Future looking bright for Sandpoint girls basketball
SANDPOINT — The Sandpoint Slammers Girls Basketball Club capped a great season recently, with five teams competing in the River City Girls Competitive League. The girls are part of a resurgence in AAU basketball in Sandpoint, and represent a bright future for Bulldog basketball.
• Slammers 4th grade girls
The team wrapped up its season on Jan. 9 against the Coeur d’Alene Panthers. The Panthers prevailed, but the Slammers played one of their best games of the season. Hadley Marshall and Danica Tomazich both scored for the Slammers and combined with Chloe Edwards for improved ball handling, passing and perimeter defense. Katherine Kaul and Taylor Jimerson had aggressive defensive games and were strong on the boards. Marina Breuner showed her versatility assisting the Slammers at both post and wing.
As a team, the Slammers have steadily improved their fundamentals throughout the season, making huge strides in the areas of defense, ball handling and passing. Their coach, Kim Kaul, has enjoyed working with each player and watching them progress over the season. The Slammers 4th grade team would like to thank their parents (and biggest fans) for all their support this season, as well as extending a special thanks to our team sponsors, Valley View Electric and Williams and Parsons, CPAs.
• Slammers 5th grade girls
The 5th grade Slammers finished the season recently with a 25-11 loss to the North Idaho Elite 6th grade team. The Slammers got off to a slow start during the first half but outplayed and outscored the Elite team during the second half. The Slammers got four points from Grace Kirscher, two each from Taylor Ward, Annika Bruce, Kayla Neuman and one point from Laney Search.
The Slammers improved in every aspect of the game during the season, finishing with a 2-6 mark. Considering they played up in the 6th grade league, that is not a bad record. Besides the two wins, a couple of the games were pretty close losses. That tough competition will only make them stronger and better. The girls made huge strides in all facets of the game. Their ball handling skills improved, they learned how to run offensive sets, they worked hard at playing good man-to-man defense and they learned about playing as a team. When they practiced with the 6th grade girls, they all met together at the end of the practices and talked about getting a state tournament banner up on rafters in the high school gym. With dedication, hard work and a dream, they may very well accomplish that goal.
• Slammers 8th grade girls
The Slammers had a stellar season, going 7-1. The girls are very dedicated and hard working, and will continue their basketball exploits on the 8th grade Sandpoint Middle School team, as its season gets underway.