Kirscher, Hicks come up huge for Bulldog girls

SPOKANE — Junior guard Grace Kirscher reached the 20 point mark for the sixth time this season, and the Bulldogs started fast for a change and never looked back, doubling up Lake Roosevelt 50-25 on the third and final day of the Eagle Holiday Classic on Thursday at West Valley High School.

After getting outscored 58-16 in the first quarter of their previous three games, the Bulldogs (5-8) changed things up and reversed that trend, and led Lake Roosevelt 35-16 at the half.

“We warmed them up real hard, when the game started we got right after it,” said Duane Ward. “A good all around effort by everybody. We’re not there yet, but about as close as we’ve been all year.”

Grace Hicks had a huge game defensively, swatting a career-high 10 shots, a rare number for a shot blocker at any level. Her length is invaluable in protecting the rim defensively, and she did so with authority on Thursday.

“Hicks did a great job knocking balls down, which was outstanding,” described Ward of his 6-2 post. “A number of those she checked the shot and kept the ball.”

Trinity Golder and Taylor Ward each scored eight points, and nine players made the scoring column for the Bulldogs, which will be crucial moving forward for a team with designs on making some noise again at state.

“That’s what it’s going to take. We have Trinity and Grace scoring, the other kids need to fill in and spread the scoring around,” said Ward, who was pleased with how his team held up playing three games in three days, which is akin to the state tournament. “That was one of the reasons we wanted to get into the tournament, it’s a great learning experience for the kids.”

Sandpoint is off until Saturday, Jan. 7 when they travel to West Valley again to face the host Eagles in a nonleague matchup.

Sandpoint 14 21 8 7 — 50

Roosevelt 8 8 4 5 — 25

SANDPOINT — Mattila 4, Tomazich 3, Darling 2, Kaul 1, Ward 8, Laybourne 2, Golder 8, Hicks 2, Tucker 0, Kirscher 20.

LAKE ROOSEVELT — Reyes 2, Boyd 7, Adolph 1, Dick 1, St. Pierre 3, Olbricht 5, Pakootas 2, Priest 3.