Collado powers Bulldogs past Bears in opener

COEUR d’ALENE — Carlos Collado picked a great time to post his best game of the season, dropping in a season high 16 points to lead Sandpoint to a convincing 50-41 win over Moscow in the opener of the 4A Region 1 boys basketball tournament Monday night at North Idaho College.

The No. 2 seed Bulldogs (8-13) played physical and active defense, holding the No. 3 seed Bears (3-18) to just 12 points in a low-scoring first half.

Collado, a 6-4 junior post who likes to bang down low and  helped control the boards, had his way against the overmatched Bears, using power, quickness and an assortment of low post moves to wreak havoc on the blocks all night.

“We were just feeding the post, that was the game plan,” said Bulldog assistant coach Mike Roos. “Carlos would go to the lane, get fouled, and made the free throws. They couldn’t stop us underneath.”

Davan Norris and Matthew Timothy combined for 19 points, and Paul Sundquist added six, as the Bulldogs continue to hang their hat on defense. The game was tight for most of the third and fourth quarters, before the Bulldogs scored the final nine points of the game in the last three minutes of play.

Jack Akey led the Bears with 12 points, as Troy Mitton and Dylan Kuzmich teamed up to slow down Moscow’s top scorer.

“Every time Akey had the ball we’d trap him,” described Roos of the defensive strategy. “Our rebounding was key, and we hit some timely shots in the end.”

Sandpoint will face No. 1 seed Lakeland (15-6) in the championship game on Wednesday night, at 8 p.m. at North Idaho College. The winner advances to the 4A state tournament.

Chris Chatburn will call the game live on AM1400.

Moscow    4   8  19  10 — 41

Sandpoint  9   7  16  18 — 50

SANDPOINT — Collado 16, Timothy 9, Spalding 3, Kuzmich 1, Sundquist 6, Norris 10, Speakman 2, Mitton 3.