Bulldogs fall at day two of state tournament

Unable to overcome 14-3 edge in pivotal third quarter

MERIDIAN — Sandpoint once again started strong at the 4A state girls basketball tournament on Friday, but an ice-cold third quarter proved costly, as the Bulldogs lost 44-36 to Minico in the consolation bracket at Mountain View High School, ending their tournament on the second day for the second year in a row.

Minico jumped out to an early 9-4 lead, before four straight points from Bulldog sophomore Dawson Driggs cut the lead to 9-8 to close the first quarter. Driggs finished with eight points, three rebounds and two steals while pushing the ball in transition.

The Bulldogs (14-10) built a 20-14 lead late in the second quarter after a Trinity Golder 3-pointer and two free throws from Driggs, before Minico hit a 3-pointer in the final seconds to go into half trailing 20-17.

Grace Kirscher converted a 3-point play early in the third for another six point Bulldog lead at 23-17, but Minico (18-9) would reel off the next 14 points to take an eight point lead, as the Bulldogs failed to score for the rest of a pivotal, cold-shooting third quarter. Kirscher capped a stellar Sandpoint career by posting 11 points, six rebounds, two assists and two blocks in her final game, having eclipsed the 1,300 point mark.

Kirscher sank a three to cut the Minico lead to 38-30 with four minutes remaining in the fourth, and Golder hit two long range shots after that to pull the Bulldogs to 40-36 with two minutes remaining.

After a stop, the Bulldogs had two great looks from beyond the arc by Golder and Mattila to cut the lead to one, but both rimmed out with just under one minute left. Minico made their late free throws to put the game away.

Golder finished with eight points and two steals, Katherine Kaul four points and two steals, Ciera Bailey three points and four rebounds and Mattila three boards and two steals in their final games as seniors.

Minico’s Saydi Anderson led her team with 14 points, and blanketed Kirscher for much of the night with tight defense. All told there were seven lead changes in the game, with each team posting some big runs.

Sandpoint finished 4 of 16 from beyond the arc and 12 of 44 overall from the field. For the second straight game, the Bulldogs tallied 12 steals as a team, showing the strong perimeter defense they’re known for.

Sandpoint 8 12 3 13 — 36

Minico 9 8 14 13 — 44

SANDPOINT — Mattila 2, Yunek 0, Bailey 3, Edwards 0, Morgan 0, Driggs 8, Kaul 4, Larson 0, Laybourne 0, Golder 8, Anderson 0, Kirscher 11, Petit 0.

MINICO — Merrill 12, Anderson 14, Baliola 2, Harper 10, Robinson 3, Vorwaller 3.