Sandpoint topples Moscow, 68-65

MOSCOW — Tasting defeat for the first time this season, the Moscow boys basketball team fell to Sandpoint in the Bear Den Friday night.

The 68-65 Inland Empire League victory pulled the Bulldogs (2-3 IEL, 7-6 overall) ahead of Lakeland in the 4A division, while placing Moscow (4-1, 11-1) in a tie with Post Falls.

After a tight first period, senior Blake Mahler when on a rampage before the half and Sandpoint scored nine unanswered points to lead 35-27. Mahler finished the game with 19 points — 15 of those falling in the second period.

Senior Ben Mitchell led the Bulldogs with a game-high 21 and senior Chris Hepperly accounted for an additional 18 points.

In the fourth period, Moscow rallied 21 points and with 13 seconds left in the game junior Cody Line scored off a 10-foot jumper to pulled the Bears within one. However, in the final seconds a layup by Mitchell secured the win for Sandpoint.

The Bears were led by senior Jake LeFors' 19 points, while senior John Mosman added 14 to the scoreboard.

Sandpoint travels to Rathdrum to play the Lakeland Hawks on Friday.

Sandpoint 12 23 17 16 — 68

Moscow 13 14 17 21 — 65

SANDPOINT — DiBenedetto 7, Hepperly 18, Mahler 19, Mitchell 21, Sorentino 3.

MOSCOW — Mosman 14, Button 3, Legoll 2, LeFors 19, Line 11, Wimer 10, Herrenbruck 6.