Tuesday’s game between the Gonzaga Prep boys and visiting Mt. Spokane wasn’t a league game, but with both teams coming off losses to Greater Spokane League opponents last week, neither wanted to turn it into a “losing streak” and another pre-holiday blemish on their record.
And besides, every game between these consistently state-caliber teams means a little more no matter what time of year they play.
Mt. Spokane finally found its offense in the second half — despite the Bullpups holding reigning GSL MVP Jaden Ghoreishi to two baskets and five total points — and pulled away for the visiting Wildcats 61-46.
“Gonzaga is our fifth tough game,” said coach Mt. Spokane David Wagenblast. “That helps you prepare for what you have to do in the state tournament. I was proud of how we responded because (G-Prep) is a state tournament team. To be able to play defense like that and rebound the ball, I thought we made some strides to try to prepare for the end of the season.”
Spokane (5-1) was led by Kelan Moore, who came off the bench for 14 points, Jace Reijonen with 12 and Tysen Lewis with 11.
“You have to trust your guys,” Wagenblast said. “I was so excited about everybody that stepped up. Gonzaga Prep, obviously a very, very, very good defensive team, and they were going to do everything they could to try to take Jaden away — and that was really good scouting news. It’s just that kids have to make plays when they have the opportunity.”
Vincent Moore led Gonzaga Prep (4-2) with 16 points and Cater Nilson added 10. G-Prep was limited to seven baskets in the second half.
“I thought our kids responded after our last game (a 57-55 loss to Mead),” Wagenblast said. “We came out in the first quarter and tried to really set the tone of the game defensively. I was proud of our effort because we took steps to talk to each other. We took steps to be tougher and (G-Prep is) really tough to defend.”
The pace was fast in the first quarter with the score tied at 16 to one. The scoring slowed considerably in the second, and Nilson’s back-door basket gave G-Prep a 22-19 lead with 2 minutes, 41 seconds left in the half.
There was no offensive spurt down the stretch and the Bullpups led 24-20 at the break. Ghoreishi and Wildcats quarterback Rock Franklin were held scoreless in the first half.
Ghoreishi scored his first points of the game with 4:45 left — his tip-in was pulled by Mt. Spokane within one at 29-28.
That bucket started a 15-3 run, including 3s by Mason Dietzen and Kelan Moore, Mt. Spokane went 9 of 12 at the line in the period and led 42-32 after three.
Moore hit two more 3-pointers early in the fourth to extend the lead to 14 as G-Prep’s cold shooting continued.
Dietzen and Moore are sophomores.
“Our young guys — those two can really shoot it,” Wagenblast said. “I was so excited that they had the confidence in this game to let it fly. And they did, and that was huge for us.”
Leave a Reply