Sandpoint vs. Lakeland and a whole lot of fouls
Max Frank works to maneuver around a Lakeland Hawk during Friday night's Battle for the Paddle boys basketball game against Lakeland.
(Photo courtesy JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY)
Friday night's game against Lakeland was hot, sweaty and full of fouls. And, by the end of it, the Hawks made more free throws than the 20 the Bulldogs attempted to take a 70-62 win over Sandpoint.
“It’s hard to win a game when someone shoots 37 free throws,” head coach Brian Childs said.
The Bulldogs had a hard start with only eight points to Lakeland's 18, nine of which came from Scotty Hocking.
“You have to give them credit, especially Hocking, for attacking the basket and really being aggressive tonight,” Childs said. “He got into a rhythm in the first half and that’s what really good players can do.”
Sandpoint trailed 18-8 at the end of the first quarter.
The Bulldogs got their feet under them in the second quarter with Parker Pettit and Parker Childs leading the way with four points each. However, Hocking scored another 12 and Lakeland kept the lead 35-21 heading into halftime.
“In a game like this with the atmosphere and all the antics, you can’t afford to spot the opposing team a half.”
During halftime, the spirit games continued. Parker Subaru gave away a car to a lucky winner, Sandpoint and Lakeland battled in their lip sync competition, and it was announced that together the schools raised over $43,000 for local charities.
When basketball action resumed in the third quarter, Max Frank contributed six points and led the Bulldogs' defensive charge for the Bulldogs before fouling out.
“I didn’t like the way we started the game but I thought we answered the bell a little bit late in the third quarter and certainly in the fourth,” Childs said.
Sandpoint kept things even, scoring 14 points to Lakeland's 14 points. Heading into the final quarter the Bulldogs were down 49-35.
The walls were dripping with humidity as the final quarter ticked off.
Childs had 11 points, six of which were free throws. Sandpoint cut the lead to nine points with three minutes to go.
“We fought back and we gave ourselves a chance to be in the game late in the fourth quarter,” Childs said. “But when you get behind like that, everything has to go your way.”
Lee and Petit would eventually foul out as the clock ticked down.
Sandpoint travels to Timberlake on Wednesday for its next game.
Sandpoint 8 13 14 27 — 62
Lakeland 18 17 14 21 — 70
SANDPOINT — Pettit 6, Lee 11, Frank 12, VanDenBerg 11, Eacret 0, Dickinson 3, Childs 15, Lane 2, Jones 2.
LAKELAND — Nowel 9, Cameron 5, Ferguson 4, Ryan 13, Tebbe 1, Loutzenhiser 4, Hocking 33, Anderson 0, Harris 1.