Bulldogs sweep Badgers at Moose Madness
BONNERS FERRY — It speaks volumes about the much-improved Sandpoint girls basketball team that they took care of business on the night before the biggest game of their season to date.
Hailey Olin poured in a game-high 18 points, knocking down 4-5 daggers from beyond the arc, to lead the Bulldogs to a 48-40 win over the Badgers on Friday night during the Moose Madness spirit games at Bonners Ferry High School.
The Bulldogs (9-6) trailed the No. 4 ranked 3A team in the state by two at half, before a decisive 15-8 third quarter run blew the game open. While the spirit game was meaningful, it pales in comparison to tonight’s 4A Inland Empire League tilt with Moscow. It would have been easy for the Bulldogs to look past the Badgers and save something for the Bears, but instead they dominated the second half en route to the nonleague win.
“It took 30 minutes to calm down and play Bulldog basketball,” described Bulldogs head coach Bill Bender, whose team went 10-12 from the foul line. “But in the end, two key rebounds and a steady diet of 100 percent free throw shooting did in a valiant Badger effort.”
Jordan Speelmon dished out six assists, Madi Schoening scored 11 points and picked up three steals and Cassie Young added eight points for the Bulldogs.
Aubree Wasmer scored a team-high 12 points, and Abby Skeen was 6-9 from the free throw line to lead the Badgers (10-3) in defeat.
The noise level registered at more than 115 decibels during the spirit competition, which featured a battle of the bands, dance teams, cheerleaders and choirs, to say nothing of screaming students.
Sandpoint hosts Moscow tonight in a huge league game. Moscow and Sandpoint have both beaten Lakeland, and the winner of tonight’s game will gain the inside edge to the all-important home court advantage for the double-elimination district tournament, where travel is a factor.
Sandpoint 9 9 15 15 — 48
Bonners Ferry 8 12 8 12 — 40
SANDPOINT — Young 8, Liband 0, Olin 18, Speelmon 0, Williams 0, Corless 5, Martin 0, Schoening 11, Delgado 0, Alamillo 6.
BONNERS FERRY — Foster 0, Hill 4, Merritt 4, Merrifield 0, Oxford 6, Skeen 6, Wasmer 12, Woods 8.
• Alsager, Edwards lead Bulldogs over Badgers
BONNERS FERRY — Playing loose and confident, Sandpoint jumped out to a commanding 43-23 halftime lead and cruised to a 68-46 win over Bonners Ferry on Friday night at the Moose Madness spirit game.
Thomas Edwards and T.J. Alsager dominated inside the paint, combining for 27 points and 13 rebounds, as the Bulldogs broke through for their second win of the season.
“We really needed a win,” said Bulldogs head coach Tyler Haynes. “For us it’s mental, just learning to play for 32 minutes at a level we need to play at.”
Collin Jurenka, Jeremiah Gagnon and Nathan Schwartz each added nine points for the Bulldogs (2-10), who got a big confidence boost heading into tonight’s 4A IEL home opener against Moscow.
Garrett Skeen scored 14 points to lead the Badgers (3-7) in defeat.
Moscow beat Lakeland 63-54 in the 4A North opener, and Sandpoint will be looking to gain the early edge in the race to host districts with a win tonight.
Sandpoint 21 22 16 9 — 68
Bonners Ferry 15 8 9 14 — 46
SANDPOINT — Jurenka 9, Rodriguez 2, Timothy 1, Couch 0, Schwarz 9, Nelson 3, Gagnon 9, Edwards 14, Alsager 13, Lutz 5.
BONNERS FERRY — I. Price 4, Skeen 14, Fitch 5, Pluid 0, Woods 9, Evans 4, Moe 8, Farrens 2. K. Price 0.