Speelmon sparks Bulldogs on Senior Night

SANDPOINT — Jordan Speelmon picked the perfect time to have her best game of the season, as the lone senior dished out seven assists to go with four points, leading Sandpoint to a 44-38 win over Timberlake during Senior Night at Les Rogers Court on Tuesday.

Freshman Madi Shoening scored a team-high 12 points, most coming by attacking the rim, and added six rebounds and three steals, while Hailey Olin scored nine to go with six rebounds and five assists for the Bulldogs (10-7), who didn’t put the game away until the final minute.

“It was Jordan’s best game as a senior,” said Bulldogs head coach Bill Bender. “She made all the right decisions and orchestrated what we needed to get done.”

The Bulldogs have been a strong third quarter team all season, and used a 16-8 edge in the frame to build a nine point lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Timberlake (2-13) mounted a fourth quarter comeback, keyed by consecutive 3-pointers by freshman Peyton Rhodes that cut the lead to 40-38 with 1:30 left. Sandpoint’s Kendra Corless then hit the biggest shot of the night, her second 3-pointer of the game, to stem the tide and ice the game.

Jessica Norlander scored 14 points, including 6-6 from the free throw line, to lead the Tigers in defeat. Head coach Matt Miller lauded his team’s toughness and ability to stick around.

“The last time they (Sandpoint) just out-toughed us in all aspects of the game,” said Miller. “I thought we met their physicality tonight and that kept us in it.”

Sandpoint is at Lakeland in a 4A North showdown on Thursday.

Timberlake  7   9    8    14 — 38

Sandpoint    8    9   16   11 — 44

TIMBERLAKE — George 3, Malloy 6, Rhodes 8, Hoffman 1, Fitzmorris 0, Norlander 14, Gibson 6, Gardom 0, Brillon 0, Hardy 0.

SANDPOINT — Schoening 12, Corless 9, Liband 2, Young 4, Alamillo 1, Speelmon 4, Williams 4, Martin 0, Olin 8, Delgado 0.