Bulldogs bounce Burley, advance to state semis for first time since 2016 to face undefeated Bonneville
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY) Junior Kaylee Banks goes for a steal late in the fourth quarter of Thursday’s 4A state game against Burley.
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY) Senior Dawson Driggs battles a Burley player for possession of the ball Thursday night at Timberline High School.
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY) Junior Bella Phillips tries to put up a shot while Burley defenders surround her Thursday night at Timberline High.
BOISE — Survive and advance. That is what Sandpoint did Thursday night in its opening game of the 4A state tournament against Burley.
After outscoring the Bobcats 17-6 in the third quarter to take a 33-22 lead into the final eight minutes of action, the Bulldogs looked like they were in control and on their way to the state semifinals. All Sandpoint had to do was knock down free throws to stave off an attacking Burley squad.
Unfortunately, the Bulldogs struggled from the charity stripe down the stretch and only hit five of 16 free throws in the fourth. This allowed the Bobcats to stay in it and slowly chip away at Sandpoint’s lead.
With about 48 seconds left, the Bulldogs led 39-33 but Burley didn’t give up and drilled a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 2 points with 25 seconds left. After a free throw from freshman Kelsey Cessna, the Bobcats stormed down the court and knocked down a pair of free throws to make it 40-39 with 8.7 seconds remaining.
On the ensuing inbounds play, the Bulldogs went for the Hail Mary pass across half court and it didn’t work as Burley stole it and took a timeout with 5.5 left. The momentum was on the Bobcats side and Sandpoint could feel the win slipping away. But then Burley turned the ball over on the inbounds play after the timeout.
The turnover essentially sealed the 40-39 victory for the Bulldogs as there wasn’t enough time on the clock for the Bobcats to advance the ball far enough down court after a pair of missed free throws from senior Brooklen Steiger.
“At one point, I thought that we had them but credit to the Burley girls they competed hard,” head coach Will Love said, “and put themselves into a situation where the potentially had a chance to win it and if we didn’t get that turnover right there at the end — the way momentum was going — that ball probably would’ve gone in for Burley.”
Sandpoint now advances to the state semifinals for the first time since 2016. Dawson Driggs led the team with 10 points, Maddie Morgan tallied 9 on three 3-pointers, Cessna had 8 and Kaylee Banks added 7. Bella Phillips notched 6 points and five rebounds as well.
“It’s huge for our program,” Love said about moving on, “and it’s huge for these girls because they’ve worked their tails off all season long to put themselves in this position. A lot of people didn’t think that one, Sandpoint was going to qualify for state, and two, I don’t know that they thought we’d be able to win a game based on last year, but I knew from the start, win or lose, these kids are always going to fight.”
Early in the game both teams struggled offensively, particularly in the second quarter where they combined to score just 12 points. The game was tied at 16-16 heading into the locker room.
Love said the Bulldogs executed the defensive game plan in the first half but were unable to convert a handful of easy shots. That changed in the third quarter as it seemed like everything fell for Sandpoint which allowed the Bulldogs to drain enough time off the clock in the fourth quarter to hold on despite the free throw struggles.
“At halftime I just told the girls, ‘hey we’re going to start making buckets and if we can get into the high 40’s I think that we can win this game,’” Love said. “The girls did everything to get into the high 40’s except make their free throws. If they would’ve made their free throws it would’ve been less of a nail-biter but I think these girls are starting to develop a flair for the dramatic.”
The Bulldogs shot over 61 percent from the field in the second half.
Sandpoint (17-7) will face 25-0 Bonneville 7 p.m. PST Friday at Timberline High School for a chance to advance to the state title game.
The Bees, the No. 1 ranked team in 4A, beat Middleton 53-43 in their opening game.
“We’re going to have to work really hard [Friday] but I have confidence in our girls that they will because I’ve seen them do it all season,” Love said.
Sandpoint 10 6 17 7 — 40
Burley 10 6 6 17 — 39
SANDPOINT — Cessna 8, Day. Driggs 0, Morgan 9, Daw. Driggs 10, Steiger 0, Phillips 6, Larson 0, Platte 0, Banks 7.
BURLEY — Whiting 13, A. Hege 0, Pope 7, Anderton 0, Baker 9, L. Searle 5, B. Hege 0, S. Searle 5.