Hot shooting Bulldogs run past Lumberjacks

SANDPOINT — Grace Kirscher posted 22 points, five rebounds, four steals and three blocks, and the Bulldogs were firing on all cylinders in a 70-39 dispatching of St. Maries on Thursday night in nonleague girls basketball at Les Rogers Court.

The hot-shooting Bulldogs (3-4) jumped out early and never seemed to slow down, riding a 24-10 third quarter to a running clock in the fourth quarter after leading by more than 30 to start the final frame.

After beating the 2A Lumberjacks 56-54 in the first meeting on a late basket, the Bulldogs changed some things up offensively and the results were decidedly better the second time around.

“We shot well and they were more patient. We simplified the offense and made it easier, quit trying to do too much,” said Bulldog head coach Duane Ward of the difference in the two meetings. “The energy was good tonight. We weren’t tentative and capitalized on turnovers. The young kids played well.”

Ciera Bailey continues to emerge as a scoring threat to complement Kirscher, dropping in 16 points with a pair of 3-pointers, sophomore Maddie Morgan drained four from beyond the arc for her dozen points, and sophomore Dawson Driggs added nine points and four boards in the win.

Kaylee Auer dropped in 14, and Lauryn Hill hit two 3-pointers among her eight points in defeat for the Lumberjacks.

Sandpoint hosts Bonners Ferry on Saturday.

St. Maries 10 13 10 7 — 39

Sandpoint 19 21 24 6 — 70

St.MARIES — Sines 0, Borgman 2, Haeg 6, Cordell 3, Hill 8, Davenport 0, Becktel 4, Wilson 2, Auer 14.

SANDPOINT — Bailey 16, Edwards 2, Morgan 12, Driggs 9, Kaul 0, Larson 2, Laybourne 4, Kirscher 22, Petit 3.