Bulldogs fall to defending champs in opener
(Photo by JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY) Senior Grace Kirscher led the Bulldogs in defeat, tallying 22 points, four steals and four blocks against Middleton in the state opener, but the rest of the team only scored 13 in defeat.
(Photo by JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY) Senior Ciera Bailey finished with seven points and five steals for the Bulldogs in a loss to the Vikings on Thursday.
MERIDIAN — Sandpoint came out swinging early, hanging with defending state champion Middleton for a half, before a cold-shooting second half proved the difference in the opener of the 4A state girls basketball tournament Thursday at Mountain View High School, with the Vikings pulling away for a 46-35 win.
The Vikings (19-6), who were ranked No. 1 in the final 4A poll before falling to Bishop Kelley in the district championship to slot into the No. 2 team from their district, jumped out to an early 9-0 just over two minutes into the game.
Sandpoint senior Grace Kirscher then went to work, scoring 10 of her game-high 22 points to pull the Bulldogs (14-9) even at 12-12 at the end of the first. Three pointers from Kirscher, Trinity Golder and Maddie Morgan gave the Bulldogs a brief 23-19 second quarter lead, before the Vikings closed the half on a 6-0 run and two point halftime lead.
“We had a tough go tonight. We got in the hole right off the bat, but our kids came back well,” said Bulldogs head coach Duane Ward. “We played really well defensively, our effort was outstanding.”
Kirscher finished with four rounds, four steals, four blocks and three assists, and Ciera Bailey nabbed five steals and Morgan and Audrey Mattila two each as the Bulldogs’ defense kept them in the game for three quarters with the help of 12 steals. The Bulldogs finished 5 of 18 from beyond the arc, as Middleton held the Bulldogs to just 12 second half points to put the game away.
“We shot 33 percent, and missed some key shots at key moments. We were in the game all the way to the very end. The game was closer than what the score indicated,” claimed Ward. “The kids fought hard and represented Sandpoint very well. To come back like that against the defending state champs is quite a credit to these kids.”
Middleton, which owns a state record six 4A titles, pressured the Bulldogs into some empty possessions, as turnovers killed momentum in the second half. Lexi Mitchell, a returning all-state player, scored 13 to lead the Vikings, who also did a lot of damage on the offensive glass.
The Bulldogs trailed by eight with 6:20 left, when Ward called the team’s final timeout. Bailey had a steal and went coast to coast to cut the lead to 38-32 with 3:30 left, and her free throw with two minutes left cut it to 40-35, before the Vikings made their free throws down the stretch.
“Middleton is very well coached, very physical and big, and they made it tough on us with put backs,” conceded Ward, whose team will now try and claim a fourth place trophy. “We’re going to regroup, come back tomorrow and give it everything we’ve got.”
Sandpoint will face Minico (17-9), which lost 52-39 to Century, in the consolation bracket today, with tip off at 12:15 p.m. at Mountain View High School.
Sandpoint 12 11 7 5 — 35
Middleton 12 13 9 12 — 46
SANDPOINT — Mattila 0, Bailey 7, Morgan 3, Driggs 0, Kaul 0, Layborne 0, Golder 3, Kirscher 22, Petit 0.
MIDDLETON — Mitchell 13, Deugan 8, Moore 13, Davis 2, Robinett 10.