Clark Fork outlasts Priest River

Clark Fork withstood a late run by Priest River to win a hard-fought 28-22 game at Priest River on Friday.

Both teams were not only undermanned, but also relied on stingy zone defenses to wear out each other.

“We preach defense — offense is secondary,” Clark Fork head coach Jordan Adams said. “In my opinion, low-scoring games are always my goal.”

Adams’s goal was achieved on Friday night thanks to a defensive effort that forced 21 turnovers and held Priest River to 0-8 shooting behind the arc.

Although Priest River kept pace for the first half and forced turnovers to counter the Wampus Cats, the Spartans were missing the spark on offense that Makia Fitzmorris usually provides. Fitzmorris was on a family vacation, and should miss the next game against Wallace as well.

“We probably could’ve used [Fitzmorris] and her scoring ability tonight,” Priest River head coach Morgan Douglas said. “Overall, everyone struggled from the outside and the inside. Sometimes we have those games where we go cold, and this one of them.”

Clark Fork led by as many as 6 in the second half, but couldn’t capitalize. The Wampus Cats’ offense stalled, leaving the door open for the Spartans to stage a comeback.

The Spartans pulled within four points with two minutes to play; Priest River was held to three-straight empty possessions — two missed threes and one turnover. Clark Fork senior Ellie Lambert’s two free throws with 30 seconds left put the game away for good.

“They’re good under pressure,” Adams said of her Wampus Cats, in which four of the players that suited up for Friday night’s game were seniors. “This group of girls just happens to play well under pressure. And I don’t think that’s something you can teach. That’s something that comes from the inside.”

Clark Fork senior Ali Sutton led all scorers with eight points while also chipping in five rebounds and two steals. Karah Fink was the Spartans’ leading scorer for the fifth straight game. Her final line was seven points and 15 rebounds.

Priest River (1-5) will make a quick turnaround by hosting Wallace tomorrow at 2:30 p.m.

Clark Fork (2-3) will take a break until Jan. 4 unless the Noxon and Genesis Prep games are rescheduled in the interim.

Clark Fork 6 7 5 10 — 28

Priest River 7 3 6 6 — 22

CLARK FORK — Stevens 4, Lambert 6, Kiebert 4, A. Sutton 8, Simko 3, T. Sutton 1.

PRIEST RIVER — Martin 5, Barnes 3, Minish 0, Kren 2, Fink 7, Rusho 0, Palfrey 3, Pound 0.