Coeur d'Alene pulls away from SHS

SANDPOINT — The energy inside Les Rogers Court on Thursday night made it feel like a rivalry game, and the action on the court didn't disappoint.

For over three quarters, Sandpoint boys basketball traded blows with Coeur d'Alene, but in the end the Vikings defense allowed them to pull away in the fourth to secure a 63-51 Inland Empire League victory.

Interim head coach Mike Roos said the Vikings' press ramped up the emotions on the court.

"They pressured us on-ball the whole time, so that kind of speeds up the game and puts a lot more intensity out there," he said. "I think [Coeur d'Alene] had their football team out there part of the time. We knew it was going to be a real physical game going into it and we were prepared, and mentally we were ready, we just didn't have some shots fall."

The Bulldogs trailed 29-23 at the half, but in the third quarter they pulled within two points twice. Unfortunately, every time Sandpoint made a run, the Vikings had a response.

Coeur d'Alene opened the fourth quarter with a seven-point lead. A 3-pointer by Darren Bailey midway through the final frame cut the deficit to six, but that was as close as Sandpoint got down the stretch.

Roos said his team needs to take better care of the ball in the fourth quarter and get better looks at the basket.

"In the second half, we were rushing our shots instead of making that extra pass and letting the offense come to us a little bit and getting that wide open look," he said. "But they are learning something completely new ... and they are starting to get it."

Bailey led the team with 14 points. Colin Roos tallied 12 points, six rebounds, three steals, three assists and three blocks. Max Frank and Randy Lane each added six points.

In his second game of the season, junior Ethan Butler grabbed seven points and three rebounds. Butler returned to action Tuesday at Priest River. Roos said it's great to have Butler's presence in the paint back.

"He's just a big kid so he can go down there and bang," Roos said, "and this was kind of one of his games because you can bang into him as much as you want, you're not going to move him much. It's nice and it frees up some of our other guys to move into different spots."

Cameren Cope led Coeur d'Alene with 23 points, nine rebounds and two blocks.

The Bulldogs (4-7, 0-5 IEL) host Lewiston at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Coeur d'Alene 19 10 16 18 — 63

Sandpoint 12 11 15 13 — 51

COEUR d'ALENE — Bengston 2, King 0, Prka 2, Burgess 12, Larson 11, Ivankovich 0, Entzi 0, Gatten 0, Cope 23, Smoth 6, Reyes 4, McLaughlin 3.

SANDPOINT — Roos 12, Pettit 2, Frank 6, R. Lee 2, VanDenBerg 0, Bailey 14, S. Lee 2, Lane 6, Butler 7.