Badgers stop Priest River

PRIEST RIVER — The Bonners Ferry Badgers rolled into Priest River with confidence and showed it by winning three of the four games for the Intermountain League win.

The Badgers were down 11-2 early in the first game, but they kept on the attack to tie the score 15-15. They gained the lead and Badger senior Lucy Kim-Brown put the dagger in the heart with an ace for the final point and the win, 25-19.

Priest River rallied back back in the second game to win on a dink by senior Tami Cox, 25-20.

The Spartans kept the third game close for most of the game. But Badger Kaitlin Poston fired off enough kills and the Spartans couldn't handle the final serve-recieve for the game point and lost to the Badgers 25-18 in the third game.

The Badgers were rolling in the fourth and final game and scored nine straight points to take the early lead, 10-1. They kept up the pressure and Kim-Brown had two aces on the final three points to take the win, 25-10.

"They played very steady," said Spartan coach Ken Skacel. "We have good moments, but for the whole season, we haven't been able to keep our focus for a whole match."

Poston had eight kills and five blocks to lead the Badgers and Becky Lowther had seven kills for the evening.

"Lowther is one of our smartest players and does everything well for us," said Badger coach Janis Tucker.

Lowther also picked up four block for the Badgers. Setter Jennifer Youngwirth was passing well for 17 assists.

Spartan sophomore Lacy Hopkins had 13 kills, eight digs and five blocks. Spartan Erin Salesky had nine digs. Brittany Kolar was serving well for five aces. Molly Blankenship led the team with six blocks. Angela Storro had seven kills for the Spartans.

The Badgers (4-3, 17-12) have one more final IML game at Kellogg on Thursday. The Spartans (2-5, 11-8) will be at St. Maries, who has already clinched the league title, on Thursday for IML action.

Bonners Ferry def. Priest River, 25-19, 20-25, 25-18, 25-10.