Timberlake ends Priest River's season

SPIRIT LAKE - The Priest River boys basketball team and Timberlake traded runs in the first quarter.

The Spartans got things started with a 6-0 run to open up the game, but after the Tigers called a timeout, it managed to go on a 5-0 run of its own.

This continued for the whole first half until Timberlake managed to separate itself in the fourth quarter to capture the 57-47 3A District I-II tournament victory which ended the Spartans season.

“It was tough afterwards I got choked up talking to the guys,” Priest River basketball coach Jaden Barrett said. “It’s not ideal to go out like that with seven seniors.”

The Spartans, who were a senior heavy group, will be without seven key players for next season.

Barrett had a special connection with the kids and had a hard time saying goodbye to his team after the loss.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better group of kids to coach for my first year,” Barrett said. “They showed up to practice for me every day and worked their tails off for me.”

Trentyn Kreager, who finished with 13 points, fouled out in the fourth quarter.

Kreager had to deal with a lot in 2022, according to Barrett, and seeing him foul out in his last game of his senior year was a hard thing to watch.

“Losing him in the fourth quarter hurt us pretty bad,” Barrett said. “Fouling out and not being able to help your team finish out a close game is a really hard way to go out in your last game.”

In the first half, neither team was able to find much separation outside of the Spartans opening 6-0 lead.

The Tigers cut it to within one two minutes into the first quarter and would keep following from a close distance throughout the quarter. The biggest lead during the first eight minutes was a 13-10 Priest River lead.

The Spartans held the narrow 13-12 edge over Timberlake to start the second quarter, but that’s when the Tigers started finding their shot.

The Spartans extended their lead to 15-12 to begin the quarter, but Timberline would go on a quick 4-0 spurt which put it in front 16-15 for its first lead of the game.

“We had some missed assignments down the stretch,” Barrett said. “But props to Timberlake, I mean, they have a lot of talented kids on their team.”

In the final minute of the first half Priest River went on a 8-2 run to tie the game at 23 at halftime.

“We were just dominant inside during the first half,” Barrett said. “But we really cooled off once the second half hit.”

The second half would ultimately be Priest River’s downfall. The Tigers outscored the Spartans 32-24 in the final 16 minutes.

Zach Yetter was a thorn in the side of the Spartans all night; he finished with 23 points.

“Yetter is a great player,” Barrett said. “We were having problems guarding him all night.”

The Tigers had two other scorers in double-digits. Hunter Higgins had 15 and Raj Olivieri added 10.

Priest River was paced by Jace Yount with 14 points and Kreager added 13 points.

This loss ended the Spartans’ season; they finished 8-13 overall and 1-5 in Intermountain League play.

Barrett was very pleased with the results of his first season as head coach of the Spartans.

“These kids have put in so much blood, sweat, and tears into this team,” Barrett said. “We’ll have a lot of good players that we’ll miss next season, but I’m happy overall with the result.”

Priest River 13 10 11 13 - 47

Timberlake 14 15 13 12 - 57

Priest River - Matthews 3, Butler 5, Kreager 13, Maricllo 3, Engelson 3, Barrett 6, Yount 14.

Timberlake Oliveri 10, Paslay 5, Yetter 23, Higgins 15, Meriti 4.