Ryan Lafferty Meets Late 3-Pointers, Mt. Spokane Boys Outlast Gonzaga Prep; Sitara Byrd leads bullpups girls over cats
It was the last vote before the league starts in earnest next week, but it felt like a district playoff game.
A physical fourth quarter turned into a one-ball game and the defensive pressure from the guests made all the difference in the seconds that dwindled.
Sophomore Ryan Lafferty hit the biggest shot of the game, a 3-pointer with 14.9 seconds to go, and Mt. Spokane’s visit outlasted Gonzaga Prep 55-52 in a non-league game between Greater Spokane League rivals on Friday .
The league game starts on Tuesday.
“(Lafferty) did the same against Kamiakin (in a 68-64 win on December 29th),” said Mt. Spokane coach David Wagenblast. “He played some big games today.”
“I have confidence in myself and I knew it was time to let it fly,” said Lafferty.
“It was a great game,” added Lafferty. “It’s always good to play prep, they’re a really good team and it made us a lot better. I think we will be very confident when we go to the league. “
G-Prep had possession after Lafferty’s shot, but Gonzaga Prep’s second guard Henry Sandberg was caught on the sideline and after a scrum the Wildcats took the ball back to end it.
“In terms of intensity, it was a (game) on a very high level,” said Wagenblast. “The kids really wanted it on both sides, where any property was just an absolute war to try and score.”
“Both teams have played extremely hard and it will serve us both well for the rest of the season,” said Matty McIntyre, Gonzaga Prep coach.
Chapel Smith led Mt. Spokane (10-2) with 21 points and Lafferty finished with 18.
Jayden Stephens passed Gonzaga Prep (5-6) by 16 points and Jamil Miller added 11.
The Bullpups have made it their business to work inside early. Stephens scored on several layups, including one on a steal in the midcourt, then took a bounce pass from Miller for a two-handed jam and an early 10-2 lead.
Stephens picked up his second foul with 3 minutes to go and went on the bench. Lafferty drilled a 3-pointer and Aiden Prado’s layup, 45 seconds back, gave the Wildcats their first lead. It was tied at 12 past one.
Smith hit a pair from across the bow to bring the Cats to 23-20 in the middle of the second game, but Miller converted a three-point play to tie it.
Lafferty went for a fast break dunk, but Stevens’ give and go on a quick break with Sandberg resulted in a finger roll layup and G-Prep led to the break 28-27.
Midway through the third, Stevens grabbed another steal and fed Miller on the wing, who returned it to streaking Stephens for a one-handed jam and a 36-34 lead.
“Jayden is a senior executive,” McIntyre said. “He’s a four year old.”
Smith put a 3-pointer home to move Mt. Spokane to three within two at 43-41. Smith had 10 in the frame.
“(Smith) has the ability to really win over us,” said Wagenblast. “There was a stretch where we had to do without Maverick Sanders and Chapel (top scorer) and we really picked us up there.”
Smith scored from downtown to improve the Cats by one with 3 minutes remaining, and Lafferty’s Lafferty’s layup on a backdoor cut made it a five-point game.
Sandberg’s driving layup made it 52-50 and Miller made it coast-to-coast again, 36 seconds behind.
Lafferty gave the go-ahead, then the Cats made the necessary defensive hold.
“It’s a good mood for us and the kids had a lot of fun,” said Wagenblast.
“The first two months of the season are all about growth,” said McIntyre. “And the way the schedule is set up this year is different than I’ve ever seen it before. So you have nine games to crown a GSL champion, and that process begins on Tuesday. “
girl
Gonzaga Prep 59, Mt. Spokane 35: Sitara Byrd scored 20 points and the Bullpups (9-2) rode 23-4 to an early game win over the Wildcats (3-7) in the first quarter.
Lucy Lynn and Taliah Lee added 11 points each for the pups.
G-Prep has won six in a row, including all three at Moses Lake Mixer over the holidays.
“Taliah has a scoring mentality and does a really good job,” said Mike Arte, Gonzaga Prep coach. “Obviously Sitara has a scoring mentality and Lucy is just a ball player.
“(Lynn) you know, for me she has improved so much in the last two years since we had her in college and she has become a really great player.”
Arte believes his squad is ready for league operations, which begin against Ridgeline on Tuesday.
“We have to learn to find the open person a little better, and we’re getting better and better at that,” he said. “But I am very satisfied with our development at the moment.”
Junior Bryten Gumke led the young Mt. Spokane roster with eight points. The Wildcats don’t dress seniors at college this season.