Sandpoint falls flat in state opener

CALDWELL — Sandpoint made its first trip to the state tournament for the first time in 27 years knowing darn good and well it need to bring its A game.

Junior Michael Brewer gave the Bulldogs (14-8) an A-plus effort with 24 points and seven rebounds. But, Sandpoint only shot 31.3 percent from the floor in Thursday night's 70 -53 loss to Skyview in the opening round of the 4A Real Dairy Shootout at Albertson College in Caldwell.

"We didn't shoot particularly well and we put ourselves in a hole (in the second half) and we couldn't fight our way out of that." said Sandpoint head coach Tyler Haynes, who watched the Bulldogs hit only 20 of 64 shots. "We just never could cut the thing to six and it just kept building on us. It wasn't a lack of effort as much as it was a tough shooting night."

Brewer scored eight of his 12 first half points in the first quarter including a dunk off the break to give the Bulldogs and early 12-7 lead.

Ben Mitchell contributed six points and six rebounds in the first half, but was held to just one second half point to finish with seven points and nine rounds.

"We knew we had to go right at them and not be afraid and that's what we did," said Mitchell. "We knew Skyview was a great team and we had to bring our 'A' game. We were really excited to break the 27-year curse of not making it to the state tournament but in the same breath we came like everybody else to the Idaho Center."

Sandpoint took a 14-11 lead with two free throws by Chase Lowther in the second period. However, Jeren Sinsel came down with the offensive rebound and the put back with 50 seconds left in the first half. Skyview out scored Sandpoint 20-9 in the second quarter and took at 33-23 lead at the half.

Sandpoint 14 9 7 23 — 53

Skyview 13 20 8 29 — 70

SANDPOINT — Mitchell 7, Mahler 14, Hepperly 3, DiBenedetto 1, Lowther 4, Brewer 24.

SKYVIEW — unavailable at press time.