Slow start costs Bulldog girls in loss to Knights

SPOKANE VALLEY — Save for the first quarter, it was a solid night for the Bulldog girls, who started slow before battling on to a 58-47 loss to East Valley in nonleague girls hoops Thursday at East Valley High School.

Grace Kirscher poured in a game-high 21 points to go with nine rebounds, but the Bulldogs were outscored 23-5 in the pivotal first quarter, which proved too much to overcome.

“We got off to a rough start, got down 19-1, from then on we outscored them the rest of the way and matched them pretty well,” described Bulldogs head coach Duane Ward, whose team showed some heart in defeat. “I think the kids are going to learn from this.”

Trinity Golder added 13 points, and Katherine Kaul four rebounds and three assists, as the Bulldogs rallied to cut the lead to six, with a chance to make it a one possession game, but could not finish the 17 point comeback.

“We only had eight turnovers, the kids did a really good job taking care of the basketball,” said Ward. “They matched the physicality of East Valley, and competed really hard. We’re starting to come together.”

Elle Burland scored 16 points and Faith Adams added 15 for the Knights (6-3) of the Great Northern League.

Sandpoint (4-6) is at the three-day West Valley Tournament starting next Tuesday, opening against Lakeside.

Sandpoint 5 8 18 16 — 47

East Valley 23 10 13 12 — 58

SANDPOINT — Matilla 4, Tomazich 0, Darling 0, Kaul 0, Ward 5, Laybourne 0, Golder 13, Hicks 4, Kirscher 21.

EAST VALLEY — Wilkinson 11, Holeck 11, Behrens 2, Burland 16, Alvendorf 3, Adams 15.