Sandpoint loses heartbreaker to Moscow

MOSCOW — No. 2 seed Sandpoint led for much of the game, but top-seeded Moscow rallied late for a 41-38 victory over the Bulldogs in the semifinal game of the 4A Region 1 girls basketball tournament Thursday night at Bear Den.

“We were unable to hit critical free throws in the final three minutes, and we allowed Moscow several second-chance opportunities,” Sandpoint coach Bill Bender said.

Sandpoint (13-9) will play host to No. 3 Lakeland (3-17) in a loser-out game next Tuesday. The winner travels to Moscow next Thursday, needing to beat the Bears twice for the regional title.

Madi Schoening scored a game-high 15 points for Sandpoint.

“In defeat, Jordan Speelmon and Marayah Delgado continued their excellent work at both ends of the floor,” Bender said.

Chloe Quinnett scored 13 points to lead Moscow.

Sandpoint     3    12    12    11    —    38

Moscow     8    2    14    17    —    41

SANDPOINT — Young 0, Chatburn 0, Liband 0, Olin 8, Speelmon 6, Williams 0, Corless 2, Schoening 15, Delgado 4, Amarillo 3.

MOSCOW — B. Davis 3, D. Davis 0, Engberg 2, Gorton 8, Landeck 0, Quinnett 13, R. Smith 2, Simpson 0, Sprenger 4, Stephens 9.

Post Falls defeats Sandpoint, 54-46

SANDPOINT — Post Falls made five 3-pointers in the first half — two by Dalton Thompson, and one each from Matt Hillman, Keaton Corr and Max McCullough — to open up an early lead en route to the victory at Les Rogers Court.

“The first half they shot pretty well,” Sandpoint coach Tyler Haynes said of Post Falls. “We felt we’d rather take away the penetration than contest the jump shot.”

Joe Pfennigs led a balanced attack for Post Falls (8-10) with nine points.

Jeremiah Gagnon poured in 25 points for Sandpoint (2-14). Post Chase Rodriguez added nine points and nine rebounds, and post T.J. Alsager had seven points and eight boards.

“My post players stepped up,” Haynes said. “And we stayed in the game because of our defense.”

Sandpoint travels to Moscow on Saturday.

Post Falls    20    11    9    14    —    54

Sandpoint    12    14    10    10    —    46

POST FALLS — Hall 4, McKeown 0, Davenport 7, Pfennigs 9, Jackson 3, Hilliman 8, McCullough 3, Thompson 6, Corr 3, Gibson 2.

SANDPOINT — Schwartz 1, Rodriguez 9, Burgstahler 0, Alsager 7, Nelson 4, Gagnon 25.