Bulldogs improve a ton in loss

COEUR d’ALENE — Lake City beat Sandpoint for the second time in 11 days Tuesday night.

But this one was nothing like the Timberwolves’ 29-point victory at Sandpoint.

The visiting Bulldogs fell behind early, but steadily fought back before Lake City hung on for a 42-38 nonleague victory.

Keara Simpson scored nine points for Lake City (2-2), and Payton Barber, Klaire Mitchell and Chloe Teets each added eight. Teets and Barber each hit two 3-pointers for the Timberwolves, who were 6 for 17 behind the arc.

Grace Kirscher scored a game-high 22 points for Sandpoint (0-3), which played without four projected starters, three due to injury.

“We came back and actually had a chance to tie it up or get the lead,” Sandpoint coach Duane Ward said. “But we couldn’t get that bucket — or, on that free throw, couldn’t get that rebound.”

Dejah Wilson had eight rebounds for Lake City, including a big one near the end of the game to keep possession for Lake City. Mitchell had three steals and six deflections.

Kirscher had eight rebounds, Calli Laybourne seven and Ciera Bailey five for Sandpoint. Bailey also chipped in nine points, and after scoring six in the opener, is proving a solid scoring option.

“Our main goal (after earlier losses to Lake City and Post Falls) was to not back down from anybody,” Ward said. “We felt we were soft, so we worked in practice to develop a tougher attitude. We challenged them, and I was proud of the way they responded.”

Sandpoint is at St. Maries on Tuesday.

Sandpoint 4 13 10 11 — 38

Lake City 14 12 7 9 — 42

SANDPOINT — Bailey 9, Edwards 0, Morgan 2, Driggs 5, Larson 0, Laybourne 0, Steiger 0, Kirscher 22, Petit 0.

LAKE CITY — Barber 8, Mitchell 8, Teets 8, Muehlhausen 1, Hawkins 5, Wilson 3, Halliday 0, Rewers 0, Simpson 9.