Sandpoint Wins Low-Scoring Clash

Sandpoint outscored Coeur d’Alene 14-0 in the first 5 minutes and defeated the Vikings 36-25 in a Border League boys basketball game on Wednesday.

Sandpoint snapped a five-game losing streak and sealed a regular-season sweep of CdA. Sandpoint opened the year 3-0.

Bulldogs coach Kurt Lundblad graduated from CdA in 1984.

The Vikings were held to two points on two free throws in the first quarter and didn’t score their first basket until 10 minutes, 34 seconds had passed.

Then Sandpoint went cold, scoring 11 points during a 23-minute stretch in which the Vikings took a 21-20 lead on Jeff Rupp’s layup. Rupp also made a 3-pointer behind a screen to tie the score at 24 with 5 minutes left.

Greg Malone’s free throw with 4:40 left snapped the tie and gave the Bulldogs the lead for good.

Sandpoint then made 9 of 12 free throws down the stretch.

Sandpoint 36, Coeur d’Alene 25

Sandpoint 14 4 2 16 - 36

Coeur d’Alene 2 8 10 6 - 25

Sandpoint (5-6, 4-5) - Nieman 4 4-4 13, Bopp 0 0-0 0, Singleton 0 2-2 2, Watson 3 2-3 8, Aumick 0 0-0 0, Palmer 0 0-0 0, Malone 2 1-2 5, Menard 0 2-2 2, Rinaldi 2 2-3 6. Totals 11 13-16 36.

Coeur d’Alene (3-9, 2-9) - Chambers 0 0-0 0, Ja. Rupp 2 2-2 6, Je. Rupp 5 1-3 14, Keil 0 0-0 0, Sather 0 3-4 3, Gittel 0 0-0 0, Alderman 1 0-0 2, Findley 0 0-0 0, Duplessis 0 0-0 0. Totals 8 6-9 25.

3-point goals - Je. Rupp 3, Nieman. Total fouls - Sandpoint 9, Coeur d’Alene 18. Fouled out - none. Technicals - none.