Johnson drops in 18 as Bulldogs fall to Cheney

CHENEY, Wash. - Christina Johnson had another big night, stuffing the stat sheet with 18 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals to lead Sandpoint in a 49-36 loss to Cheney Tuesday night in nonleague girls basketball action in Cheney.

The steadily-improving Bulldogs (0-7) hung with Cheney in the first half, when Johnson scored 14 of her points. Cheney hit all nine of its free throws in the second half as they put the game away. Bulldogs head coach Lance Bruce was pleased with the way his team competed, and crisp first half execution. He also had high praise for the defense of sophomore center Natasha Roop.

"She was outstanding guarding the low post," said Bruce. "She was fighting and fronting the post and preventing that easy entry."

Sandpoint plays Clarkston Friday in the opening round of the Red Lion Classic in Pendleton, Ore.

Sandpoint   7   10    9   10 - 36

Cheney      9   10   16   14 - 49

SANDPOINT - Johnson 18, Chatburn 5, Mead 3, Bucholtz 0, Heer 0, Thomas 6, Jones 2, Roop 2.

Locascio leads Bulldogs in loss to Cheney.

CHENEY, Wash. - Senior Tony Locascio led Sandpoint (1-2) with 13 points, but host Cheney was too much for the Bulldogs, posting a 59-45 nonleague win on Tuesday night.

"Cheney played well; they're favored to win their league," said Bulldogs coach Tyler Haynes. "We got behind early and never recovered."

Sandpoint is at the Red Lion Class in Pendleton, Ore. on Friday.