Bulldog girls grind out win

KELLOGG — Sandpoint has shown the ability to win track meets, and on Tuesday night, it showed the ability to win a tractor pull, grinding out a 27-24 defensive slugfest over Kellogg in nonleague girls basketball at Andrews Gymnasium.

Madi Schoening scored nine points, the first time all season she’s failed to score at least 27, to go with 11 rebounds and six steals, and the Bulldogs (5-1) once again leaned on a stingy 3-2 zone defense to hold the Wildcats (7-1) to single digits in every quarter. Elani Williams added nine points, six boards and six steals, Riley Couch four points and four dimes, and the Bulldogs did just enough to hand the Wildcats their first loss.

“The kids played really good defense. It was a real physical game, and the kids had a hard time adjusting to it,” said Bulldogs head coach Duane Ward. “Elani had a good game, and Lily Martin really stepped up. It was good for us, it’s the sign of a good, solid ball club to play a game like that and find a way to win.”

Assistant coach Will Love praised the play of Kellogg, one of the stronger 3A teams in the state, in defeat.

“They’re always pretty gritty and tough,” said Love. “It was nice to pull that one out.”

Sandpoint travels to Lake City on Friday, looking for the season sweep of the 5A power.

Sandpoint 6   8   9   4 — 27

Kellogg     6   2   7   9 — 24

SANDPOINT — Williams 8, Schoening 9, Converse 0, Robertson 0, Ward 0, Martin 5, Couch 4, Kirscher 1, Bluemer 0.

KELLOGG — Arthur 0, Wendt 4, Golob 0, Lo 7, Zisk 3, Sheppard 0, Chambers 6, Bumgardner 0, Bircher 4, Miller 0.