Bulldogs exercise demon with win in state tourney

IDAHO FALLS - Sandpoint exercised one demon Friday at the 4A state tournament by beating Rigby, the team that upset Sandpoint in the opener last year, in four games.

A second-round win against Skyview in four games sets up another grudge match today against Bonneville, who beat Sandpoint in the state championship last year.

Sandpoint got all the challenge it wanted from Skyview. After winning Game 2, the scrappy Hawks took a 20-15 lead in Game 3. But fueled by two Christina Johnson blocks and a big block for a point by Piper Wahlin, Sandpoint took a 28-26 win and went on to win the match 25-14, 21-25, 28-26, 25-21.

"That is a really good team, one of the best team's we've played all year," Sandpoint coach Karen Alsager said.

"I'm very proud of my team for fighting back through that. This was probably the first time I've been nervous."

Outside hitter Piper Wahlin finished the day with 29 kills and 10 aces, including four in a row against Skyview. Libero Abby Helander was everywhere, racking up 59 digs.

Last year, Sandpoint had to negotiate the long path through the loser's bracket after losing to Rigby. Once in the title game, Sandpoint was out of juice. Alsager said her team learned from that experience.

"(It was) 100 percent motivation facing Rigby in the first round," Alsager said. "I couldn't have asked for better pick after how we overlooked them last year. I knew we wouldn't make the same mistake."

Now, to the surprise of nobody, Sandpoint has a date with Bonneville in the semifinals. The teams are familiar with one another.

Bonneville beat Sandpoint in the championship game last year. Sandpoint beat Bonneville in the title game the year before.

Sandpoint has won four titles since 2000. Bonneville has won three. Sandpoint has a 27-2 record. Bonneville, 38-1.

"It's going to be a bloodwar between these two teams," Alsager said. "We've got, what, three seniors? They've got two. We're going to be dealing with each other every year."