Sandpoint knocks off one of the top 5A schools in the state
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY) Senior Ryan Roos elevates for a dunk in the fourth quarter of Monday’s game against Lewiston.
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY) Senior Brandon Casey goes up for a layup during the second half of Monday's game.
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY) Senior Kobe Banks tries to hit an off balanced shot Monday night.
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY) Freshman Colin Roos goes up for a shot over a Lewiston defender.
SANDPOINT — Sandpoint boys basketball came into Monday nights game with Lewiston looking to shake off a Battle for the Paddle loss to Lakeland.
And boy did they. The Bulldogs took down 10-2 Lewiston, one of the top 5A schools in the state, 61-48 to secure their first win over the Bengals since 2014.
Led by a stellar defensive effort, Sandpoint pulled off a victory that many wouldn’t have expected.
“That’s the first game we’ve put four good quarters together,” head coach Wade Engelson said. “The players challenged one another because they knew that we could play at a higher level. We knew what we could do and the guys went out there and did it.”
The Bulldogs also benefited from three players scoring in double figures; Kobe Banks led the team with 16 points, six rebounds and six assists, Ryan Roos had 14 points and three assists and Brandon Casey notched a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Engelson said a victory like this speaks to the quality of the players on his team.
The Bulldogs came out firing in the first quarter, knocking down a trio of 3-pointers en route to grabbing a 22-13 lead after one. It seemed like everything was dropping for Sandpoint early.
The same couldn’t be said about the second quarter as Sandpoint struggled converting shots, scoring only 5 points in the quarter.
Luckily, Lewiston was having a hard time finding the bottom of the net as well thanks to Sandpoint’s relentless defense. Sure the Bulldogs gave up the occasional basket but it didn’t come easy. The Bengals had to scratch out every point.
Sandpoint took a 27-21 lead into the locker room.
In the second half, the Bulldogs continued to execute at a high level on both ends of the court and extended their lead to 10 points after three quarters when Roos hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Roos the goose was loose again to start the fourth quarter when he took a Lewiston turnover and converted it into a dunk that rattled the backboard and brought the whole crowd to their feet. The play put an exclamation point on a win that will give the Bulldogs plenty of confidence as they head down the home stretch of the season.
Engelson said his team is starting to learn how to beat good teams and impose their will on them to force them to play the Bulldogs’ game.
“We know that if we do the things that we practice we can compete with anybody,” he said.
Sandpoint (6-6) travels to Kellogg 7 p.m. Tuesday looking to avenge a 59-51 home loss to the Wildcats earlier this season.
Lewiston 13 8 9 18 — 48
Sandpoint 22 5 13 21 — 61
LEWISTON — Eke 5, McKarcher 9, Lang 10, White 0, Mullikin 5, Hottinger 1, Hepburn 0, Eckert 0, Forsman 2, Forsmann 16.
SANDPOINT — R. Roos 14, Banks 16, Niemela 7, Eldridge 0, VanDenBerg 5, Pettit 0, C. Roos 2, Treadaway 6, Casey 11.