Spartans end losing streak
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY) Junior Makia Fitzmorris pulls up for a jump shot against Timberlake on Saturday.
PRIEST RIVER — It was a tough game Saturday for Priest River girls basketball.
The Spartans faced off with rival Timberlake in the Battle of the Buck and were shut down 66-11.
Head coach Gary Stewart said trying to defend Timberlake’s Brooke Jessen gave his team fits all night.
“For us its pick your poison,” he wrote in a text. “We double all league post Brooke Jessen but then Timberlake does not miss an open 3-pointer. We change defense to focus on the perimeter and Brooke takes control inside.”
Stewart said the Spartans were able to get some open looks on offense but the Tigers defense pushed them so far away from the basket that it was hard to convert any shots.
“My girls did play very hard tonight and I told them I was proud of their fight,” he wrote.
Senior Karah Fink led the team with 7 points in the game.
Prior to Saturday’s game, the Spartans took down North Idaho Christian in double overtime last Wednesday to end a four game losing streak.
Junior Hannah Palfrey went off for Priest River scoring 21 points and hitting a 3-pointer with a second left in regulation to force overtime.
Palfrey also sealed the thrilling victory by knocking down four free throws late in the second overtime to put the game out of reach.
“We hadn’t touched a basketball since our Newport game on [Jan. 10] because of school closures,” Stewart wrote. “We were exhausted because we hadn’t ran for five days.”
Senior Maddy Rusho scored 11 points and junior Makia Fitzmorris added 9. Adrie Minish also tallied 8.
Priest River (3-9, 0-2 IML) heads to Bonners Ferry 7 p.m. Thursday and Lakeside 2:30 p.m. Saturday.