Timberwolves down Bulldogs on Senior Night
<p>Senior Ryan Schwartz shoots a hook shot in the Bulldogs’ loss. Schwartz was one of seven Bulldogs honored on Senior Night. (Photo by ERIC PLUMMER)</p>
SANDPOINT — Sandpoint senior Jackson Olin and Lake City sophomore Justin Pratt waged a first half scoring duel, before the Timberwolves rode a hot-shooting second half to a 72-40 win over the Bulldogs in nonleague boys basketball Thursday night at Les Rogers Court.
Olin scored all of his team-high 20 points in the first half, including four 3-pointers and a rare four-point play, as the Bulldogs (7-13) trailed 31-25 at the half.
Pratt, who drained four three pointers in the first half en route to a 25 point night, added five rebounds and three assists. Luke Ness and Mitch Bevacqua also hit double figures for the hot-shooting Timbervolves.
“He (Pratt) played super. We’ve been saying from day one that we’ve got some good shooters, but it’s been a while since we put it all together,” said Lake City head coach Jim Winger, who had his defense switch to a box-in-one on Olin in the second half. “We tried to throw Olin out of his rhythm. I’m a big fan of his. We don’t chase a lot of kids, so it’s a compliment to him.”
Tyler Howk drained two 3-pointers and scored all eight of his points in the third quarter, but Sandpoint simply couldn’t get enough stops in the second half to keep it close.
Sam Nitcy had six assists and just two turnovers, one of seven players honored on Senior Night along with Olin, Howk, Ryan Schwartz, Bill Myers, Adam Couch and Trevor Litzell.
“I’ve been coaching them since the 8th grade. To see them out there as seniors, I’m proud of them,” said Sandpoint coach Tyler Haynes of his seniors, liking the group’s chances at the district tournament next week. “Defensively, we can hold our own, but we’re going to need to shoot. We can win in a grinder, or someone is going to get hot. It could easily be us.”
After losing a coin toss with Lakeland, the No. 3 seed Bulldogs open the 4A Region 1 tournament on Tuesday night against the No. 2 seed Hawks in the true double-elimination format.
Lake City 20 11 22 19 — 72
Sandpoint 9 16 10 5 — 40
LAKE CITY — Traverse 5, Pratt 25, Bevacqua 10, Redal 2, Ross 6, Ness 13, Moreen 8, Guice 0, Winger 3.
SANDPOINT — Burgstahler 0, N. Schwartz 0, Nitcy 0, Rodriguez 4, R. Schwartz 6, Nelson 2, Myers 0, Olin 20, Howk 8, Couch 0, Litzell 0.