PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL: Priest River comes from behind to beat Newport

Priest River 39, Newport 36

NEWPORT — Junior Aleigha Jensen racked up a team-high 12 points and had a couple of putback buckets late to spark the visiting Lady Spartans to a slim 3-point victory over the Lady Griz in a non-league matchup Wednesday.

Off the tip, everything went Priest River's way as they hustled to an early 13-2 lead. Senior Desi Humphrey, who had nine points and 12 rebounds, sunk a 3-pointer on the Lady Spartans' opening possession, and senior Paityn Yount, who had seven points, 13 rebounds and five assists, converted a 3-point play and drained a 3-pointer before senior Lizzie McCracken capped off the run with a steal and a coast-to-coast layup.

However, from there on, it was a bit of a struggle for the Lady Spartans as Newport clawed their way back into the contest with a 17-8 second quarter frame and a 7-0 run start to the third. Junior Emma Crabtree led the Lady Griz charge, compiling a game-high 13 points while junior Sammi Tellessen stuffed the stat sheet with six points, 14 rebounds, four assists and three blocks.

Priest River found themselves trailing 29-21 with five minutes left in the third before going on a 16-4 run that spanned into the fourth quarter. McCracken, who netted eight points and came away with five steals, hit two timely 3-pointers and Jensen scored eight points in the paint to account for 14 of the 16 points during the run. The Lady Spartans defense then held Newport to just three points during the final five minutes to pull out the rivalry win.

"We really struggled to shoot the ball tonight; it was the complete opposite of the Riverside game," Priest River High head coach Tyler Douglas said. "Lizzie's shots were like a 'thank you, God' moment and Aleigha, around the rim, that totally changed the game because everything before that was a 3-pointer... those offensive rebounds and putbacks were great. Once we got it inside more, she really propelled us on that run."

Freshman McKinley Burgess-Duquette added three points off the bench for Priest River (8-3), which hosts 3A Central Idaho League foe St. Maries on Saturday. Douglas said that game is going to be a similar one.

"St. Maries plays a similar type of defense (2-3 zone), so hopefully we can shoot it better," coach Douglas said. "We're going to need to get it inside and rebound better. If we can do that, we should be good."

Priest River 13 8 9 9 — 39

Newport 5 17 9 5 — 36

PTS: PR — Jensen 12, Humphrey 9, McCracken 8, Yount 7, Burgess-Duquette 3. NPT — Crabtree 13, Tellessen 6, Parry 6, McDaniel 4, Keck 3, Hoffman 2, Whitehouse 2.

REB: PR — Yount 13, Humphrey 12, Jensen 6, Braae 4, McCracken 3, Burgess-Duquette 2. NPT — Tellessen 14, Parry 7, Whitehouse 7, Crabtree 5, Keck 4, Peone 2, McDaniel 2, Hoffman 2.

AST: PR — Yount 5, Jensen 2, Humphrey 1, Braae 1. NPT — Tellessen 4, Parry 2, Keck 1, Whitehouse 1.

STL: PR — McCracken 5, Yount 3, Braae 2, Jepson 1, Burgess-Duquette 1, Jensen 1. NPT — Crabtree 2, Keck 1, Tellessen 1, Peone 1, Whitehouse 1, McDaniel 1.

BLK: PR — Yount 1, Braae 1. NPT — Tellessen 3, Crabtree 2.