Spartans outlast Lady Cats for first win, stumble against Rams
Junior Lilly Freitas elevates to attempt a layup during last Wednesday's game at Clark Fork.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Priest River's Marley Burgess-Duquette elevates for a shot.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Priest River's Lilly Freitas pulls up for a jumper.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Priest River's Cheyenne Thompson attempts a free throw.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Priest River's Lilly Freitas drives toward the basket.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Priest River's Addisen Kingery attempts a free throw.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Priest River's Lilly Freitas attempts a free throw.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Priest River's Allyson Barton looks to make a move in the post.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
PRIEST RIVER — A slow start cost Priest River girls basketball in a 50-21 loss to the Riverside (Wash.) Rams on Tuesday night at PRLHS.
The Rams jumped out to a 17-4 first-quarter lead and never looked back.
"Three out of four quarters we couldn't focus to run anything productive offensively or defensively," Priest River head coach Gary Stewart said.
Point guard Samantha Pound led the team with 7 points, sophomore Allyson Barton had 5 and freshman Desarai Humphrey finished with 4.
Last Wednesday fresh off Thanksgiving break, the Spartans traveled to Clark Fork and the two teams engaged in a defensive slugfest.
Points were at a premium, but the Spartans did just enough to separate themselves from the Lady Cats and capture their first victory of the season, 27-19.
It wasn't pretty, but Priest River gritted out a hard-fought win.
"We basically won the game on just playing scrappy," Stewart said.
The Spartans took control early thanks to their pesky man defense that forced 10 turnovers in the first quarter.
But in the second quarter, Priest River struggled to find the bottom of the night. The Spartans' only basket in the quarter came from junior Lilly Freitas, who got a steal and a bucket late to allow Priest River to take a 11-9 lead into halftime.
Things remained tight in the third quarter, but in the fourth quarter the Spartans used an 8-3 run to pull away for good.
Priest River dominated the boards in the game, outrebounding Clark Fork 45-24. Barton had 23 of those rebounds and her presence in the post made a huge difference for the Spartans and limited the Lady Cats' offensive opportunities.
"Most nights she's the strongest person on the court," Stewart said. "Her finishing a defensive possession by getting the rebounds, that's huge. When she gets those rebounds that's just one less possession they have to convert."
Freitas was tasked with defending Clark Fork's go-to scorer Katelyn Matteson and she limited her to just 5 points. Freitas led the team in points with 13 and also grabbed 10 steals and seven rebounds.
Stewart said Freitas' ability to get steals and give the Spartans extra possessions is amazing to watch.
"We needed every one of her points," he said.
Pound tallied 5 points and dished out four assists. Junior Addisen Kingery had 5 points and six rebounds and Humphrey secured seven rebounds.
Priest River struggled from the free-throw line, going 3 of 18.
The Spartans (1-3) host Timberlake at 7 p.m. Friday to open Intermountain League play and Newport at 2 p.m. Saturday. They travel to Wallace next Tuesday.
Riverside 17 10 20 3 — 50
Priest River 4 4 9 4 — 21
RIVERSIDE — S. Riggles 13, A. Riggles 13, O. Oregal 4, E. Oregal 0, Mully 11, Koesel 0, Lapano 2, Bradfish 0, Waldron 2, Repp 0, Winteroth 4, Vijiande 1.
PRIEST RIVER — Burgess-Duquette 1, Pound 7, Freitas 2, Thompson 0, Humphrey 4, McCracken 3, Kingery 0, Barton 5.
Priest River 9 2 6 10 — 27
Clark Fork 4 5 4 6 — 19
PRIEST RIVER — Burgess-Duquette 2, Pound 5, Freitas 13, Thompson 0, Humphrey 0, McCracken 0, Kingery 5, Barton 2.
CLARK FORK — Matteson 5, Valliere 2, Shelton 4, Reuter 7, Yancey 0, Thompson 0, Mace 0, Weymouth 0.
