Spartans come up short in tight contest with Post Falls JV
Junior Trentyn Kreager bends the corner and drives baseline during a game against North Idaho Christian on Jan. 4 at PRLHS. Kreager scored 25 points in Thursday's home loss to the Post Falls JV team.
(File photo by DYLAN GREENE)
PRIEST RIVER — In a back and forth affair with the Post Falls JV team, Priest River boys basketball came up just short down the stretch and suffered a 57-54 defeat to the Trojans on Thursday night.
The loss is only the Spartans second this season and ends a four-game winning streak.
"We struggled early with Post Falls and the quickness of their guards and their outside shooting," head coach Kevin Wylie said. "It was a close game the entire time, but we just couldn't finish with the win."
These two teams met over a month ago on Dec. 8 at PRLHS. In that game, Priest River went on a 14-0 run to close the contest and capture a dramatic 57-52 comeback win.
Thursday's game was more tightly contested throughout, but the Trojans were able to build some breathing room early and took a six-point lead into the locker room.
The Spartans came out in the second half and quickly closed the gap, knotting the game at 41-41 heading into the fourth quarter.
In the final quarter, free throws proved to be the difference. Post Falls knocked down eight of its 10 attempts from the free-throw line while Priest River went 4-8.
Overall, the Spartans shot 44 percent from the free-throw line while the Trojans hit just over 66 percent of their attempts.
"Post Falls did their homework and broke down our defense early on and forced us to play stressed," Wylie said. "I'm proud of our team and the fight they put up. They never stopped working, shots just didn't fall."
Trentyn Kreager continued his stellar play, scoring 25 points to lead the Spartans. Jordan Nortz added eight points and Travis Mathews, Blake Barrett and Jace Yount each scored five.
Priest River (6-2) opens Intermountain League play 6 p.m. Saturday at rival Timberlake.
Post Falls JV 15 18 8 16 — 57
Priest River 12 15 14 13 — 54
POST FALLS JV — Smith 3, Naylor 9, Shields 2, McCarthy 6, Tebbe 0, Jacobsen 5, Gipson 0, Bowie 4, Asmi Gunderson 0, Scortino 21, Butler 1, Cooper 4, Summers 2.
PRIEST RIVER — Mathews 5, Butler 4, J. Nortz 8, Kreager 25, Marinello 0, Barrett 5, D. Nortz 0, Thompson 2, Yount 5.