Moscow's offense too much for Sandpoint

MOSCOW — The Sandpoint boys basketball team played arguably one of its best quarters of the season in Game 2 of its 4A district I-II championship series against Moscow at the Bear Den at Moscow High School.

Sandpoint was down 30-17 in the second before going on a 9-3 run to cut its deficit to 33-26.

But a back-breaking 9-0 run by the Bears in the first two minutes of the third quarter put an end to the Bulldogs hopes of a comeback.

Moscow defeated Sandpoint 84-65 to advance to the Class 4A state tournament next weekend.

The Bears just would not be denied offensively, which was a tough pill for the Bulldogs to swallow who had one of its best offensive outings of the season.

Sandpoint’s 65 points was the second highest score in regulation it had all season.

The Bulldogs were also very effective from deep with 10 3-pointers made.

Parker Childs knocked down four. Arie Vandenberg and Ethan Butler both had two apiece. Rusty Lee and Evan Dickinson both had one.

Moscow won the 3-point battle, however, with 12 converted triples.

The Bulldogs’ defense could not slow down the Bears; they were only able to get three turnovers the entire game.

Moscow also had five scorers in double-figures.

The scorers in double-figures for Moscow were; Barrett Abendroth (15), Jamari Simpson (14), Bryden Brown (13), Dylan Rehder (12), and Taylor Strong (12).

The Bulldogs had three double-digit scorers. Childs led with 17, Butler had 14, and Rusty Lee had 11.

Sandpoint ends its 2022 campaign 6-18 overall and 1-7 in Inland Empire League play.

The Bulldogs did a lot of things right towards the end of the year and have a lot of positives to go off for next year.

Sandpoint 15 22 15 13—65

Moscow 20 23 24 17—84

Sandpoint — Lee 11, Eldridge 4, VanDenBerg 6, Dunkel 0, Dickinson 5, Childs 17, Lane 8, Butler 14.

Moscow — Brown 13, Rehder 12, Isakson 4, Simpson 14, Strong 12, C. Skinner 0, Z. Skinner 6, Hillman 8, Wilson 0, Reed 0, Kees 0, Abendroth 15.