Road-tripping, college-touring Bulldogs embrace summer competition
(Photo courtesy of WILL LOVE) The Sandpoint girls’ basketball team takes a group photo at the University of Montana on June 18. Kneeling in the front row, from left to right, are Payton Bets, Maddie Morgan, Destiny Lyons and Madi Garman. Standing the back row are Anna Reinink, Hattie Larson, Emma Hewitt, Tru Tomco, Kelsey Cessna, Karlie Banks, Daylee Driggs, Riley Cessna, Lily Gammon, Sophia Platte, Dawson Driggs, Brooklen Steiger and Kaylee Banks.
Picture this: A basketball team plays four games in two cities, located in two different time zones — all in the span of 24 hours.
Now, a schedule like that seems either WNBA/NBA-esque, or like a college basketball team in the midst of a conference tournament. But that exact scenario is what Sandpoint’s girls basketball team experienced earlier this week.
Over the span of four days, the Bulldogs began the crux of their offseason at the University of Montana’s team camp on Sunday, then traveled to Spokane on Tuesday for a pair of games as part of West Valley League play. In head coach Will Love’s eyes, the team has not only made the most of its opportunities so far, but also embraced a new man-to-man offense through the business of it all.
“These two weeks have been something else,” Love said. “One of the highlights has been seeing how these kids have picked up our new offense. Where they’re at in some of these games is beyond where I thought we would be.”
While at Montana, Sandpoint basketball alumna and current University of Montana women’s basketball player Madi Schoening (‘16) gave the team a tour around Montana’s championship facility, practice gym and weight room. For players like seniors Dawson Driggs and Maddie Morgan, this was a glimpse into the future; both have started the college recruiting process. But Love acknowledges Sandpoint’s current roster might not have had the summer opportunities without the work Schoening and alumnae Grace Kirscher (‘18) and Trinity Golder (‘18) have put in over at Eastern Washington. “It’s really special as a coach to have players like Madi, Grace and Trinity playing at the Division I level,” Love said. “What’s great about all of them is that as good of players as they are, they’re better people. They care about Sandpoint and love the community. We probably wouldn’t get this opportunity [to tour Montana] if it wasn’t for Madi.”
All told, the Bulldogs played two games on Monday, a clinic put on by the UM staff with mini-games simulating late-game situations, plus two more games on Tuesday before making the drive to Spokane for two more games that evening. And in between the long bus rides, moments reconnecting with Schoening and whatever rest they could find, the Bulldogs made strides on the basketball court too.
Love said the team has been trying to keep things simple in the midst of an offseason that seems anything but simple. Offense has been the team’s main goal — Love said he’d worry about the defense closer to the season — and Love praised Driggs’ leadership both on and off the court as positive takeaways so far. Ditto for fellow senior Morgan, who, in Love’s eyes, has made significant strides on offense this summer.
Not to be overshadowed, probable varsity newcomers Riley Cessna, Lily Gammon and Sophia Platte have made considerable progress this summer. Cessna and Gammon have given Sandpoint productive minutes and good offense off the bench, while Platte has stepped in as one of the team’s most important forwards.
“The abilities and growth that she’s shown has been really impressive,” Love said of Platte, a rising sophomore. “She’s been getting better each game and you can really see the growth there.”
Like their male counterparts, members of the girls basketball program have to juggle summer basketball commitments with fall sports, summer school and work.
Yet Love views this pressure from other sports as a way they’ve shown their resolve as a unit.
On the first night of summer league, Sandpoint got into a late-game fouling situation with Colville to try to get back into the game. One of Colville’s players missed the front end of a one-and-one, Larson grabbed the rebound, went coast-to-coast with 10 seconds left and sank a left-handed layup basket to take the lead.
“If Hattie hadn’t been at state soccer or at state golf, in those moments, she probably wouldn’t have been able to [hit that shot],” Love said. “She didn’t panic because she’s been there in other sports.”
Sandpoint (3-3) returns to West Valley League action this weekend.