Bulldogs go toe-to-toe with No. 1 Coeur d'Alene

COEUR d'ALENE — Sandpoint girls basketball gave Coeur d'Alene, the No. 1 ranked 5A team in the media poll, a run for their money on Thursday night and nearly spoiled the Vikings' Senior Night.

But Coeur d'Alene took over in the fourth quarter and outscored the Bulldogs 15-7 to secure a 41-29 Inland Empire League victory.

"I'm really proud of the girls and the effort that they put out tonight against a very good Coeur d'Alene team," Sandpoint head coach Will Love said. "We were right in it throughout the game."

Love said everyone chipped in to help the Bulldogs contain the Vikings and they had their chances to pull out a win down the stretch.

"We had some opportunities on offense, but we just couldn't execute there at the end," he said. "But on the other hand, the girls put themselves in a position to be there. They fought hard the entire game."

Senior captain Hattie Larson broke out for 12 points.

"It was nice to have her going again," Love said.

Daylee Driggs, Bella Phillips, Karlie Banks and Kaylee Banks each scored four points.

SHS lost 55-29 at home to the Vikings on Jan. 9.

"Sandpoint played hard and never backed down," Coeur d'Alene head coach Nicole Symons said.

Love said his team showed what they are capable of on Thursday night.

"It speaks to how hard this entire team works," he said. "They're realizing how good they are defensively and they showed it tonight against a team that regularly puts up 60-plus points."

Sandpoint (6-7, 3-5 IEL) hosts Lewiston at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

Sandpoint 6 6 10 7 — 29

Coeur d’Alene 4 11 11 15 — 41

SANDPOINT — Gammon 0, Driggs 4, Reinink 0, Lyons 0, Tomco 0, Cessna 0, Phillips 4, Kar. Banks 4, Larson 12, Platte 2, Kay. Banks 4.

COEUR d’ALENE — Matheson 0, Brainard-Adams 6, Whiteman 2, Symons 3, Ja. Johnson 2, Younker 9, Chavez 6, Burke 13.