PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL: Tomco, Mire help Lady Bulldogs to big season-opening win over Bonners Ferry

Sandpoint 68, Bonners Ferry 34

SANDPOINT — Sophomores Jordyn Tomco and Brecken Mire combined for 44 points and the host Lady Bulldogs hit 10 three-pointers en route to a 34-point season-opening victory over the Lady Badgers on Saturday at Les Rogers Court.

"They're two very talented players," Sandpoint High head coach Will Love said of Tomco and Mire. "The 44 points stands out, but what they did defensively to put themselves and the team in a position to win tonight can't go unstated — it was a great game from those two and a great effort by the entire team."

Mire, who had 19 points and seven assists, scored 12 in the first quarter to help Sandpoint to an early 22-9 lead. The Lady Bulldogs then matched their scoring total from the first quarter and took a 44-20 lead heading into halftime.

Coach Love said due to Bonners Ferry's coaching change this offseason, he wasn't exactly sure what the visiting Lady Badgers would be running on offense and defense, but his girls were able to adapt fast.

"At first we were struggling a bit on the defensive end, but on the other hand, the girls did a good job on the offensive end to allow us to build that lead and get an understanding of what Bonners Ferry was doing."

Sandpoint started out the second half with a three-minute scoring drought, but caught fire when sophomore Livia Driggs, who had 10 points, hit back-to-back three's to put the Lady Bulldogs ahead 52-24. Senior Demi Driggs and sophomore Summer Loutzenhiser also hit three's on subsequent possessions to put Sandpoint ahead 60-31.

Tomco, who had 25 points, six rebounds and four steals, started out the fourth quarter with a three-pointer, one of her four in the contest, as Sandpoint cruised to a 68-34 victory.

Overall, the Lady Bulldogs were 10-for-21 from beyond the arc and 16-for-28 from the free throw line.

"I thought the girls did a tremendous job at practice this week in getting prepared for this game," coach Love said. "We were able to identify some things that were working well, some that weren't — we've been making some adjustments the past few days."

Love said he is a really proud of his team for starting off the season with a strong win at home.

"We've been battling through injuries, losing two players to the season already," coach Love said. "They're a resilient group, so it's exciting to get that win tonight."

Sandpoint (1-0) will travel to Post Falls on Tuesday.

Bonners Ferry 9 11 12 2 — 34

Sandpoint 22 22 16 8 — 68

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

PTS: SPT — Tomco 25, Mire 19, L. Driggs 10, D. Driggs 8, Loutzenhiser 3, Thaete 2, Ch. Laybourne 1. BF — Bateman 13, Baisden 7, Hiatt 5, Petesch 4, Johnson 3, Mierke 2.

REB: SPT — Tomco 6, D. Driggs 5, Mire 4, Ch. Laybourne 2, Ca. Laybourne 2, L. Driggs 1, M. Driggs 1, Thaete 1. BF — Willis 3, Mierke 3, Baisden 3, Johnson 2, Hiatt 2, Petesch 2.

AST: SPT — Mire 7, D. Driggs 2, Tomco 1, Ch. Laybourne 1. BF — Baisden 2, Bateman 2, Mierke 2, Johnson 1, Petesch 1.

STL: SPT — Tomco 4, Ch. Laybourne 3, Mire 1, L. Driggs 1, Ca. Laybourne 1, Butler 1, D. Driggs 1. BF — Bateman 4, Baisden 1, Willis 1, Mierke 1, Hiatt 1.

BLK: SPT — Tomco 1, Ch. Laybourne 1. BF — None.