Badgers’ cold-shooting continues in loss

MERIDIAN, Idaho – The Bonners Ferry High boys basketball team didn’t make it to state primarily because of its shooting.

No, the Badgers qualified for the State 3A tournament largely because of defense and chemistry. But as they learned in their final two games, both losses, they needed a few more shots to fall.

For a second straight year, Bonners Ferry played for a trophy but came up empty, falling to 2006 state champ Snake River 53-43 Saturday morning at Meridian High School in the third-place game.

“Again we couldn’t make our shots. We went from cold to colder,” Bonners Ferry coach Gordy Allured said of the Badgers’ shooting Friday in a semifinal loss to Buhl and Saturday.

The Badgers battled nonetheless, even when they fell behind 24-7 following a 22-2 run by the Panthers.

“We didn’t bury ourselves, but we got in a deep hole,” Allured said.

BF (19-6) fought back within seven points at 25-18 moments before halftime.

The margin hovered between seven and 11 points through the third quarter as the Badgers never could muster any offensive surge.

Drew Galloway hit a 3-pointer to open the fourth quarter, pulling BF within 44-37. But the Badgers missed seven of their next nine shots.

They cut the lead to less than 10 points one last time when A.J. Bennett got a steal and was fouled making a layup. He missed the free throw, but the Badgers were within eight at 51-43 with 1:35 to go.

BF had two more opportunities to cut into the lead further, but back-to-back turnovers thwarted any comeback hope.

The Panthers certainly left the door wide-open, making just 3 of 10 free throws in the final 3:03, including missing the front end of two 1-and-1 opportunities.

“The kids just don’t give up,” Allured said. “We’re all disappointed. We came down here and made a statement the first night. We played well the whole tournament. We just couldn’t make a shot.”

Snake River’s Kyle Gelles, an agile 6-foot-3 post, scored a game-high 20 points. He had 12 rebounds to lead a 52-42 advantage on the boards. He also had four assists. Teammate Aby Ibarra added 11 points and five assists.

Junior wing Ryan Winebark led BF with 12 points and 10 rebounds. He was the lone Badger to score in double figures.

Allured said his team played well enough on defense in its two losses to win.

“We defended well, it’s just all back to making shots,” he said. “We pressed, we trapped, we threw different things at them. They’re a good ballclub. They threw some stuff up that went in.”

The Badgers were making their third straight trip to state in three years under Allured including three Intermountain League titles and three District I championships. The only thing they don’t have to show for their success is a state trophy.

What makes this year special to Allured is how his team overcame the loss of two returning all-league starters – one who moved and another who quit.

“This group came together and created just a great chemistry,” Allured said. “As a team we were hard to beat. Winning the league again for a third time and winning districts for a third time. I don’t think that’s been done very often in the IML anyway. So I’ve got to be proud of the kids. They just battled all year. In the regular season we were down at halftime in 10 games and won seven of them. They battled.”