Bulldogs win in nail-biter against East Valley

Sandpoint and East Valley played aggressively right out of the gates and were quick to score in the first few minutes. Parker Childs sunk a three-pointer and first basket for the Bulldogs and the game settled into a better rhythm.

East Valley seemed to be in control of the ball and lead for the entire first quarter. Head coach Brian Childs said that he thought the team got off to a bit of a sluggish start. At the end of the first quarter the score was 17-14 East Valley.

Emerick Jones scored the first basket in the second quarter and brought the Bulldogs one point from the lead. Parker Childs nailed a three-pointer to help Sandpoint take the lead for the first time in the game.

“Its amazing what happens when you make a couple of shots,” coach Childs said.

There were a lot of fouls with both teams playing aggressive. With all of the stoppage time, it was hard for either team to find a flow.

The Bulldogs were up 60-54 at halftime.

The third quarter was Sanpoints quarter. The Bulldog went on a shooting spree knocking down 25 points. Their defense held strong with impressive coverage and worked to get every rebound.

“We did a really good job at shooting the ball in the third quarter,” Childs said. “We made five three-point baskets”

The refs were more lenient with their calls in the second half and let the teams play it out more. This lead to a couple of technical fouls on both sides.

Arie VanDenBerg found his groove and hit three three-pointers. And Rusty Lee scored eight points for the Bulldogs.

“I told the guys, it’s amazing what happens when the ball goes in,” Childs said. “We’re a little more active defensively and we got a little bounce in our step.”

Coach Childs said that there were a lot of the same shots between Friday and Saturday’s games but the kids just hit them better tonight.

“I felt like we’d shoot better at home and low and behold we did,” Childs said.

The Bulldogs held their lead in the third and were up 60-54 heading into the fourth quarter.

With Parker Pettit away on a college visit and Randy Lane working through a hamstring injury, coach Childs brought up Kai Longanecker from the JV team.

“He gave us a huge lift,” Childs said.

The final minutes of the game proved to be a nail biter with one basket separating the two teams. The Bulldogs kept their composure all the way to the buzzer and took the win 73-66 over East Valley.

Next up, the Bulldogs play Coeur D’Alene at home.

Sandpoint 14 21 25 13 — 73

East Valley 17 20 17 12 — 66

SANDPOINT - Lee 13, Frank 0, VanDenBerg 18, Eacret 0, Dickinson 5, Jones 3, Childs 25, Jones 9, Longanecker 0, Medeiros 0.

EAST VALLEY Harry 1, Anderson 0, Wilkinson 1, Stevens 6, Callihan 0, Bales 0, LaVasseur 0, Cloud 0, Wallon 0, Holecek 32, Hanson 12, Layne 0.