Sandpoint leads from start to finish
Kelsey Cessna drives towards the basket against Bonner's Ferry in last night game. Cessna finished with 20 points for the Bulldogs.
(Photo courtesy KAYLA BEERS)
Quick scoring from the Bulldogs and 20 points from both Kelsey Cessna and Karli Banks had Sandpoint in the lead from the start to finish as the Bulldogs defeated Bonners Ferry, 69-47.
Layups, free-throws, three-pointers, and-1’s, 1-1’s, Cessna hit them all last night. She was 3-3 at the free throw line and scored 13 points in the first quarter. Whatever shot Sandpoint didn’t make on the first go, the Bulldogs defense was there to clean up.
At the end of the first quarter, Sandpoint lead Bonners Ferry 23-11.
What Cessna did in the first quarter, Karli Banks followed up with in the second quarter. Banks scored 11 points, three of which were three-point shots.
“Kelsey had that hot start,” head coach Will Love said. “Then Karli went on fire with those three three’s.”
Every time Sandpoint has the ball they made it count. The Bulldogs backed up the 20 points they scored in the first quarter with another 26 in the second.
“To put up 46 points in a half especially against a team like Bonners they really did some good things offensively,” Love said.
Heading into halftime, Sandpoint led 46-23.
Things slowed down in the third quarter. The Bulldogs weren’t moving the ball as well and had trouble finishing their shots. Then Badgers took advantage of this and outscored Sandpoint for the first time in the game, 18-12. Seven of the 18 points coming from Kaylee Sumpter of Bonners Ferry.
“The third quarter has been a tough one for us,” Love said. “Credit to Bonners Ferry, I knew that they were going to compete for the entire 32 minutes.”
The Bulldogs were up 58-41 heading into the final quarter.
Whether on offense or defense a Bulldog was there to snag the ball. Daylee Driggs was extremely consistent through each quarter scoring a total of 15 points for Sandpoint.
“I’m please with where the offense is heading," Love said. "I don’t think we’ve peaked yet. Defensively we’ve got to clean some things up.”
A few fouls for each team in the fourth but nothing could stop the Bulldogs run. Sandpoint took the win with 69-47.
Next, the Bulldogs play away at Lewiston on Saturday.
Sandpoint 20 26 12 11 — 69
Bonners Ferry 11 12 18 6 — 47
SANDPOINT — K. Cessna 20, Demi Driggs 0, Daylee Driggs 15, P. Cessna 0, Richardson 5, Tuinstra 2, Strock 7, Laybourne 0, Banks 20.
BONNERS FERRY — Petesch 2, Villaluz 4, Kimball 6, Petersen 0, Blackmore 8, Abubakari 13, Sumpter 12, Bayer 2.