Fourth quarter dooms Bulldogs in loss
COEUR d’ALENE — Grace Kirscher led the Bulldogs with 16 points and nine rebounds, but a poor fourth quarter ultimately proved the difference, as Sandpoint lost 44-35 to 5A Coeur d’Alene on Tuesday night in nonleague girls basketball at Elmer Jordan Court.
Trinity Golder added 13 points and five rebounds, and Grace Hick and Katherine Kaul two steals apiece for the Bulldogs (7-11), who led by two before getting outscored 17-6 in the fourth quarter.
“We weren’t really sharp, and it caught up to us in the fourth quarter. We started rushing things, instead of letting it come to us,” described Bulldog head coach Duane Ward, noting they were without injured Danika Tomazich and Audrey Matilla. “We need to work the ball around and be patient. We thought we had them, but we let it get away from us.”
Kelly Horning led the Vikings (7-9) with 12 points.
Sandpoint hosts St. Maries on Saturday.
Sandpoint 10 7 12 6 — 35
Coeur d’Alene 11 8 8 17 — 44
SANDPOINT — Mattila 2, Morgan 0, Ward 2, Laybourne 2, Golder 13, Hicks 0, Kirscher 16.
COEUR d’ALENE — Minerath 2, Morton 3, Fagan 11, Horning 12, Kane 3, Louden 8, Hollibaugh 6.
n Wallace 43, Clark Fork 30
WALLACE — Brooke Stevens had a big game with 14 points, seven rebounds and three steals, but the Wampus Cats had a couple of lulls that proved costly, falling 43-31 to Wallace in North Star League girls basketball Tuesday night at Wallace High School.
Tessa Sutton added eight points and seven boards, and Lily Simko five rebounds in defeat for the Wampus Cats (1-12, 1-5 NSL), who played even with the Miners for long stretches but once again had some rough stretches.
“We just run into those moments where we let them pull ahead a little,” said head coach Mark Stevens, who felt his team played with max effort. “We got within six in the second half. We’d make a little run and then let them back in it.”
Marissa Hogamier scored 17 points to lead Wallace (7-7, 4-2 NSL).
The Cats will make a return trip to the Silver Valley for a league tilt with Mullan on Thursday.
Clark Fork 7 11 7 5 — 30
Wallace 14 11 9 9 — 43
CLARK FORK — Stevens 14, Lambert 2, Crumpton 0, Young 0, Simko 2, Kiebert 4, T. Sutton 8.
n Hawks win first Battle of the Paddle
The inaugural spirit competition between 4A rivals Lakeland and Sandpoint went the Hawks way on Friday night, but just barely. The judged competition — which includes a basketball doubleheader, a wrestling dual, cheerleader, dance and band competitions among other things — was so close it came down to the final boys basketball game, which the Hawks won on a 3-pointer in the final seconds.
The Hawks obtained possession of the decorated paddle, signifying each schools proximity to Lake Pend Oreille, with Sandpoint on the North end and Lakeland near the south end.
Sandpoint athletic director Kris Knowles said the new spirit games, which replace Moose Madness, were a big hit in front of a capacity crowd.
“It came down to the winner of the final game took the whole thing. I love this new spirit competition and the atmosphere was amazing for all the students involved,” described Knowles, who sees the event blossoming. “I know the Battle for the Paddle will continue to grow and be the best spirit competition in the state.”