Norris has the hot hand in Bulldog win

PRIEST RIVER — Davan Norris scored 22 of his game-high 33 points in the first half as the Bulldogs hung on to a 54-48 nonleague win over Priest River Friday night at Spartan Arena. Norris eclipsed 30 points for the second time this season.

Paul Sundquist and Carlos Collado knocked down a pair of clutch free throws late to seal the win for Sandpoint (5-10), which jumped out to an early 21-7 lead. Sundquist finished with five points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals in a strong all-around game.

“It was a tale of two halves,” Bulldogs coach Kent Leiss said. “The first half was the best half we’ve had offensively all season then the second half was the reverse. We looked tired and committed dumb fouls which gave Priest River the confidence to make it a game late.”

The coach added that Norris, his strong senior point guard who made 12 of 20 shots and 4 of 6 from long range, played a great game but the team had to rely on him too much. Norris had his first double-double of the season with 10 rebounds.

“That’s too much of the offense when he scores 33 and the rest of the team scores 21,” said Leiss.

Hunter Hartwig scored 13 points to go with seven boards and Andrew Jeter added 12 points to lead the late charge by the Spartans. Kobie Haggerty hit a huge three late after coming off the bench cold to bring the score within four points and 24 seconds to play.

Collado scored eight points and Patrick Rockwell pitched in six for Sadpoint, which plays at Post Falls on Thursday, Feb. 4 at 7 p.m.

Priest River, 7-7, travels to Genesis Prep today.

Sandpoint 21 14 9 10 — 54

Priest River 7 14 12 15 — 48

SANDPOINT - Norris 33, Curtiss 2, Collado 8, Sundquist 5, Perry 0, Rockwell 6, Davis 0.

PRIEST RIVER - Storro 0, Clark 5, Anselmo 2, Holman 0, Hartwig 13, Haggerty 3, Luckey 6, Simpkins 1, Jeter 12, Huddleston 6.