AREA ROUNDUP: Priest River gets back on track with 9-0 win over St. Maries

BOYS SOCCER 

Priest River 9, St. Maries 0 

PRIEST RIVER — Sophomore Mitchell Ball completed a hat trick, senior Cameron Howell posted two goals and an assist as the host Spartans downed the visiting Lumberjacks in 3A Central Idaho league play on Monday.

Senior Connor Stevens and sophomore Gunnar Pettit added one goal and one assist each. Senior Nathan Stifel and sophomore Daryan Haidari also scored for Priest River while junior Nathan Davis and sophomore Jack Zalewski recorded assists.

1st half — 1, PR, Nathan Stifel (unassisted), 3’. 2, PR, Cameron Howell (Connor Stevens), 7’. 3, PR, Connor Stevens (unassisted), 12’. 4, PR, Howell (Nathan Davis), 16’. 5, PR, Mitchell Ball (Howell), 20’. 6, PR, Ball (unassisted), 30’. 2nd half — 7, PR, Daryan Haidari (Gunnar Pettit), 42’. 8, PR, Ball (Jack Zalewski), 74’. 9, PR, Pettit (unassisted), 78’. 

Shots on goal: PR — 17. SM — 0.  

Saves: PR — Ryker Pettit 0. SM — Unknown 8. 

Sandpoint JV 1, Priest River 0

PRIEST RIVER — Freshman Demetrius Ribeiro broke a tie during the 64th minute with a shot that just found it's way inside the left post and Sandpoint's junior varsity team escaped with a one-goal win over the host Spartans on Tuesday.

Junior Baylor White had fives saves, freshman Ryker Pettit one for Priest River. Sophomore Landon Brinkmeier had four saves for the visiting Bulldogs.

Priest River (4-5) hosts Grangeville on Saturday for a league match.

GIRLS SOCCER 

Owyhee 4, Sandpoint 1 

MERIDIAN — The visiting Lady Bulldogs held their own for the majority of the contest, but the host Storm, last year's 5A (now 6A) state champions scored three late goals to take home the win in a non-league match held Monday at Owyhee High.

In the first half, Owyhee struck first but Sandpoint responded within two minutes on a long ball sent by senior Lilliana Brinkmeier to junior Hope Barnes, which of course ended up at the feet of senior Marlee McCrum for a goal. It was only the third goal Owyhee has allowed all season.

The Lady Bulldogs held the Storm, who are 7-1 on the season and ranked third in the state, to a 1-1 tie until the 65th minute, when Owyhee broke through for three quick goals.

Sandpoint finished with eight shots, four on goal while Owyhee had 20 shots, 16 of which were on goal. Brinkmeier had a season-high 14 saves in the contest for the Lady Bulldogs.

"The coaching staff is happy with the trip and the experience to play a top level team like Owyhee," Sandpoint High head coach Alan Brinkmeier said. "We look forward to next weekend where we face Moscow and Lewiston away. This week, we'll work on playing calm under high pressure and make sure all of our players are healthy and ready to go."

Sandpoint (5-3-1) travels to Moscow on Friday for a 5A Inland Empire League match.

McCracken's hat trick leads lady Spartans to tie

Priest River 3, St. Maries 3 

PRIEST RIVER — At Priest River High, senior Lizzie McCracken netted a hat trick on senior night as the host Lady Spartans settled for a draw with the visiting Lady Lumberjacks in 3A Central Idaho League play on Monday.

"I'm extremely proud of the work these young women have put in," Priest River High assistant coach Nick Tucker said. "They are improving on a daily basis; we are seeing improved ball movement and field vision. Our touch needs some work, but even that is getting better."

Tucker said senior Kylee Swoboda, who had two saves and stopped multiple St. Maries advances in the contest, has become more confident in goal. Tucker also noted how seniors Haley Braae, Clara Kennedy, and Emma Giachino played well on the back line.

Priest River (0-7-1) hosts Grangeville this Saturday for a league match.

1st half — 1, PR, Lizzie McCracken (unassisted), 2’. 2, SM, unknown (unassisted), 9’. 3, SM (PR own goal), 15’. 4, McCracken (unassisted), 22’. 5, McCracken (Katrina Davis), 29’. 2nd half — 6, SM, unknown, 60’.  

Shots on goal: PR — 9. SM — 5.  

Saves: PR — Kylee Swoboda 2. SM — Unknown 5, Unknown 1. 

VOLLEYBALL 

Bonners Ferry 3, Priest River 2 

PRIEST RIVER — At Priest River High, the Lady Spartans took the visiting Lady Badgers to five sets (26-24, 25-20, 23-25, 18-25, 9-15), but came up just short in a nonleague match on Monday.

On offense, senior Desi Humphrey paced Priest River with a team-high 13 kills while sophomore Callie Stanger led the Lady Spartans in aces for the first time this season with five. Junior Jayda Storro dished out a team-high 23 assists.

On defense, junior Aleigha Jensen posted three blocks while senior Paityn Yount added two of her own. Humphrey and junior Toni Marinello registered 23 digs. Sophomore Raygn Turner added a season-high 18 digs on the night.

"We are working our way out of a funk for sure," Priest River High head coach Katlyn Ward said. "I have a hard working team and I believe they can pull it off."

Priest River (6-4) travels to Kellogg on Thursday for a 3A Central Idaho League match.

Timberlake 3, Clark Fork 0 

CLARK FORK — Junior Aurora Lane had six aces, six assists and a team-high four kills as the host Lady Cats fell in straight sets to the visiting Lady Tigers (8-25, 19-25, 14-25) on Tuesday at Clark Fork High.

"Aurora is one of those players, who, even if she is having an off night in some parts of her game, she finds other parts of her game to elevate," Clark Fork High head coach Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey said. "Lately that has been her serving and I'm really proud of her for that."

Sophomore Nora-Jean Hoy added three kills and two aces. On defense, freshman Keira Gannon had six digs while senior Hannah Thompson contributed eight of her own.

"The score doesn't reflect the level of play we we're able to maintain for a good 60 percent of match — long rallies, block touches, exciting loud volleyball," coach Kiebert-Carey said. "I told the girls it was good preparation for Wallace and they all leaned into that idea and tried to push themselves during the long rallies to get better for league play."

Keibert-Carey said Gannon and Hoy had some notable stuff blocks on the night.

"All in all the girls are working everyday, working for each other, and it's that point in the season where were really looking at what's working, what's not, and looking down the barrel on the last half of the season where we really want to put our best foot forward," coach Kiebert-Carey said. "From a mental standpoint I know these girls have every capability — we'll just keep dialing it in on the physical side."

Clark Fork (2-8) hosts Wallace Thursday for a 2A Scenic Idaho conference game.

Lake City 3, Sandpoint 0 

COEUR d’ALENE — The visiting Lady Bulldogs fell in straight sets (25-10, 25-15, 25-14) to the host Lady Timberwolves on Monday in the resumption of an Inland Empire League match suspended last month due to an injury to a Lake City player. 

Sandpoint (0-9) travels to Lewiston on Thursday.

No other information was made available.

CLUB WRESTLING 

Top Dog Wrestling, a Sandpoint-based youth wrestling club for athletes from ages 5 to 14, will be holding registration on Thursday, Sept. 26 at the East Bonner County Library (1407 Cedar Street) from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Meeting Room 102A. 

Top Dog Wrestling is a fast-paced, action-packed, fun-filled youth program that is designed to ensure kids not only develop athletic skills, but also have fun while doing so. Practices, which not only improve wrestling skills, but also general traits such as agility, coordination, and strength, will typically be held two to three times per week in the Sandpoint High wrestling room. The upcoming season generally lasts for six to seven weeks and as part of the North Idaho Wrestling League, athletes can compete in up to five tournaments. However, if an athlete is not ready to compete in tournaments, it is not required. The cost to register is $60 and covers practices, secondary insurance (USA card) and a t-shirt. Each tournament is an additional $15-$20 for athletes to attend. Enrollment is typically limited to 60 wrestlers, so it is encouraged that interested athletes show up to the registration event as opposed to registering at a later date. With any questions, contact 208-263-4584. 

CLUB SOFTBALL 

Lancaster hits another grand slam 

SPOKANE — Across five games at the SGFSA Fall Classic held Sept. 21-22 at the Dwight Merkel Complex, Sandpoint High senior Bailey Lancaster led The North 18U travel softball team, going 7-for-13 with six singles, a grand slam, and 12 RBIs. 

Despite falling in four out of their five games, The North was competitive in every matchup and produced a handful of great performances. Freshman Ryelle Short went a combined 5-for-9 with a single, two doubles, a triple, eight runs scored and an RBI. Sophomore Teagan Newsom was 4-for-12 with four singles, six runs scored, and two RBI’s. 

The North will be back in action on Sept. 27-29 for a tournament in Coeur d’Alene. 

SANDPOINT TRAILBLAZERS 

Trailblazers hustle hard at Herron Hustle 

KALISPELL, Mont. — Out of 300 total racers from Idaho, Montana, Washington and Wyoming, the Sandpoint Trailblazers cross-country mountain biking team had 11 different racers reach the podium, including four first-place finishes, at the Herron Hustle held Sept. 14 at Herron Park. 

A total of 31 racers made the trek to Kalispell for what was the team's second mountain biking event of the season. 

The following athletes made the podium for the Trailblazers: Nolan Tuohy (2nd — 6th grade boys), Emiliana Dussault (1st — 6th grade girls), Miles Burns (5th — 7th grade boys), Anselm Dussault (1st — 7th/8th grade comp. boys), Levi Coffman (5th — 8th grade boys), Olivia Coffman (1st — 8th grade girls), Everett Raiha (4th — JV3 boys, Tegan Jenkins (5th — JV3 Girls), Zoe Honsinger (1st — JV2 Girls), Mattie Lynch (3rd — JV2 Girls) and Trent Roberts (3rd — JV1 Boys). 

The Sandpoint Trailblazers will be back in action on Sept. 28 at the Copper Kings Clash, set to be held in Butte at the Big Butte Open Recreation Space.