Balanced Bulldogs blister Hawks in league play
(Photo by JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY) Freshman Maddie Morgan has added some scoring punch, dropping in a season high seven points on Tuesday night as the Bulldogs routed the Hawks.
SANDPOINT — Stifling defense and balanced scoring were instrumental in the Bulldogs dismantling the Hawks 62-21 in 4A Inland Empire League girls basketball Tuesday night at Les Rogers Court.
Grace Kirscher led the Bulldogs (9-11, 3-0 4A IEL) with 20 points, eight assists, four blocks and four steals, and made three shots from beyond the arc as she hit the 20 point mark for the eighth time this season.
Trinity Golder added 11 points and three assists, but what had Bulldogs head coach Duane Ward most excited was the solid play of everyone around his high scoring guards. Taylor Ward tallied eight points and seven rebounds, Maddie Morgan seven points and Calli Laybourne six, and Grace Hicks swatted three shots to go with five points.
Morgan and fellow freshman Dawson Driggs were thrust into varsity action recently when the Bulldogs lost Audrey Matilla, Danika Tomazich and Mya Darling to injury.
“Our freshman are coming up and playing well for us, which is critical to give other kids some rest,” said Ward, who was happy to see more people involved offensively. “The other kids aren’t deferring, they’re stepping up and looking to score.”
Taylor Elpers scored six to lead the Hawks (2-17, 0-4 4A IEL), who did well on the offensive glass but had trouble making put backs.
Sandpoint is at Moscow on Saturday in the regular season finale, looking to earn the No. 1 seed at the district tournament.
Lakeland 2 9 6 4 — 21
Sandpoint 15 18 20 9 — 62
LAKELAND — Cooper 3, Schnepf 2, Loutzenhiser 0, Edinger 2, Farris 4, Taylor Elpers 6, Kirk 2, Charles 0, Boyer 0, Dowd 2.
SANDPOINT — Morgan 7, Driggs 1, Kaul 4, Ward 8, Laybourne 6, Golder 11, Hicks 5, Kirscher 20.