Bulldogs open state against No. 1 ranked Middleton

SANDPOINT — There is a checklist of criteria that applies to most teams contending for a state title, no matter what sport is being played.

A strong senior class? Check. Returning state experience? Check. A go-to player to lean on in crunch time? Check. Plenty of quality depth? Check.

The Bulldog girls check a lot of boxes, for sure, and that’s a great sign as they tip off the 4A Idaho State Girls Basketball Tournament today in Meridian. But it will take more than checks to contend for the program’s first ever state title, it will also take some grit, poise and luck, intangibles that are much tougher to measure.

Luckily for the Bulldogs, they’ve got a coach who is no stranger to state tournaments, as Duane Ward has guided past Bulldog teams to a second place finish, and a pair of recent third place finishes.

When the Bulldogs (14-8) open the tournament against a dangerous Middleton (18-6) squad, which was ranked No. 1 in the state in the final poll of the season, a host of players boast state experience, and that could be a big time edge under the pressure of state.

This is the fourth straight year Ward has taken a team down to state, and they’ve posted some solid wins and brought back trophies. You could argue this is the deepest and most talented team the Bulldogs have sent in years, and there’s a sense that a legitimate run could be in the cards.

“We felt we were in the hunt in the past, and we feel that way right now,” said Bulldogs head coach Duane Ward. “We can go down there and challenge all those teams, win some ball games.”

Leading the way will be senior do-everything guard Grace Kirscher, a four year starter who is no stranger to the state atmosphere. She’s been hot lately, having drained 11 3-pointers in her past two games, the 11th and 12 times she’s eclipsed 20 points this year. Middleton will no doubt have their stopper, and possibly some double teams on the Eastern Washington bound Kirscher.

Luckily the Bulldogs are sending a team with more offensive options than years past, with senior Audrey Mattila also making her fourth trip to state. Mattila came up huge in the clinching game against Moscow, scoring the first five points of the game, and also dropping five straight points in the third quarter, while also hitting three from long range.

With Trinity Golder and Maddie Morgan both dangerous shooters from the perimeter, and Dawson Driggs and Ciera Bailey great at slashing to the rim and finishing in the open court, the Bulldogs will be much tougher to defend this year. Katherine Kaul, Calli Laybourne, and Natalie Petit will also log valuable minutes, with the potential for three games in three days testing the bench.

Experience is huge at state, which goes a long way when it comes to conquering nerves, and the Bulldogs have it in spades. Both Kirscher and Mattila didn’t mince words after winning districts, saying the Bulldogs are heading down south with designs on claiming the school’s first ever state title.

Winning the first game is sometimes the toughest hurdle to winning state, and the Bulldogs will have their hands full with the top-ranked Vikings, the second place team from the 4A Southern Idaho Conference. Middleton faced six 5A opponents in nonleague play, going 3-3 with quality wins against Boise, Borah and Rocky Mountain.

Sandpoint is also no stranger to tough competition, playing five games against 5A opponents, going 1-4 with a win over Coeur d’Alene and respectable scores in most of the games. Factor in another two games against 3A Timberlake, which might just be the second best team in North Idaho, and the schedules and results of each team are fairly even on paper.

Tipoff is 2 p.m. PST at Mountain View High School in Meridian.

Bob Witte will call all of the state games live on AM 1400.