Shultz leads Bulldogs to big 4A win over Hawks

SANDPOINT — Senior Blaine Shultz celebrated his 18th birthday by scoring 13 points and grabbing six rebounds, missing just one of his seven field goal attempts, leading Sandpoint to a key 4A North win over Lakeland Tuesday night at Les Rogers Court.

Cole Fuhrman added 13 points and Evan Rains 12 to lead the Bulldogs (9-7, 3-0 4A IEL), who were in control of the game from start to finish.

“Defensively, I thought we were excellent,” said Sandpoint head coach Tyler Haynes, whose team was confident following a stretch of road games in which they went 3-1. “It was a huge win. We knew it was going to be a battle.”

The win sets up a crucial road game against Moscow on Saturday, with the winner securing home court advantage outright for the district playoffs.

Hunter Arno kept the Hawks (3-15, 0-4 4A IEL) close with a game-high 18 points and nine boards, but his team could never cut the lead to less than four points.

Sandpoint hosts Post Falls on Thursday during Senior Night.

Lakeland    11   11    8   13 — 53

Sandpoint  19   11   14   13 — 57

LAKELAND — Spencer 6, Whitesitt 8, Cooper 8, Arno 18, Derrick 6, Opland 7.

SANDPOINT — Hawkins 2, Nikssarian 3, Kennedy 3, Rains 12, Olin 8, Lewis 0, Shultz 13, Fuhrman 13, Carothers 2.