Spartans down cold Cats
If the Kellogg Wildcats had to point to one thing that cost them a shot at the 3A District I girls basketball title, they wouldn’t have to think about it too long.
A dreadful scoring drought which covered half of the first quarter and much of the second proved fatal for the Wildcats. And top-seeded Priest River took advantage.
The Spartans (13-9), behind a great defensive effort, downed third-seeded Kellogg 57-40 Friday at North Idaho College’s Christianson Gym to claim the district championship and a spot in the 3A state tournament which begins Thursday in Kuna. Their opponent in opening round will be the winner of a play-in game today between Gooding (16-7) and Shelley (12-14).
Kellogg (12-10) still has a shot at a state tournament berth. The Wildcats will meet second-seeded Bonners Ferry (11-9) tonight at 7 p.m. at NIC with the winner earning the district’s second tournament berth. Bonners Ferry defeated St. Maries (8-14) 63-49 in an earlier loser-out game.
Kellogg, winner of four in a row going into the title game and a 47-33 winner over Priest River just a week ago, jumped out to a 6-5 lead over the Spartans with 3:03 left in the first quarter on a jumper by senior Cami Wendt. Then the roof caved in.
The Wildcats went the next 10:24 without scoring. During that span, Priest River was able to score 17 unanswered points to take a 22-6 lead. The drought finally ended with 2:33 to go in the first half when Jamie Brower got loose inside for a lay-in, but Kellogg never recovered.
The Wildcats shot just under 19 percent (6 of 32) from the field in the first half and followed that up with a 2-of-12 effort in the third quarter.
Wendt, Kellogg’s leading scorer with averages round 14 points a game, was held to five and was 0 for 8 from 3-point range.
“We were just trying to move on the perimeter and take away their 3-point shots,” Priest River coach Marty Landry said. “That was kind of our plan to start with, push them outside and make them shoot the 3. It’s not very often that a plan comes together, but it did tonight. They took some shots too fast.”
The Spartans, playing without starting guard Ellen Bryant who injured her knee in a Thursday opening-round game, put Kellogg away with a 15-6 run to end the third quarter, making it 44-21.
Priest River, which hit 22 of 41 shots was led in scoring by senior Rachel Schlechte’s 15 points. Joining her in double figures were freshman Jessica Willig with 12 and senior Callie Jo Turner with 11.
Freshman Kaela Calabretta scored 13 points for the Wildcats and Brower added 12.
Bonners Ferry 63, St. Maries 49
Bonners Ferry jumped out to a 19-5 first-quarter lead over St. Maries thanks to cold shooting by the Lumberjacks.
St. Maries eventually warmed up and clawed back and a 3-pointer by sophomore Sam Siron cut the Badgers’ lead to 27-21 early in the third quarter.
But an 8-0 run gave Bonners Ferry some breathing room and momentum and they survived a frantic Lumberjack comeback effort in the third quarter to hold on for the win.
Sophomore Becky Lowther scored 24 points for the Badgers, including a 10-of-10 effort from the free-throw line.
St. Maries, which has nine freshmen and four sophomores on its roster, was led by the 12 points each by senior Kristi Smith and Mallory Lehman.
All-IML team
The All-Intermountain League team was announced following Friday’s games. Team members include; sophomores Becky Lowther and Kaitie Poston of Bonners Ferry, seniors Cami Wendt (MVP) and Jamie Brower of Kellogg, seniors Callie Jo Turner, Lesa Barber, Rachel Schlechte, and Ellen Bryant of Priest River, junior Lynsie Powers of Timberlake, and senior Kristi Smith of St. Maries.