Kirscher leads four Bulldogs on all-league team

SANDPOINT — Junior Grace Kirscher earned Most Valuable Player honors, and head coach Duane Ward earned Coach of the Year, leading a contingent of four Bulldogs named to the 4A All-Inland Empire League Girls Basketball Team, as voted on recently by the league’s coaches.

Kirscher, a dynamic point guard, led the team in nearly every category, averaging 16 points, five rebounds, three steals and three assists per game. In short, she did about everything but sell popcorn for the Bulldogs, despite the full attention of opposing coaches.

She carried the offensive load for long stretches during games, eclipsing the 20 point mark 10 times on the season, and her length defensively makes her one of the top players in North Idaho.

“She did everything for us. Played the most minutes, hardly ever got any rest. She led us in everything, she was basically the heart of our team,” praised coach Duane Ward. “They tried to double up on Grace a lot, and the kids were able to overcome it. A lot of the credit has to go to Grace. Being a junior and shouldering the load like she did was a tremendous contribution.”

Also making the team was junior shooting guard Trinity Golder, a transfer from Bonners Ferry who made her presence on the team known early with a 20 point outburst in the second game against 5A Post Falls.

She was especially hot down the stretch, combining hot 3-point shooting and the ability to get to the rim to post 66 points in the district championship and two state games. On the season she averaged 14 points, four rebounds, two dimes and two steals per game, and hit the 20 point mark six times on the season.

“She transferred in, blended in, and picked right up like she’d been here all the time. As the season wore on she started driving, became a good rebounder and passer, and I think that’s what made her scoring ability improve,” said Ward, noting she also helped take some pressure of Kirscher. “Without her it would have been a very difficult season. She has such good range. She stays calm in her mind, doesn’t get unsettled.”

Also earning a spot on the team, as much for her winning intangibles as the three point, four rebound and two steal averages she put up, was senior Taylor Ward.

Defense and hustle were her biggest strengths, and coach and grandfather Duane admitted she earned the honor for her tenacity and all around play.

“She wasn’t a scorer, but played good defense, knocked a lot of balls loose, rebounded well. She had a lot of fire, and a lot of that carried over to the other kids,” said Duane Ward. “I thought she played like a Bulldog, and the other coaches noticed that. She was good at getting after loose balls, gave us that physicality that we needed.”

As to his own coaching award, Ward mostly chalked it up to surrounding himself with good coaches and players. But success in any program usually starts at the top, and Ward and assistant Will Love have put in a lot of time developing a winning culture.

“I consider myself smart because I surround myself with smart coaches and good players. The award is the kids and the assistant coaches,” said Ward, who has guided the Bulldogs to three straight trips to state under his stewardship. “If you win, you get that, right? It’s an honor and I appreciate.”

4A ALL-INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE

Coach of the Year — Duane Ward, Sandpoint

Player of the Year — Grace Kirscher, jr., Sandpoint

Newcomer of the Year — Lauryn Cooper, so., Lakeland; Hannah Broyles, so., Moscow

Gracie Meyer, jr., Moscow; Tauna Kirk, sr., Lakeland; Sofi Schnepf, jr., Lakeland; Trinity Golder, jr., Sandpoint; Taylor Ward, sr., Sandpoint; Claire Haeder, sr., Moscow.