Get to know Sandpoint's Eagle Classic opponents

Just like it has in years past, the 2018 Eagle Classic will be a prime opportunity for both Sandpoint basketball teams.

For the girls, the Eagle Classic could spark a turnaround before league play. Meanwhile on the boys’ side, the Bulldogs can build on momentum from their four-game winning streak against tough out-of-state competition.

Nevertheless, here’s an overview of the five teams slated to face Sandpoint’s girls and boys basketball teams in the Eagle Classic.

GIRLS

Friday: Prosser (WA), 3:30 p.m.

Saturday: Cheney (WA), 9 a.m.

The young Sandpoint Bulldogs will have to hit the ground running against a 6-2 Prosser squad in the first Eagle Classic matchup.

Senior Marissa Cortes is bold, underlined and italicized on Prosser’s scouting report. Cortes, a two-time Central Washington Athletic Conference Player of the Year, will be a handful for Sandpoint’s backcourt: The 1,000-point scorer is a quick, aggressive driver who plays at high-intensity on both ends of the floor. But she isn’t just a scorer. Despite standing at 5’4”, Cortes is one of the Mustangs’ better rebounders, and her ability to create turnovers has been important for Prosser thus far.

Not to be labeled as a one-woman show, Prosser has also been aided by the play of senior Madison Golden, who has been a consistent secondary scoring threat this year. Golden averages 10.5 points per game, and has been the anchor for the Mustangs in the post.

As if the tandem wasn’t enough of a handful, Cortes’ younger sister Malia Cortes has provided an offensive spark when needed.

If there’s a fly in the ointment, then it’s Prosser’s strength of schedule.

The Mustangs’ resume ranks No. 21 out of 64 2A teams, according to WIAA’s RPI rankings. Three of Prosser’s wins have come against one-win teams, and they’ve only beat one school with a winning record.

Speaking of teams without winning records, Saturday opponent Cheney will limp into the Eagle Classic in search of its third win.

Since shellacking Rogers 75-8 (not a typo) in the season opener, the Blackhawks lost five straight games by an average of 14.2 points, then eked out a 74-71 win over Shadle Park. It goes without saying that Cheney is Sandpoint’s best shot at a tournament win.

But there’s a catch.

The Blackhawks’ strength of schedule is No. 19 amongst 2A teams, per the WIAA. They’ve played defending 5A IHSAA champs Post Falls, 2A WIAA fourth-place finishers East Valley and 1A WIAA state qualifiers Freeman so far — and this doesn’t include 7-0 Clarkston. To say Cheney has been through the ringer would be an understatement.

Despite this, the Blackhawks have been propelled by junior guard Maggie Smith, who is building on last season’s All-Great Northern League second team campaign by scoring 13.8 points per game. Look for Smith to be matched up with either Dawson Driggs or Izzo Edwards, two of Sandpoint’s best defenders.

BOYS

Friday: Davenport (WA) or Liberty (WA), 1:30 p.m.

Saturday: Shadle Park (WA), 10:30 a.m.

Thanks to a scheduling quirk, Sandpoint’s first Eagle Classic game could be against one of two starkly different teams.

Behind door number one awaits a 2-5 Davenport team that not only has one senior on the roster, but also has yet to score more than 53 points in a game.

Behind door number two, a 6-3 Liberty team led senior forward Isaak Ottmar’s 23.6 points per game lurks. Playing them would be less than ideal.

As for Saturday’s opponent, Shadle Park’s season might sound familiar.

Coming off a 5-14 season, the Highlanders (5-3) are experiencing a significant turnaround under first-year head coach Arnold Brown, who has already matched last year’s win total in his first month on the job. Like Sandpoint, Shadle Park’s season really gained momentum with a three-game winning streak over a week-long span. Coincidentally, this winning streak included three, single-digit wins.

Most of the Highlanders’ production comes from seniors DaMarius Brown (15.1 points per game) and Eastern Washington commit Jake Groves (14.8 points per game), both of whom are responsible for nearly half of Shadle Park’s points.

Brown is a quintessential combo guard: He does most of his damage by drawing contact inside the arc and earning his points on the free-throw line. His drive-and-dish ability benefits Groves, who thrives behind the arc. The 6’8” senior wing has hit 13 threes so far and will likely be one of the best players the Bulldogs face because of his ability to create mismatches and play inside-out.

Unsurprisingly, the Highlanders struggle when either player has an off night.

Even though Brown scored in double-figures during Shadle Park’s current two-game losing streak, Groves has failed to make a three. Granted, losing to defending 4A WIAA state champs Gonzaga Prep is excusable, but losing to Cheney was less so.

The last-second loss to Cheney accentuated Shadle Park’s flaws: Highlanders are not a second-half team. Shadle Park averages 35.4 points in first half, but only 31 in the second, per MaxPreps. That second-half figure would look better without the third quarter — an area in which the Highlanders have struggled this season. Against Cheney, Shadle Park managed only 24 points in the second frame.

So if the Bulldogs weather Shadle Park’s hot start and work their usual second-half magic, then this game could be up for grabs.