Bulldogs fall to Tigers in OT to open season

SANDPOINT — Brayden Menti scored a game-high 25 points, none more important that his game-winning runner from six feet out with seconds left in overtime, leading Timberlake to a 59-58 win over Sandpoint in a thrilling season opener for both teams in nonleague boys basketball Tuesday night at Les Rogers Court.

The Tigers (1-0) capitalized on some key turnovers by Sandpoint late in the game to force overtime, then went to their senior trailing by one late in overtime and he delivered, giving new head coach Michael Scott his first win at Timberlake.

“They played with a lot of heart, they weren’t going to give up,” said Scott, whose team trailed by 10 at half. “We had some first game jitters, but they wanted it.”

Patrick Rockwell scored 18 points, including nine in a big fourth quarter run, to lead the Bulldogs (0-1), who could not hold a late lead down the stretch to put the game away.

Robbie Johnson pulled down a career-high 15 boards to go with seven points, Taran McLaughlin hit three shots from beyond the arc and Spencer Thompson stuck a pair of 3-pointers among his 12 points in defeat.

“The kids played hard,” said a disappointed Bulldogs head coach Kent Leiss, who was playing three sophomores and a freshman. “We’re inexperienced, and it showed. We’re not in tip top shape yet.”

Sandpoint is at Kellogg on Tuesday.

Timberlake 9 12 17 17 4 — 59

Sandpoint 21 10 8 16 3 — 58

TIMBERLAKE — Hardy 3, Dickinson 0, Ostler 6, Cramer 0, James 10, Counts 2, Sommers 6, Menti 25, Jessen 2, Hausladen 5.

SANDPOINT — Thompson 12, Moore 0, McLaughlin 10, Dunton 5, Rockwell 18, Jones 0, Johnson 7, Stockton 4, Roos 2.