Nieman Propels Sandpoint

A-1 Region I/A-4 District I

Alli Nieman played her final home game Wednesday. The Sandpoint High School sensation is grateful that it’s wasn’t her final high school basketball game, period.

Nieman and company will play at least one more contest as the Bulldogs ran away from game but out-manned Post Falls, 51-39, in an A-1 Region I loser-out game.

Sandpoint (17-3 overall) advances to meet Capital of Boise (15-9), a 62-43 loser to Nampa on Wednesday, in a playoff Saturday afternoon for a state berth at Grangeville High School.

Defending state champion Lake City (13-7) will take on Nampa (15-9) in a first-round game at state, which will be held Feb. 8-10 at College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls.

Nieman wants at least four more games, among other things.

“I’ve played four years of volleyball and basketball here so it was kind of sad actually before the game,” the University of Idaho-bound Nieman said. “I wanted to come out and play well and leave it all on the court. I played all right I guess.”

How’s 28 points, 14 in both halves, 11 rebounds, three assists and two steals for all right? In a word, the 6-foot-1 Nieman was dominating.

Her faithful sidekick, senior wing Tanya Allmaras, also made the most of her final home game. Combined, Nieman and Allmaras scored 23 of Sandpoint’s 27 first-half points.

They were especially effective breaking Post Falls’ fullcourt and halfcourt presses.

Sandpoint asserted command midway through the second quarter.

Post Falls’ Heidi Umthun made a foul shot to tie the score at 15-all with 3:52 to go before halftime. A 12-2 Sandpoint run ensued. Nieman had three baskets, one assist, one blocked shot and altered a Trojan shot as the Bulldogs took a 27-17 lead at intermission.

The Trojans fell apart in the third quarter. And the Bulldogs sensed Post Falls panic and built an insurmountable lead.

A driving basket in the key by Umthun pulled the Trojans within eight points at 29-21 just 48 seconds into the third period. Post Falls would miss its next 13 shots as Sandpoint reeled off 16 straight points to extend the lead to 45-21 going into the fourth quarter.

Post Falls went nearly a quarter without scoring. After Nieman flashed through the key and made one of her trademark turnaround jumpers to give the Bulldogs their biggest lead at 47-21, Trojan freshman Janelle Ruen made two free throws to break the scoring drought with 7:16 remaining.

Sandpoint would only score two baskets from thereafter. But the Trojans couldn’t shake their shooting problems.

“Alli had one of those nights again where she starts hitting those fade-away 20 footers - it’s going to be a long night,” said Post Falls coach Chris Johnson, exaggerating the distance of Nieman’s shots for emphasis.

Sandpoint 51, Post Falls 39

Post Falls 10 7 4 18 -39

Sandpoint 11 16 18 6 - 51

POST FALLS (39) - Klaudt 2, Umthun 24, Murphy 0, Swanstrom 0, Waltz 2, Thomson 2, Ruen 6, Glaser 2, Beatty 1, Brown 0.

SANDPOINT Iverson 0, Timblin 0, Verby 2, Gunter 0, Ward 6, Tanya Allmaras 15, Tarrah Allmaras 0, Nieman 28, Raynor 0, Carlson 0.

A-4

In a pair of loser-out playoff games, Falls Christian stopped Clark Fork 48-33 and Lakeside beat Mullan 51-22, setting up a championship seeding game between the two winners Friday at Lakeland High School at 7 p.m.

Falls Christian 48, Clark Fork 33

Sarah Peterson scored 14 points and Audrey Wallace had 10 rebounds and 10 points as the Eagles won at home.

Clark Fork 7 14 4 8 - 33

Falls Christian 15 10 14 9 - 48

CLARK FORK J.Miller 2, Manderscheid 2, Haller 0, Longstreet 2, Storaasli 8, Scofield 13, Hager 6.

FALLS CHRISTIAN Wallace 10, Peterson 14, Jackson 10, Moate 6, Taylor 2, Gelnette 4, Jenkins 2.

Lakeside 51, Mullan 22

The Knights opened the second half with a 14-0 run to take a 40-11 lead to eliminate the Tigers.

Mullan 3 8 2 9 - 22

Lakeside 8 18 16 9 - 51

MULLAN Matt , Renteria 3, Pemble 9, Kr.Elwood 3, Reed 1, Noordam 1, Hegbloom 1, Ka.Elwood 10, Flood 3.

LAKESIDE (PLUMMER, IDAHO) - Brand 2, Niebuhr 9, Campbell 0, SiJohn 17, Hammons 13, Hoffman 6, Middleton 3, Flint 1, Holton 0, Twoteeth 0, Wolff 0.

, DataTimes