense maybe,” said Sloan. “We knew that it’s hard to make a living in the Arena at the 3-point line. The ball was bouncing our way a little in the first quarter.”
Trailing by 11 in the third quarter, U-Hi went on a tear following a CV technical foul. Ali Ahlsharani and Trevor Wakem helped cut the lead to 32-29.
That’s when Williams, who had scored to open the game and hit a 3-pointer in the third quarter, scored five points in a row.
Agen, Willy Davis and Williams all scored 12 points and Clift had 11. They each added either seven or eight rebounds. Mason Johnson scored 15 for U-Hi.
Ferris 80, Rogers 51: Jared Karstetter scored 18 of his game-high 22 points in the first half as the league-leading host Saxons (11-0) slowly pulled away from the Pirates (3-8). Rogers’ Andrew Durant scored 12 of his 14 in the first half.
Shadle Park 44, Mt. Spokane 42: A putback by Austin Hayes as time expired gave the Highlanders (10-1) a win over the host Wildcats (5-5). Playing minus leading scorer Aaron Dunn, Shadle was held in check before outscoring Mt. Spokane 17-11 in the final quarter. That’s when Anthony Brown scored nine of his game-high 17 points. Ryan Selland scored 16 and Chaz Johnson 13 for the hosts.
Gonzaga Prep 71, North Central 45: The host Bullpups (7-3) got a double-double from sophomore Ryan Nicholas and outscored the Indians (4-7) 22-9 in the second quarter en route to victory. Nicholas scored 17 points and David Stockton added 14.
Mead 62, East Valley 47: The Panthers (5-6), playing at home, didn’t pull away until the fourth quarter when they hit 8 of 11 free throws for a 16-9 scoring advantage. Brendon Myers had four of the free throws and Brendan Ingebritsen scored 20 points.