Bulldogs put up a fight against the Badgers
Bulldog Evan Dickinson fights Bonners Ferry's Asher Williams for a loose ball in Tuesday's battle against Bonners Ferry.
(Photo courtesy JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY)
The Bulldogs got off to a slow start in Tuesday's game against Bonners Ferry but battled hard as the game went on before the Badgers took the win, 48-44.
In the first quarter, the Bulldogs put up shots but nothing was dropping. Sandpoint worked hard and played aggressive but trailed the whole way. Bonners Ferry led Sandpoint 18-11 at the end of the first.
“This is one of the better offensive teams we’re going to see,” head coach Brian Childs said. “These kids can put the ball in the hoop.”
The Bulldogs did a good job at slowing Bonners Ferry in the second quarter. A slew of free throws from Max Frank, Gideon Jones, and Parker Childs got them back in the game and Sandpoint tied it up for the first time with three minutes to go. Emerick Jone and Evan Dickinson also contributed.
“We had some kids step up and give us a spark when we had fouls,” Childs said.
With 1:30 to go the Bulldogs took the lead for the first time.
Sandpoint held the Badgers to six points and went in to halftime in the lead 28-24.
Both teams played a strong defense in the third quarter. They held 28-28 for the first four minutes before Bonners Ferry went a scoring hot streak. Sandpoint continued to play hard and put down six points.
“I thought we competed really hard,” Childs said. “If we continue to work that hard especially defensively in rebounding, we’ll be in a lot of games.”
The Badgers led 37-34 heading into the final quarter.
More foul trouble followed both team. Sandpoint shot 14 for 25 at the free throw line and Bonner’s Ferry shot 8 for 12.
“Our problem all year has been scoring,” Childs said. “When we shoot well, we’ve had some success and we when we haven’t, it’s a struggle for us.”
The fourth quarter was high energy and filled with tension as both teams worked extremely hard and battled it out until the very last second.
“We just couldn’t muster up enough points,” Childs said. “We’d get a one point lead and then have chances to extend but couldn’t.”
The final score was a close 48-44 win for Bonners Ferry.
Sandpoint plays at home again on Friday against Timberlake.
Sandpoint 11 17 6 10 — 44
Bonners Ferry 18 6 13 11 — 48
SANDPOINT — Pettit 0, Lee 11, Frank 1, VanDenBerg 1, Eacret 0, Dickinson 10, G. Jones 4, Childs 10, E. Jones 7.
BONNERS FERRY — R. Williams 7, E. Blackmore 5, Henslee 4, Petesch 7, A. Williams 11, Thomas Bateman 6, Hammons 0, Schulte 4, B. Blackmore 4.