Spalding, Gagnon earn All-IEL hoops honors

SANDPOINT — One was a scoring machine, the other a high percentage post player, and both represent Sandpoint on the 4A All-Inland Empire League boys basketball team, as voted on recently by the league’s coaches.

Junior post player Cooper Spalding was named Newcomer of the Year, mostly on the strength of shooting 52 percent from the field while averaging six points per game, featuring a polished offensive repertoire on the blocks.

“I thought that Cooper really developed during the season. As he became more comfortable as a varsity player his productivity really increased,” said Bulldogs head coach Tyler Haynes. “Teams began to double team him by the end of the season. With a solid off season, he should make even greater strides as a player. The sky is the limit for him.”

Senior shooting guard Jeremiah Gagnon averaged 21 points a game and led the league in scoring. He shot 48 percent from the field and 40 percent from three. Able to do damage from beyond the arc, driving to the rim and off the pull up jumper, he lit up the scoreboard on most nights despite being the focal point of opposing defenses.

“At one point at the end of the season against Post Falls, Moscow and Lake City, Jeremiah scored 28, 29 and 28 points,” recalled Haynes. “It was as good an offensive display as I have ever seen.”

ALL-INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE TEAM

MVP — Tyrel Derrick, jr., Lakeland

Coach of the Year — Aaron Dail, Moscow

Newcomer of the Year — Cooper Spalding, jr., Sandpoint

MOSCOW — Adam Gresch, sr., Jack Akey, jr., Nick Ellison, sr. LAKELAND — Derek Bayley, sr. SANDPOINT — Jeremiah Gagnon, sr.