PREP BASKETBALL: In a battle between last year’s state champs, Sandpoint girls take the cake

GIRLS

Sandpoint 53, Coeur d’Alene 49

SANDPOINT — The Bulldogs, led by senior Aliya Strock’s game-high 21 points, defeated 5A IEL rival Coeur d’Alene in a thriller at Les Rogers Court on Tuesday.

With a game that was back-and-forth until the very end, it was hard to keep track of all the lead changes. After three quarters, the game was tied at 36, but Sandpoint got hot in the fourth when it mattered most.

Down 44-42, freshman Jordyn Tomco, who netted 10 points off the bench for the Bulldogs, scored on a three-pointer assisted by fellow freshman Brecken Mire to take the lead. Coeur d’Alene responded with a basket, but Strock scored on a three-pointer of her own the very next possession, 48-46 Bulldogs in front. Senior Karlie Banks then got in on the fun and scored another three-pointer for Sandpoint to put the Bulldogs up by five, as they cruised to 4-point victory during the last minute of play.

“These girls played really well tonight,” head coach Will Love said. “Our defense played really well - holding Coeur d’Alene to just 49 points. We had a good scout on them and executed our game plan.”

Love said despite the team not flowing well early on, which was to be expected, the girls trusted in the offense, believed in themselves, and made key plays to get the win.

“I personally think Karlie and Aliya are some of the best players in the state of Idaho,” Love said. “Aliya’s a tough guard.. She did a great job guarding Teagan Colvin tonight when Brecken got into foul trouble. She's focused, a good leader, and just a good kid.”

Sandpoint (4-0) will face Post Falls at home on Friday.

Coeur d’Alene 16 7 13 13 – 49

Sandpoint 14 9 13 17 – 53

PTS: SPT – Strock 21, Banks 10, Mire 10, Tomco 10, Thaete 2. CDA – T. Colvin 17, Mitchell 15, Carroll 8, Lopez 5, Bridge 2, Holecek 2.

REB: SPT – Strock 6, Laybourne 6, Tomco 5, Banks 5, Richardson 3, Driggs 2, Thaete 1. CDA – Lopez 11, Carroll 8, Holecek 3, Mitchell 3, T. Colvin 2, Wallis 1.

AST: SPT – Strock 2, Mire 2, Richardson 2, Tomco 1. CDA – Carroll 2, Holecek 2, Mitchell 2, Lopez 1, T. Colvin 1.

STL: SPT – Strock 1, Banks 1. CDA – T. Colvin 3, Mitchell 1, Wallis 1, Lopez 1, Carroll 1.

BLK: SPT – None. CDA – None.

Genesis Prep 40, Clark Fork 19

CLARK FORK — The Wampus Cats fell to Genesis Prep in a non-league game on Tuesday at home.

For Clark Fork, senior Lilly Reuter scored a team-high 8 points while junior Hanna Thompson added 4.

Summer Nelke led the way for Genesis Prep with 11 points and Ella Martin had 10 for the Jaguars. 

Clark Fork (1-4) will face Lakeside on the road on Thursday.

Genesis Prep 12 11 5 12 — 40

Clark Fork 6 3 4 6 — 19

PTS: CF — Reuter 8, Thompson 4, Matteson 2, Printz-Hay 2, Shelton 1, GP — Nelke 11, E. Martin 10, Yount 5, Williams 5, Lawler 3, S. Martin 2, Covey 2, Nichols 2.

BOYS

Coeur d’Alene 83, Sandpoint 46

COEUR d’ALENE — Sandpoint’s Parker Childs had six three-pointers and a game-high 28 points in the Bulldogs loss to 5A IEL Rival Coeur d’Alene on Tuesday.

The only other scorer for the Bulldogs was Junior Emerik Jones who had 18 points.

Coeur d’Alene used a big first and third quarter to pull away. The Vikings shot 67% (36 of 54) from the field, including 6 of 14 from 3-point range. Senior Logan Orchard tallied seven of his 18 points in the first quarter for Coeur d'Alene.

Sandpoint (1-2) faces defending 5A state champions Lake City at home on Thursday.

Sandpoint 15 11 11 9 — 46

Coeur d’Alene 32 16 26 9 — 83

PTS: SPT — Childs 28, Jones 18, Leavitt 0, Williams 0, Chamberlain 0, Leisy 0, Yarbrough 0, Haddock 0, Iverson 0, Roos 0, Gion 0, Wolff 0. CDA — Orchard 18, Rupp 12, Nipp 0, Entzi 12, Sutich 0, Riley 2, Wheeler 9, Zabel 3, Sylte 2, Booth 6, Symons 19.

Clark Fork 65, CCA 55

COEUR d’ALENE — Senior Cole Sanroman drained five three-pointers and scored a game-high 25 points in the Wampus Cats non-league win over Coeur de Christ Academy on Tuesday.

Leading by just one point after three quarters, Clark Fork used a 25-point fourth quarter to capture a 10-point victory in their season opener. Junior Evrett Montgomery added 16 points for the Wampus Cats. Owen Howard hauled in a team-high 8 boards. Chase Sanroman had team-highs in both assists (6) and steals (7).

Clark Fork (1-0) will look to carry that momentum into today when they match up against Wallace on the road.

Clark Fork 18 8 14 25 – 65

CCA 7 20 12 16 – 55

PTS: CF – Co. Sanroman 25, Montgomery 16, Ch. Sanroman 9, S. Caven 5, O. Howard 4, E. Howard 3, Christofferson 3. CCA – N/A.

REB: CF – O. Howard 8, Co. Sanroman 7, Montgomery 6, Ch. Sanroman 4, E. Howard 3, S. Caven 2. CCA – N/A.

AST: CF – Ch. Sanroman 6, Montgomery 5, E. Howard 2, S. Caven 2, Co. Sanroman 1. CCA – N/A.

STL: CF – Ch. Sanroman 7, Montgomery 5, Co. Sanroman 4, S. Caven 2, O. Howard 1, Christofferson 1. CCA – N/A.

BLK: CF – E. Howard 1, Montgomery 1. CCA – N/A.