Brown, Fink, Fitzmorris lead Spartan girls to win in district soccer opener

RATHDRUM — Goals from Keona Brown and Karah Fink, along with solid goalkeeping from Makia Fitzmorris, helped the Spartans win their 3A district opener on Monday afternoon at Sunrise Rotary Fields in Rathdrum.

“We came out hard in the first half, and we played stronger than they did in the middle,” Priest River coach Rachel Davis said. “Our spacing was good and we got off to a great start.”

The Spartans (5-7-3) advance to a 4 p.m. Thursday district semifinal game against unbeaten Coeur d’Alene Charter. The winner of that match advances to Saturday’s district championship and to the 3A state tournament.

n Spartan girls blank Badgers, Wildcats

PRIEST RIVER — Priest River’s Makia Fitzmorris, Jasmine Martin and Liann Kren celebrated Senior Night in style with a 2-0 blanking of IML rival Bonners Ferry.

Junior Karah Fink blasted two goals to provide all of the scoring.

“This was senior night for us and the girls were excited about winning the game,” said Rachel Davis. “The best part of the game is when Bonners had a PK against us and Makia saved the goal by one hand while jumping in the air.”

First half — 1, PR, Karah Fink (unassisted), 13:00. Second half — 2, PR, Fink (unassisted), 70:00.

Saves — PR, Makia Fitzmorris, 4.

KELLOGG — Fitzmorris posted another shutout in goal, as the Spartans defense once again was stingy in a 4-0 win over Kellogg away game we won 4-0 in Intermountain League action.

The Spartans had great variety, as four different players found the back of the net.

“We had lots of shots on goal and we passed amazingly that night,” recalled Davis.

First half — 1, PR, Hannah Palfrey (Keona Brown), 13:00. 2, PR, Shayla Martinez (Brown), 24:00. Second half — 3, PR, Liann Kren (unassisted), 57:00. 4, Karah Fink (Martinez), 76:00.

Saves — PF, Fitzmorris, 10.

n Elijah Davis scores in loss

RATHDRUM — An early counter-attack goal by Isaac VanDomelan put the Bulldogs ahead three minutes into Monday’s 3A district tournament loser-out game, and a second-half scoring barrage helped Grangeville (5-8) top the Spartans 6-1.

Priest River’s Elijah Davis scored late in the second half off an assist from Zandyr Ayers. The Spartans finished with 12 shots on goal, and got 12 saves in goal.

“We fought to the end. This team is young with all but one returning next year,” said head coach Rob Lawler. “It has been a very exciting year to watch the team progress so much.

The Spartans netted a team record 21 goals on the season, despite playing almost entirely underclassmen. Cameron Bell led the way with 11 goals, while freshman Bowen Fegert scored four goals and dished out a team-high six dimes.

“We have laid a great foundation this year in our offense,” said Lawler. “We are building a defense with several freshmen playing key roles that were vacated by seniors the past two years.”

n Badgers blank Spartan boys

Even though his team was blanked 6-0 by Bonners Ferry in Intermountain League boys soccer action recently, Spartan boys head coach Rob Lawler felt his young team played with some grit in defeat.

The Badgers out-shot the Spartans 25-5, making for a busy night for the keeper.

The boys played with so much heart tonight, they made it a challenge on Bonners Ferry to score goals,” said Lawler. “It was a lot of fun to watch them play with so much determination. They demonstrated their ability to make plays throughout the night.”

n Randolph hammers 26 kills in pair of losses

SPIRIT LAKE — The host Tigers clinched at least a tie for the Intermountain League title, defeating the Spartans 25-17, 25-27, 25-18, 25-9.

McKeeley Tonkin had 20 assists, 12 digs, three kills and four aces for Timberlake (19-8, 6-0 IML). Natalie Randolph had 10 kills and two aces for Priest River (3-2 IML). Harlee Meek had 19 assists, Maggee Pankoke 30 digs and two aces, Dalanee Cook two blocks.

The Spartans (3-3 IML) followed the match against Timberlake by hosting Kellogg, falling 25-23, 25-21, 29-27, 27-25 in tightly contested action where closing out sets is imperative. The Spartans missed a season-high 11 serves, which proved costly in tight sets.

“We did not come in ready to play like we did on Tuesday,” said Spartans head coach Leslie Ritter-Meek. “Kellogg was hungry for this match and their play showed it. We did not play our best match. With that said we need to clean it up and play better volleyball against teams like this.”

Meek tallied 32 set assists, Randolph 16 Kills, three blocks and eight aces, and Pankoke 32 digs in defeat.

The Spartans host Coeur d’Alene Charter on Thursday for Senior Night, capping a busy week of three games.

n Spartans drop IML football opener

PRIEST RIVER — Joey Follini threw for 151 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another 42 yards and a score, powering the Timberlake Tigers (4-3, 1-0 IML) to a 38-8 win over the Priest River Spartans in the Intermountain League opener for both schools on Friday night.

Brandon McCracken hauled in a 17 yard touchdown catch from Caden Brennan, and Brennann ran in the two point conversion in the fourth quarter for Priest River (2-4, 0-1 IML).

Timberlake 12 6 14 6 — 38

Priest River 0 0 0 8 — 8

TL — Louis Powell 11 run (conversion failed)

TL — JT Wilfong 16 pass from Joey Follini (conversion failed)

TL — Chase Gardom 20 pass from Follini (conversion failed)

TL — Follini 9 run (conversion successful)

TL — Powell 3 run (conversion failed)

TL — Gardom 33 pass from Follini (conversion failed)

PR — Brandon McCracken 17 pass from Caden Brennan (Brennan run)

n Parkes, Rantala lead Spartans in Lewiston

LEWISTON — Cameron Parkes finished 40th in 17:11, leading the Spartan boys cross country team to a 16th place finish among 24 teams, including many 5A and 4A programs, as the Inland Empire Classic in Lewiston on Saturday, on the same course that state meet will be held on Oct. 27.

Caleb Gleason was 80th (18:04), Jordan Phillips 120th (18:48), Kaden Fulton 124th (18:53), Coner Berns 131st (19:10), Travis Matthews 137th (19:18) and Graden Hanes 154th (20:07) in a field of 180 runners.

“We want to get the momentum moving in to the post season with both the squads,” said Priest River head coach Lance Clark. “If the boys team keeps working hard and stays confident, they are ready for a big improvement in the upcoming weeks.”

Annika Rantala was 53rd in 20:58, and Erika Swoboda 62nd in 21:17 to lead the Spartan girls to a 12th place finish among 17 teams in the smaller school race.

Izzie Schmidt finished 75th (21:59), Amber Johnston 80th (22:06), Sharnai Hogan 98th (23:04), and Kymara Fulton 101st (23:11) in the field of 136 runners.

“The girls team had a great weekend. They hit it out of the park,” described Clark. “We had multiple improvements and overall personal bests at Lewiston.”

The Spartan harriers are at the Kellogg Invitational on Thursday in Pinehurst.

The 3A District 1 District Cross Country Meet will be held on Thursday, Oct. 18 and Bonners Ferry.

n Wednesday Night Looper Bowling League

Results for 10/3

1 — Club Rio, 83.5-42.5

2 — Pin Ups, 66-60

3 — Woodwise, 62-64

4 — Diamond Lake Deli, 61-65

5 — Les Schwab, 49-53

McCroskey Defense, 39.5-70.5

High Scratch Game: Conner Sheppard - 224.

High Handicap Game: Conner Sheppard - 266

High Scratch Series: Tom Hoisington Jr. - 552

High Handicap Series: Chuck Socci - 750

n Lucky Ladies Bowling League

Results for Week 5 of 33

1 — Pooch Parlor’s Golden Girls, 16-4

2 — Ballsy Broads, 13.5-2.5

3 — No Pins Left Behind, 9.5-10.5

4 — Morning Glories, 9-11

5 — Sparklers, 7-13

High Scratch Game: Sara Goss 210.

High Scratch Series: Sara Goss 513.

High Handicap Game: Sara Goss 247.

High Handicap Series: Kim Rusho 645.

Splits: Sara Goss 3-10, Kim Rusho 9-10.

n Friday Night Leftovers Bowling League

1 — Timber Room, 14-6.

2 — EZRIDR, 13-7.

3 — East River Plumbing, 11-9.

4 — Pooch Parlor, 11-9.

5 — Team No. 9, 10-10.

High scratch game men: Jim Hudson - 267.

High scratch series: Jeffery Huling - 687.

High scratch game women: Jennifer Hudson - 219.

High scratch series women: Hudson - 570.

High handicap game women: Betty Balison - 263.

High handicap series women: Balison - 726.