Kellogg boys advance to state tourney

Kellogg defeated St. Maries 68-61 in the Idaho 3A District I tournament at Lakeland High School in Rathdrum on Thursday to clinch a berth in the state boys basketball tournament.

St. Maries will play the Timberlake Tigers tonight at 6 at Lakeland in a loser-out game to determine the district’s second berth in the state tournament.

Timberlake eliminated Bonners Ferry 72-49 in the first game of the district doubleheader. Timberlake and St. Maries split their two-regular season meetings, the Lumberjacks winning in early December by six with the Tigers taking the rematch by two in January.

Kellogg junior Garret Wendt led all scorers with 24 points in the Wildcats’ victory over the Lumberjacks. Senior Ryan McDonald added 20 points.

Junior Rhett Ryle put in five 3-pointers and finished with 19 points to lead the Lumberjacks. Junior Austin Linnemeyer added 15 points and senior Satchel Schetzle 11.

Leading by three after the first quarter, Kellogg (18-4) took command in the second quarter and led at the half 34-22. Five 3-pointers in the fourth quarter tightened the margin for the Lumberjacks.

Kellogg will play Weiser in the first round of the state tournament. Weiser defeated Payette 54-35 on Thursday to secure a seed out of District 3. The 3A tournament will be played at Meridian next week.