Shifty Post Falls Steals One

Quick shooting and sly thievery haven’t been worthy personal qualities since the times of the Old West.

Post Falls’ Scott Klaudt proved that they are, however, worthy traits for a 5-foot-11 shooting guard as the Trojans stole a 51-49 Border League boys basketball victory out of the hands of Sandpoint.

Klaudt hit his final 3-pointer with a minute remaining to pull the Trojans up 50-49, and later made 1 of 2 free throws for the final margin. He finished with a game-high 26 points, including 5-of-11 shooting from 3-point range. They weren’t open shots either, and four were made from well beyond the arc.

“Eli (Thornley) kept setting high screens for me,” Klaudt said. “I knew they weren’t going to give me anything close so I had to work around it.”

Post Falls used 15 of Klaudt’s points to come back from a 41-32 deficit in the fourth. He had five steals, using three to easily convert layins.

Klaudt hit three consecutive 3-pointers early in the fourth quarter, the last tying the game at 41 with 6 minutes remaining.

“I think the other four kids were unselfish,” Trojans coach Wade Quesnell said as his team improved to 5-10 in league, 7-10 overall. “He had a hot hand and we got him the ball. He’s averaging about 24 points in the last five games.”

The loss dropped the Bulldogs to 9-6, 10-7.

The Trojans made up for their lack of height in the key with strong, physical play by 6-1 Thornley and 6-0 Josh Miller. Both had five rebounds and they combined for five blocked shots. Their play was particularly impressive considering their opposition: 6-6 Adrian Menard and 6-5 Devon Rinaldi.

Miller’s key block came in the final seconds, rejecting a 4-foot attempt by Sandpoint’s Paul Nieman.

Nieman led the Bulldogs with 17 points, including 3 of 3 3-pointers. He made 8 of 9 free throws.

The Trojans used a 12-4 run in the final 5 minutes of the second quarter to lead 26-22 at halftime.

Post Falls 51, Sandpoint 49

Sandpoint 11 11 19 8 - 49

Post Falls 9 17 6 19 - 51

Sandpoint (9-6, 10-7) - Evans 0 0-0 0, Nieman 3 8-9 17, Mills 0 0-0 0, Singleton 0 0-0 0, Watson 3 2-3 9, Aumick 0 0-0 0, Menard 3 0-0 7, Malone 0 0-0 0, Gunter 0 0-0 0, James 0 0-0 0, Rinaldi 6 2-3 14, Palmer 0 2-2 2. Totals 15 14-17 49.

Post Falls (5-10, 7-10) - Smith 0 0-0 0, Klaudt 10 1-2 26, Fetters 0 0-0 0, Hindberg 0 0-0 0, McKinnon 3 1-1 7, Garrett 1 0-0 2, Miller 2 0-0 5, Richards 1 2-2 5, Dreckman 0 0-0 0, Thornley 2 1-4 5, Adams 1 0-0 2. Totals 20 5-9 51.

3-point goals - Nieman 3, Watson, Meanrd, Klaudt 5, Miller. Total fouls - S 7, PF 9.

NORTH STAR LEAGUE

Falls Christian 80, Mullan 42

Jared Bligh had eight rebounds and combined with brother Aaron for 34 points as the visiting Eagles defeated the Tigers.

Aaron Bligh hit three 3-pointers. Mullan’s Derik Stanley scored 25, including five 3-pointers, and added eight rebounds.

Falls Christian 25 19 13 23 - 80

Mullan 10 11 11 9 - 42

Falls Christian (12-4, 4-1) - A. Bligh 15, R. Baker 3, Dowers 9, Beck 2, D. Baker 3, Walker 4, Jackson 4, Hanks 9, Anderson 8, Wild 4, J. Bligh 19.

Mullan (2-17, 0-6) - Sala 8, Carrico 0, Stanley 25, Elwood 7, Askerov 0, Hegbloom 2, Short 0, Ulrich 0, Hoven 0.