Local hoops season comes to an end
SANDPOINT — A lot of cool stuff happened in 1982.
The Commodore 64 computer was launched, ushering in the computer age. Chariots of Fire won best picture, and most movie buffs can still hum the theme song. Sony launched the first CD player, which was no doubt used to play Michael Jackson’s new release "Thriller", which went on to become the highest selling album of all time.
Stamps were 20 cents, and gas was a buck and a quarter per gallon.
Old school hoopsters Norm Nixon, Jamaal Wilkes and Magic led the Lakers to the NBA title over the venerable Dr. J, the sweet-shooting Andrew Toney, Caldwell Jones and the 76ers. Dwyane Wade was born.
And closer to home, the Sandpoint girls basketball team won the district championship, eventually finishing second in the A-1 state tournament, then the highest classification in the state.
Team members included Diann Hamann, Johna Krum, Tracy Anderson, Linda Jones, Jeri Self, Karen Campbell, Ann Zelinski, Regan Dolsby, Barbie VanDenBerg, Michelle Chastain, Susan Hubbard and manager Loriann Strandy.
The team was coached by Bob Hamilton, who got sick after the 13th game. Assistant coach Ron Hunt stepped in and capably stewarded a run to the state title game.
Why the stroll down memory lane? Because when this year’s edition of the Bulldog girls claimed the district title, it was the first time in more than three decades.
The season ended with heartbreak in the state playoffs, when a 3-pointer at the buzzer ended their season. Despite the rough ending, it was a breakout year for the program, playing its best season in a decade.
Had Burley not hit the game-winning 3-pointer, Sandpoint senior Nikole Alamillo would have been the hero of the game, having hit the basket that put Sandpoint up two points. Alamillo came on strong down the stretch, helping the team overcome the injury to starting post Cassie Young early in the season.
Hailey Olin, a four-year starter, was justly rewarded with a trip to state. Senior Maryah Delgado featured one of the sweetest shooting strokes in the Inland Empire League. Sophomore Madi Schoening was the energizer bunny, providing frenetic defense and the ability to attack in the open court and finish with either hand.
The program, under the guidance of Bill Bender, is on solid footing, and it’s a safe bet the gap between trips to state will be much shorter moving forward.
On the boys side, the season ended with a tough loss to Lakeland in the single elimination district tournament. But after winning just two games the year before, the new-look Bulldogs quadrupled that number.
Even in defeat, it was an entertaining, run-and-gun style of hoops, with games routinely reaching the 60s and 70s.
Senior Jeremiah Gagnon emerged as one of the most explosive scorers in the Inland Empire League, boasting a handful of 25 plus point games, including one where he drained seven 3-pointers. Chase Rodriguez had several highlight-reel blocks, pinning a couple high on the backboard.
Local fans can now get their hoops fix cheering for the Zags, whose highly skilled bigs and four guard lineups could make for an interesting NCAA tournament.