Bulldogs claim spot in state championship final

The Sandpoint Bulldogs went up against the Columbia Wildcats on Friday night for game two of the 4A State Championship Tournament. Karli Banks led the Bulldogs with 16 points to help Sandpoint win 47-32 and a spot in the state championship final.

The Bulldogs got off to a good start with two three-pointers. Banks was 2-5 and Sandpoint ended the game with 40% from the outside.

"Karli Banks had a great game,” head coach Will Love said.

Sandpoint led 12-4 heading into the second quarter.

The next eight minutes were tight for the Bulldogs.

“They put in a zone that had us struggling offensively,” Love said. “But we didn’t let up and the girls played really well.”

The Bulldogs kept their lead 19-11 heading into halftime.

Sandpoint put their foot on the gas in the second half of the game. They scored 20 points in the third quarter to followed it up with 14 in the fourth.

“We put the clamps down in the third quarter, and had a great effort defensively,” Love said. “They got it down to three but we never trailed. Aliya banked in a 3 pointer that brought us to an eight point lead.”

Aliya Strock had 11 points and Daylee Driggs added eight to the board.

“We had a great game plan that the coaches put together,” Love said. “It was awesome, I was really proud of the girls.”

Sandpoint heads to the final for the first time since 1996 to face the winner of Shelley and Bishop Kelly today at 6 p.m. MST at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa.

Sandpoint 12 7 20 14 — 47

Columbia 4 7 7 8 — 32

SANDPOINT — K. Cessna 4, De. Driggs 5, Da. Driggs 8, Mire 0, David 0, P. Cessna 0, Laybourne 0, Richardson 3, Knowles 0, Owens 0, Bleckwenn 0, Strock 11, Banks 16, Thaete 0.

COLUMBIA — Reyna 5, Robertson 9, Andrews 2, Farris 0, Soto 0, Myers 6, Knight 0, Nabors 2, Lundergan 2, Mills 6, Callahan 0, Lozano 0.