Spartans nearly take down Lakeland
Luke Butler elevates to convert a layup during Saturday's win over Newport at PRLHS.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Blake Barrett rises for a jumper during Saturday's game.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Trentyn Kreager attempts a 3-pointer Saturday.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Blake Barrett attacks the paint Saturday.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Trentyn Kreager fights through contact and attempts a layup Saturday.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Jace Yount rises up for a shot Saturday.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Trentyn Kreager looks to make a play Saturday.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Teigan Marinello passes the ball to Blake Barrett on Saturday.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Blake Barrett attempts a free throw Saturday.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Travis Mathews looks to make a play Saturday.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Trentyn Kreager rises up for a layup Saturday.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Coner Berns attacks the basket and converts a layup Saturday.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
PRIEST RIVER — Priest River boys basketball stayed within striking distance all game long, but came up just short in a hard-fought battle with Lakeland on Tuesday night.
The Spartans lost the nonleague game 57-52.
Head coach Jaden Barrett said his team led for a significant portion of the third quarter, but just couldn't get the job done down the stretch.
Center Jace Yount got injured at the end of the first quarter. Barrett said Yount's absence coupled with an inability to knock down free throws in some crucial situations proved to be the difference for the Spartans.
"They all played hard the whole game," he said. "They played gritty and we were down most of the game, which can be demoralizing, but we hung in there and gave ourselves a chance."
Trentyn Kreager led the team with 17 points, Blake Barrett scored 15 and Luke Butler finished with 10.
"He's played solid for me all year long," Barrett said about Butler.
Travis Mathews added 6 points.
On Saturday, it was the Trentyn Kreager show at PRLHS.
The senior scored 32 points and hit six 3-pointers to lead Priest River to a 65-47 victory over nearby rival Newport.
"He's an unbelievable player," Barrett said about Kreager. "Half the shots he made tonight I'm just shaking my head at, that's just pure skill. I thank God that I have him, I'd hate to play him."
The Spartans got off to an extremely slow start and only led the Grizzlies 17-15 after eight minutes of play.
"I told them right off the rip, 'You can't take this Newport team lightly, they are going to come jump on your necks if you come out flat,' and that's exactly what they did," Barrett said.
But Kreager hit back-to-back 3-pointers to end the first quarter and the Spartans carried that momentum into the second quarter and turned things around, outscoring Newport 24-8 to take an 18-point advantage into the locker room.
Kreager scored 22 of his points in the first half and that boost was key, Barrett said.
"Trentyn going off in the first half definitely gave us a kick start," he said. "I thought we picked up our defense, and our rebounding and just our overall pressure on them was a lot better in the second quarter and on."
The Spartans were in control the entire second half, but the Grizzlies found some life early in the fourth quarter. Newport went on a 12-0 run to open the final quarter, nearly cutting Priest River's 26-point lead in half.
But Mathews ended a roughly five-minute scoring drought for the Spartans with his only basket of the night to help seal the win.
"Overall, I was super happy with the last three quarters," Barrett said.
Blake Barrett, who played at Newport High as a freshman and sophomore, finished with 15 points against his former team. Yount grabbed 8 points and six rebounds and Butler tallied 5 points, four rebounds and two assists.
Mathews added 2 points, five rebounds and five assists. Kreager also had four rebounds and two assists.
"We're going to keep the ball in his hands and keep him going," Barrett said about Kreager.
In his first action of the season, Coner Berns came off the bench and made quite the impact in his limited time on the court. He converted a basket and dished out three assists.
"He played very solid minutes off the bench for me," Barrett said.
Priest River (2-2) opens the Spartan Christmas Tournament at 4:30 p.m. Friday against Clark Fork.
Lakeland 17 15 9 16 — 57
Priest River 13 13 13 13 — 52
LAKELAND — Nowell 5, Rings 0, Henry 13, Munyer 12, Hocking 5, Boettcher 0, Roth 14, Hallg 2, Loutzenhiser 6.
PRIEST RIVER — Mathews 6, Butler 10, Kreager 17, Marinello 0, Barrett 15, Yount 4.
Newport 15 8 8 16 — 47
Priest River 17 24 16 8 — 65
NEWPORT — Smith 4, C. Loosier 5, Ross 1, Balazs 13, N. Loosier 4, Becker 7, Sherman 10, Pierson 3.
PRIEST RIVER — Mathews 2, Butler 5, Kreager 32, Marinello 0, Gleason 0, T. Engelson 0, Barrett 15, Z. Engelson 0, Berns 2, Thompson 1, Gamber 0, Yount 8.
