Sandpoint falls to Puyallup in tourney opener

COEUR d’ALENE — The Sandpoint boys basketball team may have lost 68-44 to Puyallup on Thursday, but the consolation prize is a night’s stay at the Coeur d’Alene Resort.

Such is the unique hospitality at the eight-team Lake City Invitational basketball tournament, where the Bulldogs fell in the opener Thursday afternoon at Lake City High School.

“They’re really wining and dining us,” said Bulldogs head coach Tyler Haynes of the first-ever tournament. “Not a lot of kids get to experience this.”

Jeremiah Gagnon continues to provide a scoring spark off the bench, draining 4-6 attempts from beyond the arc en route to a team-high 16 points to go with four rebounds.

“He had good penetration and was keeping them honest,” said Haynes of Gagnon, who has led the Bulldogs in scoring in all three games he’s played. “He’s watching things on the bench, then coming in and making things happen.”

Chase Rodriguez pulled down five boards to go with four points, and Mathew Burgstahler added seven points, as the Bulldogs (1-7) are facing some of the tougher teams in Washington.

Facing teams with some future college players will provide excellent seasoning for the Bulldogs in their quest for a state tournament berth.

“These are 5A schools from Western Washington,” said Haynes of the competition. “We can’t play in a more competitive situation than right here.”

The Bulldogs will face South Kitsap today in the second round of the three-day tournament. Tip off is at 2 p.m. at Lake City High School.

Puyallup 18 15 19 16 — 68

Sandpoint14  7   9  14 — 44

SANDPOINT — Jurenka 2, Rodriguez 4, Couch 2, Schwartz 0, Nelson 6, Burgstahler 7, Gagnon 16, Edwards 5, Alsager 0, Lutz 3.