Bonners Ferry Loses Heartbreaker

The Bonners Ferry High girls basketball team went from elation to heartbreak in 7 seconds Thursday night.

After making a tying basket, Bonners Ferry senior guard Becky Bateman was called for a foul as the buzzer sounded. Buhl’s Marci Jenson went to the foul line with three opportunities to make one shot and no time on the clock.

Jenson wasted no time cutting through the suspense, making the first shot to lift the Indians to a 45-44 victory in opening-round play of the State A-2 Tournament at Centennial High School.

Bonners Ferry (16-5) will take on Bishop Kelly (21-4) in an elimination contest this afternoon at 2:15 PST.

Jenson was dribbling up the sideline in front of Buhl’s bench when she started to put up about a 40-foot shot. As she started to pick up the dribble, though, Bateman reached across her arm and bumped into her.

As the whistle blew, Bonners Ferry coach Jim Nash collapsed on the court in front of the Badgers’ bench.

“The one thing we didn’t want to do,” Nash said, his voice trailing off with emotion. “They got the ball (inbounds) with what about 4 seconds? It’s a hard way to lose. The kids did exactly what I asked them to do in the fourth period. I thought we played our guts out.”

Bonners Ferry trailed after three quarters, 41-29, but began an improbable comeback following a 15-3 Buhl run.

Bringing the Badgers back was 5-foot-3 junior point guard Sarah Walter. She made four of her shots from the field in the final period, including two clutch 3-pointers as she scored 11 of her team’s 15 points.

Walter’s final trey ended a 13-0 run and put the Badgers ahead, 42-41, with 2:32 left.

Buhl regained the lead, 43-42, when Jennifer Bartosovsky hit a 14-footer at the 1:17 mark.

After committing a turnover with 49 seconds left, the Badgers had to foul.

Jenson made the front end of an one-and-one with :23 left to make the score 44-42. Bateman followed with her game-tying jumper.

Buhl 45, Bonners Ferry 44

Bonners Ferry 15 11 3 15 - 44

Buhl 16 10 15 4 - 45

Bonners Ferry - Walter 13, Decker 2, Bateman 11, Braniff 2, Paulson 16, Downing 0, Carey 0, Morman 0. Buhl - Jenson 9, Williamson 2, Bartosovsky 6, Moore 9, Scott 0, Kreilkamp 0, Watson 10, Schroeder 9.

American Falls 32, Moscow 22

Defending state champion Moscow (14-8) committed more turnovers (30) than points in the loss to American Falls.

Moscow meets Shelley (22-2) at 12:45 PST today in a loser-out game.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: A-2 state Thursday’s results American Falls 32, Moscow 22 Middleton 50, Shelley 45 Preston 52, Bishop Kelly 48 Buhl 45, Bonners Ferry 44