Sandpoint holds on to capture third victory in four games
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY) Freshman Kelsey Cessna (left) and senior Maddie Morgan attempt to trap a Kellogg player and force a turnover during a game Saturday night at Les Rogers Court.
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY) Juniot Bella Phillips goes up for a shot over the outstretched arm of a Kellogg defender Saturday night at Les Rogers Court.
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY) Junior Hattie Larson grabs a rebound during the game Saturday night.
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY) Senior Maddie Morgan attempts a 3-pointer during Saturday's game.
SANDPOINT — After starting the season 1-3, Sandpoint girls basketball has found its rhythm and won three of its last four games.
The latest victory came Saturday night against Kellogg where the Bulldogs led from start to finish en route to a 46-41 win.
Sandpoint head coach Will Love challenged his team to hold Kellogg to 35 points in the game and the Bulldogs nearly delivered.
“I was really pleased with what we were able to do defensively tonight and that certainly put us in a position to win the game,” Love said.
It wasn’t pretty though as the Bulldogs only scored 4 points in the third quarter after holding a 27-18 halftime advantage.
“Kellogg did a good job of getting us out of our offense and what we want to do ... so we started to press,” Love said about his team’s third quarter performance.
This allowed the Wildcats to climb back into the game and eventually narrow Sandpoint’s lead to 3 points with under four minutes left.
With the offense struggling, the Bulldogs needed someone to step up and make a play to avoid letting the game slip away.
The phone rang and senior Maddie Morgan answered, burying a 3-pointer to crush the Wildcats momentum.
Senior Dawson Driggs then knocked down some key free throws down the stretch to help Sandpoint secure the victory.
Despite scoring 15 points in the first quarter and taking a 9 point lead into halftime, Love admitted his team seemed a little stagnant tonight which he attributed to the Bulldogs playing their third game in five days.
“I was kind of suspecting we might come out a little bit slow tonight because of those circumstances and we certainly did,” Love said. “You have to credit Kellogg though. They had a good game plan for us and really slowed us down.”
Driggs led the Bulldogs with 16 points and three steals and junior Kaylee Banks added 7 points. Junior Hattie Larson also had 5 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
Love said Driggs stepped up when they really need her too.
“I’m glad we were able to get those 16 points from her because we needed them tonight when some other kids were just a little bit off,” Love said.
Sandpoint (4-4) heads to St. Maries 7 p.m. Tuesday. The Bulldogs beat the Lumberjacks 58-33 in their season opener Nov. 19 at Les Rogers Court.
Sandpoint 15 12 4 15 — 46
Kellogg 8 10 7 16 — 41
SANDPOINT — Cessna 2, Morgan 6, Driggs 16, Steiger 4, Phillips 6, Larson 5, Banks 7.
KELLOGG — Wendt 4, Allred 8, Van Hoose 3, Ferreira 1, Hill 11, Figueroa 8, Nearing 2, Cheney 4.