Spartans advance to state title game

NAMPA — Hopeful just to earn a spot at state prior to the district tournament, the Lady Spartans of Priest River will now be playing in the 3A state championship after a 59-53 win over Kimberly in the semi-final game Friday night at Skyview High School.

The Spartans rode the backs of senior Taylor Stewart and junior Melissa Hopkins as the pair combined for 46 points on the night, 25 and 21 respectively.  Hopkins would also record her second straight double-double with 11 rebounds to add to three steals and two assists.

Only a point separated the two teams going into the fourth but Priest River (18-6) pulled out the win with a 16-11 run in the final quarter.  Stewart stayed cool down the stretch, hitting five of six free throws and scoring seven points in the last two and a half minutes.

Priest River shot 19 of 43 from the field as a team and held Kimberly (20-3) to just 14 of 54. The Lady Spartans shot 10 three-point shots and made three while the Bulldogs launched 29 shots from beyond the arc and made nine.

The Intermountain League will be responsible for both the 2009-10 state champion and runner-up as Priest River will play league foe Kellogg (18-8) at 2:50 p.m.  The two teams split wins during the regular season but the Spartans won 37-34 in the district tournament.

Priest River 13  16  14  16  —  59

Kimberly   12  18  12   11   —   53

PRIEST RIVER — T. Stewart 25, Troudt 2, M. Stewart 0, Oscarson 0, Stokes 1, Pavey 1, Hopkins 21, Doolittle 0, Hirst 5, Trost 2, Halcro 2.

KIMBERLY — Pfefferle 15, Goetz 2, Hatch 2, Wilsey 0, Makings 21, Carlton 8, Keller 0, Schroeder 1, Sievers 0, Cornie 0, Lammers 0, Murphy 4.