Bulldogs crushed by Post Falls 74-36

POST FALLS — Sandpoint girls basketball struggled to find its rhythm in a 74-36 loss to Post Falls on Saturday.

The Bulldogs fell behind 10-0 against the Trojans (2-0) and couldn’t climb back into the game, falling to 1-2 on the season.

“We were pretty stagnant to start with our offense,” Sandpoint head coach Will Love said, “and so that coupled with Post Falls just shooting the lights out put us in an early hole and Post Falls never stopped shooting well.”

The Trojans knocked down 11 three-pointers in the game and were led by Alexis Heath and Dylan Lovett who scored a combined 42 points.

Love said they threw a handful of different looks at Post Falls trying to slow them down offensively, but the Trojans had an answer for everything.

Love said his players are still trying to gel on the court and get used to each other’s playing styles.

“It takes kids awhile to get used to where they need to go, how other kids play,” he said. “They did some really good things on defense tonight that caused some problems for Post Falls but we’re still trying to get that 32 minutes of great defense going.”

The Bulldogs trailed 45-19 at the half and faced a deficit as large as 40 points.

A huge bright spot for Sandpoint in the game was freshman Kelsey Cessna who led the team with 11 points and continued to show she will have a impact on the team this season and for years to come.

“Kelsey is a kid that’s not scared,” Love said. “She doesn’t let that she’s playing against seniors bother her at all ... she gets the ball and has a plan and she’s going to execute it to the best of her ability.”

Love was also impressed by the play of seniors Aly Lish and Brooklen Steiger and junior Bella Phillips.

“[Phillips] is going to be a force here in a couple weeks when she gets the offense down,” Love said.

After opening the season with three games in five days, the Bulldogs will get a much needed break before they head to Lake City on Tuesday, Dec. 3.

Love said the team will use the time off to shore up their defense and do some scrimmaging in practice to become more consistent offensively.

“I think the kids are thinking about things a little bit too much and not trusting their talents,” Love said.

SANDPOINT 8 11 9 8 — 36

POST FALLS 26 19 21 8 — 74

SANDPOINT — Kelsey Cessna 11, Aly Lish 5, Daylee Driggs 0, Maddie Morgan 4, Dawson Driggs 2, Isabel Edwards 2, Brooklen Steiger 2, Bella Phillips 6, Hattie Larson 4, Sophia Platte 0, Kaylee Banks 0.

POST FALLS — Heath 22, Blake 5, Darwood 2, Lovett 20, Johnson 7, Fleming 7, Smith 9, Lafountaine 2, Walton 0, Carpenter 0.