Bulldogs earn tough road win over Spartans

PRIEST RIVER — Sandpoint’s Cole Fuhrman only contributed one field goal, but it was the biggest shot of the night as the senior wing hit a short runner with only 10 seconds left to lift the Bulldogs to a 67-64 nonleague win Tuesday night at Priest River.

The second-ranked 3A Spartans led by as many as 13 points late in the third period before their shots would go cold to the tune of a 10 point fourth quarter.

“We got guts,” Sandpoint coach Tyler Haynes said about his team’s late-game heroics. “That’s the best team we’ll play all season. We felt like the underdog coming in and knew we were going to have to steal the game from a really good Priest River team.”

Blaine Shultz had a great all-around game for Sandpoint (7-6), scoring a game-high 20 points to go along with seven rebounds, five steals and four assists.

“He’s averaged 19 points per game the last four games and gets most his points in what we’re doing. He doesn’t need a lot of shots to get 20 and really plays off our system,” Haynes said about his senior wing.

Senior Mikey Bach recorded a double-double, with 14 points and 11 rebounds, and point guard Eric Holbrook had nine assists to go along with 13 points for the Spartans (9-4).

Brandon Hawkins scored 12 and Christian Kennedy added 11 for Sandpoint (7-6, 1-0 IEL), which returns to 4A Inland Empire League action Friday night at Lakeland.

Priest River hosts Kellogg on Saturday.

Sandpoint   14   14   18   21   —   67

Priest River   20   17   17   10   —  64

SANDPOINT — Williams 0, Hawkins 12, Nikssarian 0, Kennedy 11, Rains 6, Olin 7, lewis 1, Shultz 20, Fuhrman 2, Carothers 8, Gavin 0.

PRIEST RIVER — Barrett 8, Peterson 2, Douglas 14, Bach 14, Salesky 7, Peterson 6, Holbrook 13, Mortenson 0. C