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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

GSL girls basketball: Bullpups top LC, reach 12-0

Lewis and Clark's Riley Lupfer, left, battles Gonzaga Prep's Otiona Gildon at the basket in Tuesday’s game. (Colin Mulvany)

When facing Gonzaga Prep’s girls basketball team, opponents have to pick their poison.

Usually that means trying to take away Otiona Gildon inside or Laura Stockton outside and try to keep Oona Harrington in check.

Lewis and Clark tried to do that with a box-and-one zone Tuesday night but it’s hard to tell if that would have worked because Tayler Dryan was lethal.

The slight junior guard barely made the net ripple as she drained three 3-pointers in the first quarter to jump start the Bullpups on their way to their 35th straight win, 67-46 over the Tigers at Squinty Hunter Fieldhouse.

“We took what they gave us,” Prep coach Mike Arte said. “They gave us open jump shots and we were making them.”

Stockton hit the first one but Drynan hit the next three as the Bullpups (12-0, 10-0 Greater Spokane League) scored on nine of 13 possessions in the first quarter to lead 22-8.

That was enough to loosen up defense of the Tigers (8-4, 7-3), who trailed 38-21 at the half and 61-29 after three quarters

“You have to tip your hat to them,” LC coach George Pfeifer said. “We had to pick our poison and they hit outside shots like crazy in the first half. We didn’t need that.”

After her scorching start, Drynan was content to do what she prefers. She didn’t score again but finished with seven assists and three steals, while Stockton totaled 22 points and Gildon scored 18.

Gildon had one basket in the first quarter, four in the second and made all four of her shots in the third when the Bullpups made 10 of 13 shots and put together an impressive 15-0 run. She didn’t play in the fourth quarter. “We’re going to see gimmicks like that but our girls have played enough basketball that they can adjust on the fly,” Arte said. “They stayed patient.”

Brooklyn Howlett led the Tigers, who had 16 turnovers, with 10 points.

“They were the aggressor on defense and we didn’t run our stuff,” Pfeifer said. “And they have a good goal keeper in the back. Otiona is a pretty good rim protector at this level.”

Central Valley 70, North Central 20: Madison Hovren matched a career high with 34 points, 16 in the first quarter, as the Bears (10-2, 8-2) cruised past the visiting Indians (1-11, 1-9). Hovren made 16 of 20 shots from the field and added 14 rebounds. Teammate Lexie Hull had 10 points and nine rebounds.

Ferris 55, Mt. Spokane 54: Lexi Erickson hit the game-winning shot with 27 seconds left to lift the Saxons (5-7, 5-5) past the visiting Wildcats (5-7, 3-7). Siniva Areta secured the win seconds later with a steal. Bria Bowton led Ferris with 12 points and six assists and Megan Muelheim had 12 points and eight rebounds. Ari Newcomb led Mt. Spokane with 16 points.

University 52, Rogers 40: The visiting Titans (8-4, 7-3) got out to a 36-25 lead at halftime and the margin held up. Brooke Bailey led U-Hi with 17 points. The Guertin sisters combined for 30 points for Rogers (1-11, 0-10).

Mead 64, Shadle Park 36: Sue Winger had 14 points and Payton Douglass added 11 and five assists as the Panthers (8-4, 7-3) cruised past the visiting Highlanders (2-10, 2-8). Shyla Carr led Shadle with 21 points and six rebounds.