Gagnon scores 22 in blowout win

PRIEST RIVER — Jeremiah Gagnon scored a game-high 22 points on the way to a 70-29 blowout win over Priest River in both teams season-opener Tuesday night.

Gagnon, a senior, sparked the Bulldogs with eight points and five steals in the second quarter alone — including two breakaway slams that got the Sandpoint faithful off their feet.

Sandpoint (1-0) led by just eight at the break before coming out of the half in a full-court press that led to a 29-8 run in the third quarter and a running clock in the fourth.

“Twenty-nine points in a quarter. We haven’t had many of those,” Bulldog coach Tyler Haynes said after the game. “Defensively the kids played great and really earned to get out and run in that big quarter. Give credit to Priest River, they got a good young group and they’re going to be a scrappy team.”

Senior Jimmy Koch led the way with eight points for Priest River (0-1), which struggled to find an answer for Sandpoint ball pressure.

Sandpoint is at the Pendleton Tournament on Friday.

Priest River   5   13   8   3   —   29

Sandpoint   10   16   29   15   —   70

PRIEST RIVER — Clark 0, Ja. Griffin 0, Linton 5, Hartwig 3, MacDonald 1, Koch 8, Anselmo 2, Nunley 2, White 4, Slinger 0, Roland 4.

SANDPOINT — Timothy 2, Jurenka 2, Rodriguez 4, Spalding 7, Kuzmich 2, Schwartz 8, Burgstahler 7, Bruener 5, Gagnon 22, Collado 2, Edwards 9.