Lake City Wins Ugly, A Worry To Winger

Idaho boys

Your team has just won its second league game in as many tries, both victories coming in moderately convincing fashion, and sandwiched in between was a 30-point non-league triumph.

And your team is 9-3 overall and will most likely be ranked second in the state poll when rankings are released today.

So Lake City High School boys basketball coach Jim Winger, how do you feel? Apparently not like going to any amusement parks any time soon.

“I hate to say I’m concerned when we’re 9-3, but I am a little concerned,” said Winger, whose team pulled away from Sandpoint in the second half Tuesday for a 56-46 Inland Empire League victory at Bulldog Gym. “I think we’re winning ugly. We’re not playing the basketball that we should be playing.”

It was the league opener for Sandpoint, a team loaded with young talent. The scrappy Bulldogs slipped to 5-8 overall.

The Bulldogs will likely put a bite on some league team before the season is completed. But Tuesday they stumbled against a brief LC fullcourt press and a denying man-to-man defense, and Sandpoint made its share of unforced mistakes as well.

The difference came late in the first half and early in the third quarter.

Sandpoint, which never led, managed to tie it 23-23 when long-distance ace Jared Herrington made his fourth 3-pointer with 2:41 left in the second quarter.

Both teams had several opportunities to score before halftime, but two baskets by Jon Chatfield, including one that became a three-point play, gave the Timberwolves a 28-23 lead at hafltime.

LC came out in a fullcourt trap in the third quarter, and took advantage of five Sandpoint turnovers to push its lead to 38-28.

A basket and a foul shot by Stefon Kleinert cut LC’s lead to 41-33 with 50 seconds left in the third quarter. The Bulldogs wouldn’t get any closer.

Two free throws by Scott Hoover with 1:01 left put LC ahead by its widest advantage, 56-40. Two 3-pointers by David Boren in the final 20 seconds provided the final points for Sandpoint.

Dispite his general dissatisfaction, Winger wasn’t about to give the win back.

“Sandpoint played extremely hard and spirited … I will never pout too long about a win (here),” Winger said. “Regardless of their record every year, this is a tough place to play.

“But we’re not playing up to our capabilities and that reflects on me. We’ve got two days to get them ready for the biggest game of the season.”

Winger was alluding to the first intracity game, Friday’s home matchup against Coeur d’Alene.

Chatfield and Chad Beadell led LC with 17 points each, and they had 12 and eight rebounds respectively. Herrington led Sandpoint with 17.

Lake City 56, Sandpoint 46

Lake City 15 13 14 14 - 56

Sandpoint 10 13 10 13 - 46

LAKE CITY Chatfield 17, Hoover 9, Beadell 17, Thompson 4, Keefer 0, Camantigue 0, Asper 9. SANDPOINT Buckmaster 0, Jeffres 0, Bowman 0, Eller 2, Boren 13, Herrington 17, Palmer 6, Downard 0, Lewis 4, Nieman 1, Kleinert 3.

NON-LEAGUE

Bonners Ferry 64, Mt. Baker 47

The Badgers started slow, but rolled behind a 27-point third quarter.

Defensively, Bonners Ferry forced Mt. Baker into 23 second-half turnovers.

Adam Hiatt’s 25 points, five rebounds and six assists powered the Badgers (4-5).

Bonners Ferry travels to meet Intermountain League rival Kellogg on Friday night.

Mt. Baker 11 14 10 12 - 47

Bonners Ferry 17 8 27 12 - 64

MT. BAKER McKay 4, K.Brandt 3, Martindale 5, Dennis 2, Scott 1, S.Brandt 2, Boutaara 9, Ellingson 6, Porter 10, Crouch 5.

BONNERS FERRY Holmes 2, A.Hiatt 25, Hubbard 6, S.Hiatt 2, Ashby 12, Ross 2, Staples 2, Robertson 5, Carey 8.

Falls Christian 38, Logos 37

In Moscow, Jared Horton’s putback with 53 seconds left helped the Eagles avenge a non-league loss.

Horton, who averages 18 points per game, was ineffective against the Logos zone defense, plus fell into immediate foul trouble by drawing his second personal foul 5 seconds into the game.

Ben Larson picked up the slack for the Eagles (4-5) scoring 23 points.

Falls Christian returns to North Star League play at home Thursday against Mullan.

Logos 13 8 8 8 - 37

Falls Christian 10 9 15 4 - 38

LOGOS Gerauke 4, Spencer 10, Wilson 14, Casebolt 4, Bowen 5.

FALLS CHRISTIAN Berg 5, Mullen 5, Smith 0, Burns 2, Lefevre 0, Backs 0, Horton 6, Larson 23.

Post Falls 75, Lakeland 53

Chad Juhlin’s 15 points led the Trojans (5-5) past the Hawks (0-10) in a non-league game at Rathdrum. No other details were reported.

, DataTimes