Kellogg outlasts Bulldogs
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY) Senior Brandon Casey goes up for a layup over a falling Kellogg defender Saturday night at Les Rogers Court. Casey had 8 points in the fourth quarter.
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY) Senior Donnie Moore goes up for a rebound during the game Saturday at Les Rogers Court.
SANDPOINT — After taking a 30-27 halftime lead into the locker room, it looked like Sandpoint boys basketball was in the driver’s seat to earn their third straight victory Saturday night at Les Rogers Court.
But Kellogg had other plans, outscoring the Bulldogs 16-6 in the third quarter and holding on to claim a 59-51 win.
Tempers flared down the stretch as Sandpoint senior point guard Kobe Banks fouled out and received a technical before taking a seat on the bench, leaving the Bulldogs without their best scorer for the final four minutes.
From there, Kellogg took control and was able to withstand a ball hawking Sandpoint team down the stretch.
Sandpoint head coach Wade Engelson said the Bulldogs let the emotions of the game get the best of them.
“I try to make sure that guys understand that people are going to talk trash in sports and I wish there wasn’t trash talking but that’s going to happen and when they say that you can’t feel like your being disrespected or you have to respond, it’s a reflection on the player saying that,” Engelson said. “The best way to shut up trash talking is to win ... so we just have to maintain more composure and not get so emotional on these things and if we do that we’ll do better and it’s part of growing as a team and basketball players.”
Engelson said his team executed well on offense especially in the first half but on defense they struggled maintaining a high level of energy.
“On defense we were missing assignments, we were late on rotations and we have to make sure that we don’t do that,” Engelson said.
Banks led the Bulldogs with 13 points and six assists while senior Ryan Roos had 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Engelson said senior Brandon Casey, who scored 8 points in the fourth quarter, and freshman Colin Roos also had strong showings.
Sandpoint (2-2) hosts Timberlake 7 p.m. Thursday and will look to complete a season sweep of the Tigers who they beat 55-45 on Dec. 12.
Sandpoint 19 11 6 15 — 51
Kellogg 15 12 16 16 — 59
SANDPOINT — R. Roos 11, Banks 13, Niemela 3, Eldridge 2, VanDenBerg 5, Lee 2, C. Roos 5, Casey 8, Butler 2.
KELLOGG — R. Luna 3, K. Luna 7, Oertli 6, Nearing 21, Miller 5, Jerome 6, G. Luna 11.