Bulldogs fall in playoff opener

MOSCOW — Clinging to a five point lead after three quarters, things were looking pretty good for Sandpoint in their 4A Region 1 tournament clash with Moscow Thursday night at the Bear Den.

But a cold shooting spell ultimately proved costly for the No. 2 Bulldogs (10-12), as the No. 1 seed Bears (7-13) went on a 17-0 fourth quarter run to take control of the game, winning 47-38 to advance to the championship game.

Jackson Olin led the Bulldogs with 16 points, including 11 in the second quarter as the teams went into half time tied at 20-20.

The Bulldogs defense was stingy for most of the game, holding the Bears to just 28 percent shooting on the night. The Bulldogs held a 34-29 lead midway through the fourth quarter, but did not score again for nearly four minutes, as the Bears quickly took a 46-34 lead with less that a minute left.

“We had at least five really good looks and we didn’t make any of them,” said Sandpoint head coach Tyler Haynes of the pivotal run. “You have to make some big shots in a district tournament to win. They didn’t fall and we couldn’t get off 34 points.”

Evan Rains added five points and five rebounds in defeat, and Cole Fuhrman and Blaine Shultz combined for 13 points as the Bulldogs shot 38 percent from the field.

“It was absolutely physical, a bodies-on-the-floor type of game,” described Haynes, who now turns his attention to Lakeland. “It’s a double elimination tournament and we need to get through Lakeland.”

Sandpoint hosts Lakeland in a loser-out game on Saturday, with tip off at 6 p.m. at Les Rogers Court.

Sandpoint   7   13   12    6 — 38

Moscow     13   7     7    20 — 47

SANDPOINT — Hawkins 4, Nikssarian 0, Kennedy 0, Rains 5, Olin 16, Shultz 6, Fuhrman 7, Carothers 0.

MOSCOW — Pennington 2, Brooks 5, Lewis 11, Jung 4, Parkins 8,  Aaron Donaldson 10, Helbling 7.