Post Falls downs Bulldogs, SHS secures No. 2 seed in regional tourney
Senior Riley Cessna looks to pass the ball to a teammate during a home game against Post Falls on Nov. 17.
(File photo by DYLAN GREENE)
POST FALLS — Coming in, Sandpoint girls basketball knew they had to win Tuesday night at Post Falls if they wanted to have a chance at the No. 1 seed to regionals.
Unfortunately, the Trojans were unwilling to cooperate with those aspirations and handed the Bulldogs a 68-40 Inland Empire League defeat.
The loss means Sandpoint will be the No. 2 seed in the 4A Region 1 tournament next week.
"I thought we had stretches where we played really well," head coach Will Love said after the game. "There were some times in the first half that we were able to play some good defense and some good offense."
With the victory, Post Falls completed a season sweep of the Bulldogs.
The Trojans pounced on Sandpoint early and secured a 16-9 lead heading into the second quarter. But the Bulldogs didn't waver and trailed by just eight points at the half.
Then Post Falls ramped up the intensity in the second half and outscored SHS 39-19.
"They really turned up the offense and defense in the second half," Love said about the Trojans. "They came out in the second half ready to go and we just couldn't match that."
Hattie Larson led the team with 11 points. Daylee Driggs scored seven, Bella Phillips and Kaylee Banks each tallied six, and Karlie Banks added five.
Sandpoint (8-9, 5-7 IEL) hosts Moscow in a 4A Region 1 loser-out game on Monday at Les Rogers Court. The winner will advance to face No. 1 seed Lakeland in a best-of-three championship series that starts next Wednesday. The Bulldogs finished tied with Lakeland in the league standings, but the Hawks held the tiebreaker for the top-seed.
Love believes the Bulldogs are in a good spot heading into regionals.
"I feel really positive about the team, he said. "I think there are some things that we will have to clean up especially after tonight. We didn't do a good job rebounding the basketball and then Post Falls was able to get us in transition, so those are some things that we are going to have to clean up."
Sandpoint 9 12 9 10 — 40
Post Falls 16 13 21 18 — 68
SANDPOINT — Driggs 7, Lyons 3, Cessna 0, Phillips 6, Kar. Banks 5, Larson 11, Platte 2, Kay. Banks 6.
POST FALLS — McLean 2, Nichols 5, Lovett 11, Grant 2, Sims 4, Buckley 9, Asper 2, Crain 13, Magnuson 3, Walton 3, Blake 10, Christensen 4.