Bulldogs defeat Lakeland

RATHDRUM — The Bulldogs continue to click on all cylinders as Piper Wahlin had 10 kills and Abby Helander finished with 16 digs and three aces to lead Inland Empire League-leading Sandpoint (9-0, 6-0 IEL) past Lakeland 25-18, 25-15, 25-13 Thursday night.

Linnia Hawkins led the Bulldogs in assists for the first time this year, setting 15 to go with two aces, and Brooke DeMers added seven kills and two aces in what head coach Karen Alsager called her best game of the year.

"She was focused, a leader, a go-to hitter," Alsager said of DeMers. "All of the things you want out of your senior captain."

The win marked the unofficial halfway point in the season, and Alsager has liked what she's seen so far, as they'll face each league opponent once more before districts and state.

Kristyn App led the Hawks (4-4, 2-3 IEL) with eight kills and Breezy Stecker finished with 10 assists. Alisha Watson had nine digs and Ali Whitted added three blocks.

Sandpoint hosts Coeur d'Alene next Thursday in a pivotal IEL showdown, perhaps the toughest game left on the schedule.

? Clark Fork falls to Kootenai

HARRISON — Hannah Nyrop led Kootenai (4-0, 4-0 NSL) with a game-high 17 kills as the Warriors downed Clark Fork 25-12, 25-10 and 25-13 in North Star League volleyball action Tuesday night in Harrison.

Megan Hess led Clark Fork (1-3, 1-3) with three kills, and Alexandra McLelland had five assists in the loss.

Clark Fork hits the road to take on Coeur d'Alene Charter on Tuesday.

? James has big night for Vandals

Former Sandpoint volleyball standout Kelsey James, older sister of current Bulldog Koko James, had a huge night in Idaho's 30-28, 26-30, 30-23, 26-30 and 21-19 win over Nevada in WAC volleyball action Wednesday night in Moscow.

James had a game-high 63 assists, to go with 22 digs and four kills in the strong all-around performance.

? Crossingham sticks yet another dagger to help Sandpoint earn 2-2 tie

SANDPOINT — The Coeur d'Alene Sandpoint soccer rivalry has a long and heated history, and Thursday night's 2-2 tie at War Memorial Field didn't disappoint. In typical fashion, the game was physical, and neither coach was happy with a tie in the third meeting this year between the IEL schools, the Vikings having won the first two.

In the final minute of the game, Sandpoint defender Alex Crossingham blasted a corner kick that deflected off Vikings' goalie Marc Hilbert and evened the game at 2-2.

"It was frustrating to be up 2-1 in the last two minutes and give up a corner kick, which is always dangerous," said Vikings coach Eric Louis, acknowledging he knew the Bulldogs are dangerous on such kicks. "That's how they make their reputation."

Crossingham is no stranger to clutch kicks, having hit an eerily similar goal, also late in the game, to beat Lake City earlier this season. He takes all the Bulldogs' free kicks and most of the corner kicks, with sterling results. Sandpoint (6-4-2, 5-1-1 IEL) coach Randy Thoreson was happy his team kept its intensity up for a full 80 minutes, singling out the defensive work of Forrest Andrews and the play of his midfielders.

"The last two games we played these guys (Vikings) we lost the middle," said Thoreson, who despite the late goal wasn't happy with the tie. "Today, we won the middle. It was very physical, it always is with Coeur d'Alene."

Daniel Anderson scored his eighth goal of the season in the 2nd minute to give Sandpoint an early 1-0 lead. Forrest Walker then cleaned up a loose ball at the end of the first half to give Coeur d'Alene (9-0-2, 5-0-2) the equalizer. Walker would assist on Robby Astin's goal that gave the Vikings the lead in the 60th minute, which nearly held up before Crossingham's late corner kick.

"I'm proud of the boys, we played without Jalon Eborall and had to shift personnel," said Louis of his senior captain. "I thought we carried play well in the second half, which is usually enough to win."

Sandpoint hosts Lewiston today at noon.

First half — 1, Spt, Daniel Anderson (Mikka Nostdahl) 2:00. 2, Cd'A, Forrest Walker (unassisted) 38:00. Second half — 3, Cd'A, Robby Aston (Walker) 60:00. 4, Spt, Alex Crossingham (corner kick) 80:00.

Shots on goal — Cd'A 12, Spt 14.

Saves — Cd'A, Marc Hilbert 12; Spt, Shawnn Carlson 10.