Vikings defeat Bulldogs

| January 15, 2008 8:00 PM

SANDPOINT — Whitney Heleker and Kama Griffitts combined for 26 points, and helped key a decisive third quarter to propel the No. 2 Vikings to a 63-27 Inland Empire League win over Sandpoint Tuesday night at Les Rogers Court.

Amy Warbrick added 10 points and three steals, and drained an NBA-length 3-pointer as the Vikings (16-1, 9-0 IEL) outscored Sandpoint 26-7 in the third quarter, breaking open a game that was surprisingly close at half. Sadie Simon tallied five points, five assists and three steals to pace a balanced scoring attack as every Viking player scored.

"It took a while to get rolling, but we played great defense the whole game," said Vikings coach Dale Poffenroth. "It was a good effort by everybody, with balanced scoring."

Jennie Thomas led Sandpoint with seven points, including two slick moves in which she went coast to coast and finished with a difficult layup. Brittany Oakley added six, and Lynn DiBenedetto five for the Bulldogs (6-11, 2-7 IEL), whose lack of height posed a problem against the taller Vikings.

Sandpoint hosts Moscow on Friday.

Coeur d'Alene 14 16 26 7 — 63

Sandpoint 7 9 7 4 — 27

COEUR d'ALENE — Stewart 5, Drager 2, Griffitts 11, Simon 5, Johnson 1, Warbrick 10, Rosenthal 8, Heleker 15, Buttrey 5, Bybee 1.

SANDPOINT — Oakley 6, Johnson 4, Adams 0, McNeal 0, Windju 0, Guercio 0, Tenuto 2, James 3, DiBenedetto 5, Thomas 7.