Badgers advance to state
The 3A District I boys basketball tournament championship game featured frequent and infrequent participants.
It took a half before frequency prevailed going away.
Bonners Ferry rode hot shooting and momentum in the third quarter to roll over Timberlake 63-42 as the Badgers captured their third straight district title Tuesday at North Idaho College’s Rolly Williams Court.
The Badgers (18-4) advance to state, which will be held March 1-3 at Meridian High School. Bonners Ferry’s first-round opponent won’t be determined until a play-in game Saturday.
Timberlake (7-14) will take on Priest River (12-11) at 7 tonight in a loser-out game at NIC. The winner advances to a play-in game for a state berth Saturday against the still-to-be determined District III runner-up at Grangeville.
Priest River eliminated co-Intermountain League champ Kellogg 57-50 in the early game.
Bonners Ferry 63, Timberlake 42: It was a tale of two teams for the Badgers.
The Tigers used a 3-pointer from league most valuable player Cody Jones to take an 11-6 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Badgers, who have won 10 straight since early January, pulled even quickly in the second quarter. A jumper in the key by A.J. Bennett gave BF a 22-20 lead at halftime.
BF needed just seven shots to put the game away to start the third quarter. The Badgers made all seven attempts, and the run didn’t end until they had scored 18 straight points for a 42-24 lead with 3 minutes to play in the quarter.
Junior Ryan Winebark had a fitting ending to the period when he sank a 10-foot baseline jumper at the buzzer to give the Badgers a 49-26 lead going into the fourth quarter.
Two free throws from James Krejci gave the Badgers their biggest lead at 59-32 with 4:31 remaining.
Four Badgers scored in double figures. Bennett led with 12 points, Krejci and Josh Hawks had 11 apiece and Winebark chipped in 10.
It was a particularly satisfying district title considering one returning starter transferred and another quit.
“They’re all special,” BF coach Gordy Allured said of the district titles. “We’ve just had a good bunch of kids for three years running. They love to win and they love to work hard. They’re special kids.”
The Badgers had two narrow wins over the Tigers in league, including a 68-63 decision in double overtime two weeks ago.
Timberlake coach Gerald Ely said his team lost its focus in the second half.
“They caught fire and we lost focus,” Ely said.
Priest River 57, Kellogg 50: It’s tough to beat a team three times. Just ask the Wildcats.
The Spartans kept Kellogg from a hat trick.
Micah Smith scored nine of his team-high 15 points in the final period. In fact, all of his points came in the final 2:56 when the Spartans opened a 57-48 lead. Smith’s twin brother, Cody, had 11 points and Brian Nelson added 10. Josh McDonald led Kellogg with 16 points and 15 rebounds.
•Joining Jones on the all-Intermountain League team are: Winebark, Bennett and Jesus Mendez of BF; McDonald, Jeremiah Big Spring and Ty Ketchum of Kellogg; Cody and Micah Smith of Priest River; and Marc Grubham of St. Maries.