Pair lead Bulldogs to first win at state since 1966

BOISE — Sandpoint High point guard Tanner French got knocked down hard late in the game, but got up slowly with a wry grin on his face.

As the final seconds ticked down, Bulldog coach Tyler Haynes was beaming as he chatted with his coaching staff.

The Sandpoint Bulldogs had a reason to be happy Thursday afternoon at Borah High.

In beating the Bishop Kelly Knights 60-53 in the first round of the state 4A boys basketball tournament, Sandpoint became the first Bulldog team to win a game at state since 1966 — when Gary Elliot starred.

“It’s been a long time,” Haynes said. “These kids have a lot of character. You can talk and preach character and everybody says they play hard.

But in 20 years, these guys play harder than any team I’ve ever had. And they’ve got a ton of character. A lot of people have counted them out for a long time, and there have been times when we haven’t looked that impressive. But they’ve never counted themselves out.”

Sandpoint (10-14), which had to beat Moscow on its home court twice just to make it to state, will play Pocatello (13-14) in a semifinal game tonight at 5:15 PST. Pocatello upset Hillcrest (19-5) 61-58. AM 1400 will carry the game live.

French, a senior with loads of state soccer experience, totaled 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting, and had six rebounds, four steals and two assists. The Knights couldn’t stop French’s drives to the basket, and they also had a hard time containing Spencer Swerin inside. Swerin added 18 points. BK was whistled for 25 fouls, and two Knights fouled out.

“We just made history, and it’s a blast to be a part of it,” French said. “ To beat Moscow twice at their place, and come down here to southern Idaho and win a game at state is pretty exhilarating.”

Sandpoint jumped out to leads of 11-4 in the first quarter and 27-19 on French’s driving basket and free throw with 3:13 left in the half.

BK went up 30-29 early in the third quarter on a layup by guard Jacob Kartes, who finished with 12 points. Swerin answered with two free throws, a jumper by junior Stefan Buratto bounced on the rim and in, and the 5-foot-9 French took a rebound coast-to-coast for a layup and a 35-30 Sandpoint lead with 5 minutes left in the third quarter. BK tied it again at 39, but Sandpoint beat the press and Skyler Tucker found Bryce Olin for a layup seconds later. BK never caught up after that, in part to a tough man-to-man Bulldog defense which kept the Knights on the perimeter and made even those shots tough.

Buratto added 13 points, five rebounds and three assists for Sandpoint, which made 3 of its first 5 3-pointers, then missed 11 of its last 13. Sandpoint shot 45 percent (18 of 40) from the floor.

French, Swerin, Olin and Jonas Cafferty were sixth-graders in a camp Haynes ran when he returned to Sandpoint for his second stint as coach. In 2005, he guided the Bulldogs to state for the first time in 27 years — then took them back to state the following year.

“Guys like Tanner, he takes all that experience and he can perform in a situation like this, because he’s been there,” Haynes said. “He’s been there in basketball, he’s been there in soccer. You’re not surprised when kids with that much experience step up and play well.”

Jake Hardee, a 6-4 junior wing/post, had 13 points and seven rebounds for Bishop Kelly.

Bishop Kelly 13  13  13  14 — 53

Sandpoint     13  16  13  18 — 60

BISHOP KELLY — Bereziartua 8, Loisate 2, Kartes 12, DeSilvia 4, Brady 0, Nelson 1, Murie 10, Hardee 13, Feusi 0, Lytle 3. Totals 19-45 9-13 53.

SANDPOINT — Olin 7, French 22, Lawrence 0, Cafferty 0, Swerin 18, Shultz 0, Buratto 13, Tucker 0. totals 18-40 19-27 60.