PREP BASKETBALL: Sandpoint boys surge in second half, fall just short of Eagle Point

VANCOUVER — After trailing by 14 points at halftime, Sandpoint clawed their way back into the game, but ended up falling by just two points to Eagle Point, a top 10 5A team in Oregon, on the final day of the Fort Vancouver Holiday Tournament at Fort Vancouver High.

Down 27-13 at half, the Bulldogs knew they needed to make some changes … and they certainly did. After coming about a bit lethargic, Sandpoint cut the lead to two points late in the contest but couldn’t convert on three separate chances to tie or take the lead.

“It was really the tale of two halves,” head coach Brain Childs said. “We dug ourselves a hole with 13 points in a half. In the second half, we came out and turned the tables on them. We created turnovers, got out in transition, and were able to get the ball inside to Derrick (Chamberlain) and Emerik (Jones). Parker (Childs) had all 10 of his points in the second half … When we dig ourselves a hole like that … a second half effort like today is about all you can ask for.”

Coach Childs said that despite some shooting troubles at the tourney, everything else – defense, the teams’ cohesiveness – he was pleased with.

“We played Eagle Point right down to the wire,” Childs said. “I have to think that if we came out in the first half with the same mindset we did in the second half, the score might have been different, but that’s part of the learning and the growing process. I think this was a good trip for us. We did some team building, got to see three different teams with three different styles of play; the games are officiated a bit different down there. Hopefully this gets us ready for league play which starts next Friday.”

Derrick Chamberlain had a team-high 14 points; Emerik Jones had 10 for the Bulldogs.

Sandpoint (5-6, 0-0) will play Lakeland at home Friday.

Sandpoint 6 7 15 19 – 47

Eagle Point 12 15 10 12 – 49

PTS:  SPT – Chamberlain 14, Jones 13, Childs 10, Roos 5, Leisy 4, Gion 1. EAG – Peirce 22, Neyt 10, Raber 7, Weaver 6, Rodriguez 4.