Cold shooting dooms Bulldogs in state loss

BOISE — Facing the defending state champions Diamondbacks, the Bulldogs knew they would need to shoot well and try and score in transition to advance past Century in the semis of the 4A state girls basketball tournament Friday night at Timberline High School in Boise. 

Unfortunately for the Bulldogs (14-10), they struggled to do either, going cold from the field in a 41-28 loss to the Diamondbacks (20-4) and falling into the consolation round.

Madi Schoening led the Bulldogs with 11 points to go with six rebounds, three assists and three steals, but Sandpoint was unable to get out and run in transition and never seemed to find its rhythm in the half court offense, trailing 19-11 at half in a defensive battle.

Grace Kirscher added 10 points, three rebounds and two steals, Riley Couch five points and two steals, and freshman Grace Hicks had a strong game inside with eight rebounds and three blocks in defeat.

Century, the No. 2 ranked 4A team in the state, held a 15-6 edge in the third quarter to push the lead to comfortable double digits. The Bulldogs finished the game just 2 of 27 from beyond the arc, and 7 of 42 from the field overall, unable to put their usual runs together. The defense was there, yielding just 41 points, but the Diamondbacks also played some stingy defense, holding the Bulldogs to single digits in the first three quarters.

Sandpoint will face No. 1 ranked Minico, which lost 52-50 to Bishop Kelly in the other semi, in the third place game today at 10 a.m. at Timberline High School.

Century 11 8 15 7 — 41

Sandpoint 6 5 6 11 — 28

CENTURY — Rawlings 6, Hiller 10, Christensen 8, Packham 8, Behrend 5, Njoku 4.

SANDPOINT — Schoening 11, Converse 0, Ward 0, Couch 5, Hicks 2, Kirscher 10, Darling 0.