Bonners Ferry Streaks To Top Of Poll After Win Over Kellogg

By virtue of its 74-50 win over Kellogg, Bonners Ferry vaulted to the top of the A-2 boys basketball poll this week.

The Badgers, 9-2 overall, climbed from fourth to the top as the four other teams in the poll were defeated.

All five A-2 teams split the 11 first-place votes in The Associated Press poll voted by the state’s sportswriters and sportscasters. Bonners Ferry received four first-place votes and 44 points.

Payette, previously unranked, upset previously No. 1-ranked Bishop Kelly to jump into second with three first-place votes and 36 points. Bishop Kelly fell to third with two firstplace votes and 25 points. Rounding out the poll are Kellogg and Emmett.

In the A-1 poll, Centennial, perfect in a dozen games, was a unanimous pick while the state’s other undefeated team, Rigby (11-0), received all the second-place votes among the state’s largest schools.

Rigby eked out two wins last week by seven and four points, while Centennial blew out a pair of opponents by a total of 57 points.

Meridian bolted into the poll after upsetting previously fourth-ranked Capital. Capital slipped to fifth, and Pocatello was knocked out of the poll after losing to cross-town rival Highland. Lake City also fell out of the poll.

Potlatch survived a couple of scares to retain the top ranking in A-3. Lapwai climbed a notch to No. 2 despite a four-point loss to the Loggers.

Malad’s Dragons tripped twice to fall to 9-3 and slipped a spot to third in the poll. Aberdeen, a 64-52 winner over Malad, entered the poll at number four, followed by West Jefferson. Gooding dropped out of the poll after a 20-point loss to cross-county rival Wendell.

Upsets also marked the state’s smallest schools as previously top-ranked and unbeaten Notus suffered its first loss in 13 games to slipped into a second-place tie with previously third-ranked Nampa Christian in A-4. After that victory, Nampa Christian stumbled against Wilder.

Carey was the only team to survive the week without a defeat and that was enough to push it into the top spot.

T-Wolves remain No. 1

The Lake City High girls basketball team collected all seven first-place votes in the weekly poll voted by the state’s sportswriters and sportscasters.

Centennial received six of seven second-place votes to remain in second.

The biggest change regarded Sandpoint, which dropped back-to-back games to Lewiston (49-39) and Lake City (63-37) last week. The Bulldogs fell from third to sixth, one spot ahead of Lewiston.

Highland of Pocatello climbed to third after beating cross-town rival Pocatello 35-32 last weekend. Pocatello is fifth.

Shelley, the highest-ranked A-2 team in the poll, moved up a spot to fifth. Borah, A-4 Nampa Christian and A-3 Kimberly round out the top 10.

Rasslin’ rankings

Defending State A-1 wrestling champion Sandpoint is ranked No. 1 in the first state poll.

Based on its showing in tournaments, Sandpoint received 106 points, well ahead of runner-up Capital’s 87. Rounding out the top five are Idaho Falls (60), Minico (58) and Lewiston (52).

Six wrestlers are ranked in each weight. Eight of Sandpoint’s wrestlers are ranked. Five Bulldogs are ranked No. 1. They are Jared Lawrence (103 pounds), Shawn Garner (112), Brett Lawrence (119), Trevor Walkington (130) and Pat Larson (140). Other Bulldogs ranked are: Zach Vaughan (second at 112), Travis Carter (second at 125) and Rusty Irish (third at 160).

Lewiston has six in the rankings, led by Trevor Derrick (first at 171), Pat Clevenger (second at 125) and Billy Greene (third at 130).

Other ranked area wrestlers are: Coeur d’Alene’s Josh Curran (second at heavyweight), Matt Butkovich (third at 189) and Paul Weseman (sixth at 125); Post Falls’ Mike Booth (third at 152) and Ben Frank (fourth at 130); and Lake City senior Shawn Gust (sixth at 140).

Coaches hired

Sandpoint High School has filled two of its spring sports head coaching positions.

As expected, longtime assistant track coach and alum Tom Albertson has been named head boys coach, replacing Dave DeMers, who resigned after nine years to become athletic director at Sandpoint Middle School.

Bonner County juvenile probation officer Dave Martinez has been named interim baseball coach, replacing Gene Tomt, who quit after two years.