Dominant third quarter allows Spartans to soar past Clark Fork

PRIEST RIVER — In their first game in over a week, Priest River boys basketball exploded for 30 points in the third quarter to secure a 74-26 win over Clark Fork on Friday night in the Spartan Christmas Tournament.

The Spartans couldn't be stopped in the third quarter. Their dynamic offense turned a 14-point halftime lead into a 43-point advantage just like that.

But the key to all that scoring was Priest River's defense, head coach Kevin Wylie said.

"The number one focus that we've been focusing on since we started this season was we have to be the best defensive team every night," he said, "that's how we're going to win games ... and the kids have really bought into that."

The Spartans had a comfortable 13-point lead after the first quarter, but in the second Wylie said his team got a little complacent on defense and allowed the Wampus Cats to stay within striking distance.

At halftime, Wylie told his team to clean it up on the defensive end and the rest will come.

"We've been telling them that," he said, "and they're finally starting to understand when you play good defense, your offense just clicks and so far us, that was the third quarter."

The Spartans forced 21 turnovers and had 13 steals.

Clark Fork head coach Heath Beason said his team was upbeat at the half and understood the game was still within reach, but things got out of hand quickly in the third quarter.

"At halftime, we talked about all the good things that were going our way and keeping the confidence up and they just fell apart," he said.

The Wampus Cats had to reach deep into their bench due to some injuries, Beason said. This allowed a handful of freshmen to get some playing time and Beason saw some great things from them.

Clark Fork committed 52 turnovers in its two games prior to Friday night and after a solid first half, Beason said he saw those mistakes pop up again in the final 20 minutes.

"All the sudden we just started to get back into the turnovers and bad passing," he said, "and it just seemed like it kept going and going and going."

Priest River saw Blake Barrett make his season debut against the Wampus Cats. Barrett, a transfer from Newport High, made quite the first impression. He tallied 20 points and five rebounds, and was a force on both ends of the court.

"Blake is just a kid that brings so much energy," Wylie said. "He loves to play hard, he loves to play with emotion ... and he is super smart. He mixes so well with any of our kids."

Trentyn Kreager added 14 points for the Spartans, Jordan Nortz had 12, Jace Yount scored 9 and Dylan Nortz grabbed 6. Travis Mathews tallied 6 points and six assists.

"This team is so offensively skilled," Wylie said. "Every kid wants to be an offensive threat, but I got six or seven kids that are just hoop heads ... so it makes it hard on other teams to guard us."

Cameron Garcia led Clark Fork with 8 points and four rebounds. Sam Barnett had 6 points, Carter Sanroman scored 5 and Cole Reuter added 3.

Priest River (4-1) takes on North Idaho Christian School in the Spartan Christmas Tournament Championship game at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Clark Fork (0-4) will take on the Priest River JV team at 3:30 p.m. in a consolation game.

Clark Fork 10 11 1 4 — 26

Priest River 23 12 30 9 — 74

CLARK FORK — Garcia 8, Sanroman 5, Barnett 6, Wade 0, Reuter 3, Shelton 2, Bopp 0, Mayorga 2, Pierson 0, Mintken 0, Matteson 0.

PRIEST RIVER — Mathews 6, Butler 1, J. Nortz 12, Kreager 14, Marinello 4, Berns 0, Barrett 20, D. Nortz 6, Thompson 2, Yount 9.