Roos, Banks earn all-conference awards, Bulldogs' senior duo plays on
(Photo by KYLE CAJERO) 4A IEL Newcomer of the Year Kobe Banks shoots over Lakeland’s Jaret Taylor on Feb. 14. Banks, a junior, transferred from nearby 1A Division II Clark Fork this year.
(Photo by KYLE CAJERO) Sandpoint junior wing Ryan Roos rises up against Moscow’s Benny Kitchel during a Feb. 2 road game.
(Photo by KYLE CAJERO) Sandpoint senior Alex Stockton makes a layup over Priest River’s Robbie Anselmo on Jan. 8.
(Photo by KYLE CAJERO) Sandpoint senior guard Bruin Jones drives against a Timberlake defender during a Dec. 21 home win.
Sandpoint boys basketball players Ryan Roos and Kobe Banks picked up all-conference awards, while teammates Bruin Jones and Alex Stockton were invited to play in the District 1 All-Star game, held at Mullan High School on March 8.
Roos, a junior guard, was Sandpoint’s lone selection on the All-4A Inland Empire League team, while fellow junior Banks was named the district’s Newcomer of the Year.
The juniors were two of Sandpoint’s top three leading scorers this season. Roos, in particular, had a hot hand in conference play: He averaged 12.8 points per game and scored in double-figures three out of four league contests. Outside of league play, Roos led the team in 20-point outings, chief among those being a 25-point outburst against Lewiston on Jan. 21.
Banks, meanwhile, added more hardware to his lengthy list of Idaho Division 1 basketball. After earning league honors in the 1A Division II ranks during both seasons at Clark Fork, Banks adjusted to a higher level of competition and a new offense en route to winning the league’s Newcomer of the Year award. While Banks wasn’t the pure scorer like Roos, his defensive instincts, crafty passing and spot-up shooting were staples of Sandpoint’s offense this year.
As for the Bulldogs’ third leading scorer, Stockton will have one last game with fellow four-year varsity player Bruin Jones in the third-annual District 1 All-Star game.
Stockton led the Bulldogs in rebounding, double-doubles and blocks this season; Jones, meanwhile, started all 19 games at point guard.
The game — which tips off at 7:30 p.m. following the girls’ game at 5 p.m. — will pit two, 12-man teams of seniors against each other. A 3-point shooting competition between the girls and the boys, plus a dunk competition will also occur during halftimes of both games.
In addition to the competitions, the MVPs from each game will receive $100 scholarships.