GSL girls: Bullpups cruise past Panthers
Don’t look now but it appears the Gonzaga Prep girls basketball team is poised to move into overdrive with the postseason in sight.
The Greater Spokane League-leading Bullpups played their best game to date Tuesday, dismantling the 2013 State 4A champion Mead Panthers 63-41.
After a foul-plagued first half in which the Bullpups still managed to build a 12-point lead, G-Prep smothered the visiting Panthers in the third quarter.
Mead, which committed 10 turnovers in the first half, added another nine miscues in the third, and the Bullpups took advantage. G-Prep (14-1 overall, 13-0 league) packaged 10-0 and 7-0 surges around a lone Panthers basket.
Before walking off the court at halftime, Mead coach Quantae Anderson asked how many turnovers had been committed. He could only shake his head after learning the number.
Most of the time, the Bullpups wasted no time converting the turnovers into quick baskets. G-Prep finished with 17 assists. Junior guard Laura Stockton, who is wired for distributing the ball, and senior guard Hannah Caudill had six assists apiece.
The foul trouble in the first half – four starters picked up two fouls each – allowed G-Prep’s ever-growing bench quality playing time.
Caudill, who scored 12 points in the first quarter, and Gildon each finished with 18 points. Gildon made 8 of 10 shots from the field and benefitted the most from her teammates unselfishness. She also had nine rebounds.
“It was our guards making sure they threw good passes,” Gildon said. “I was there to catch them and able to finish them through the pressure. It’s one of the best games we’ve played offensively and defensively.”
With 5 seconds left in the first, Caudill hit a step-back 3-pointer to give G-Prep a 21-12 lead going into the second quarter.
A basket by Stockton off an inbounds pass from Caudill extended G-Prep’s lead to double figures for the first time at 28-18 with 4:06 to go before halftime.
Oona Harrington scored late in the first half to put the Bullpups up 34-22 at intermission.
“Good execution,” summed up G-Prep coach Mike Arte. “What we were trying to do was spread out our motion and make them guard us. And defensively, in the third quarter, wow.”
Ashlyn Lewey led Mead (10-5, 9-4) with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Ferris 53, Lewis and Clark 45: Behind 22 points and 12 rebounds from Kaley Lenhart, the Saxons (7-8, 6-7) upset the Tigers (10-5, 9-4) at the Arena. Ferris opened a 26-20 lead by halftime and then held off LC in the fourth quarter. Brittney Johnson supported Lenhart with 19 points. Riley Lupfer led LC with 16.
Mt. Spokane 43, University 30: The visiting Wildcats (7-8, 6-7) held the Titans (5-10, 5-8) scoreless in the second quarter. Adrienne Dotson led Mt. Spokane with 12 points and six rebounds and Dallas Flager had 10 points.
Central Valley 70, Rogers 23: The Bears (11-5, 10-3) moved into sole possession of second as they opened a 52-10 lead over the visiting Pirates (0-15, 0-13) in the first half. Madison Hovren led the Bears with 17 points and Mariah Cunningham added 15. Sarah Guertin led Rogers with 12.