As the calendar turns to a new year, the Greater Spokane League 2A basketball schedule changes to league games. But while league games are crucial to reaching the postseason, whenever Rogers and North Central play together, it means a little more.
Tyson Vogrig exploded for seven 3-pointers, five in the second half, as the Wolfpack erased a nine-point halftime deficit to beat the visiting Pirates 69-63 in a GSL 2A game on Friday.
Miles Spencer scored 11 points and Adie Wright added 10 — all in the second half — for NC.
Davontae Muhammad Jr. led Rogers with 20 points, Hands Warrick had 15 and Keyoni Yoeun added 10.
Trailing by one point in the fourth quarter, the Wolfpack went on a 15-2 run to take control of the game.
“It’s always a big win,” Vogrig said of the city rivalry. “They talked a little bit when they were up, so we just came out (in the second half) and were just determined to win. … Knowing those guys since we were little kids, it definitely means something.”
“You know, I’ve been watching these games since I was a kid,” NC junior guard Isaac Williams said. “It’s great to be playing in them now that we’re finally on varsity.
Hands Warrick scored eight points in the first quarter as Rogers (3-3, 0-2) took a 23-16 lead through one. Tyson Vogrig’s 3-pointer early in the second quarter pulled NC within four, but Warrick’s long 3 capped a 9-4 spurt to give Rogers a 34-29 lead with 1 minute, 40 seconds left.
Davontae Muhammad added a late 3 and Rogers led 39-30 at the break.
“We went in, settled down and started talking about what we were doing wrong,” Vogrig said of the halftime pep talk. “We just came out, executed.
Vogrig hit back-to-back 3s to open the third quarter and get NC (5-3, 2-0) back within three. His 3 with two seconds left in the period made it a one-point game at 49-48 entering the fourth.
NC took its first lead of the game on a pair of free throws by Miles Spencer early in the fourth. Vogrig’s sixth three-pointer of the game with five minutes left put the Wolfpack up 58-52, and his seventh with 3:15 left capped a 15-2 run to make it 65-52.
“When (Vogrig) hits, we have to keep getting him the ball,” Williams said.
But the Pirates went on a 9-2 run, punctuated by a Muhammad 3 to pull Rogers within six with 45 seconds left.
But Wright’s return after a long possession sealed it for NC.
The win gives NC their second league win.
“Our time in practice really picked up,” Vogrig said. “We’re doing a lot more, we’re taking it a lot more seriously. It’s time to hit the ground running.”
Girls
North Central 51, Rogers 33: Mia Shaw scored 19 points and the Wolfpack (4-6, 2-0) defeated the Pirates (2-6, 0-2) in the early game. Saige Stuart led Rogers with 16 points.
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