Bulldogs amp up the pressure in opener

SANDPOINT — As advertised, the Bulldogs used full court defensive pressure, an up-tempo offense and balanced scoring, running past the Spartans 73-24 in a nonleague boys basketball season opener on Tuesday night at Les Rogers Court.

Carlos Collado scored a game-high 11 points, and Dylan Kuzmich and Davan Norris each hit two 3-pointers and combined for 19 points, as the Bulldogs (1-0) put up 30 points in the second quarter to take a commanding 51-16 halftime lead.

Matt Timothy, Cooper Spalding and Troy Mitton all scored eight points, as constant full court pressure made it tough for the Spartans to get into their offensive sets.

“We wanted to press full court for the entire game. We’ve been working hard at conditioning, but we’re still not in game shape,” said head coach Kent Leiss, picking up his first win at Sandpoint. “I liked our effort and defensive intensity. It was a good first game.”

Sandpoint continually subbed five players at a time, a platoon system more common in hockey, playing at a frenetic pace for three and four minute stretches. Broc Coppess drew some ooohs and aaahs from the crowd with a slick behind the back pass for a lay up, also scoring seven points and bringing great length to the floor defensively.

Marcus Mathews led the Spartans (0-1) with nine points, as the young team struggled to find an answer for the end line to end line pressure.

“Sandpoint is a big, physical team, and we haven’t had the time in the gym,” said first year Spartans coach Nick Ivie. “It was a learning experience going up against a strong, aggressive team.”

The fourth quarter was played with a running clock.

The Bulldogs are at the Pendleton Tournament on Friday and Saturday.

Priest River 6 10 6 3 — 24

Sandpoint 21 30 14 8 — 73

PRIEST RIVER — Clark 3, Slinger 2, Anselmo 0, Storro 0, Holman 2, Luckey 0, Simpkins 4, Mathews 9, Bacon 0, Campbell 0, Huddleston 4.

SANDPOINT — Timothy 8, Bilyeau 2, Aguirre 2, Spalding 8, Norris 9, Sundquist 5, Kuzmich 10, Coppess 7, Mitton 8, Speakman 3, Collado 11, Perry 0.