Badgers hand Kellogg first loss

By MIKE WELAND

For the Herald

Having fallen to the Wildcats twice this season, the last time by a lopsided 51-23, the Bonners Ferry Badger girls dug deep on Tuesday and handed undefeated Kellogg their first loss of the season, 30-23.

Badger Coach Travis Hinthorn credits a defense that played aggressive from start to finish as key, and while phenomenon Kellogg sophomore center Amanda Seeling was able to tack up 15 points, she was the only player to break double digits and one of only three Wildcats who scored.

Samantha Hiatt opened the scoring for the Badgers, landing a trey, but Seeling kept Kellogg in the first quarter, scoring all nine points for the Wildcats.

Defense may have been key, but in addition, the Badgers were able to maintain a more balanced and effective offense, putting up a diversified attack from all over the floor.

Katie Poston, though still not up to full strength, watched Seeling lob two seemingly effortless baskets over her outstretched arms, figured out how to guard her, and held her in check for most of the remainder of the game.

It wasn't just Poston. Camille Robertson, a 5'10" junior, and Brittney Donnewirth were so intent on grabbing a loose ball in the middle of the first quarter they collided with a force to make a linebacker proud, and it was Camille, though dazed, who not only got the ball, but who stayed in the game.

Both she, Poston and a scrappy Ashley Winkelseth helped the Badgers control the boards throughout the game, but not a single Badger failed to contribute to the effort, and everyone played.

"It was a great game," Hinthorn said. "I hope we get to see them again this season."

In the second quarter, Winkelseth scored the Badger's only point early from the charity stripe, but Poston kept the game alive blocking shots and snagging rebounds and keeping Kellogg off the scoreboard until Bridgett Lund landed a trey with 2:24 to go in the half to tie the game.

At the opening of the third quarter, Seeling swished two from the charity stripe to give Kellogg the lead, the only points the Badgers would cede. Robertson took her turn at the stripe for two shots, missed both, but managed to snag her own rebound and pass to Winkleseth, who nailed a deuce.

Poston came up with a steal a couple of plays later, drove to the basket, missed and grabbed her rebound for a second shot, which went in to put the Badgers ahead for the final time, 16-14, with 4:10 on the clock.

Becky Lowther, made her first points of the game despite being pressed hard, and the Badgers went into the final quarter ahead, 22-14.

The final quarter wound down with neither team giving or gaining ground until the final seconds. Kellogg's Katie Dumont hit two from the charity stripe early on, only to be answered by a deuce from Poston.

Seeling finally managed another bucket despite the pressure, but she was answered by Robertson, who landed both shots on this trip to the stripe.

With 1:37 left on the clock, the Badgers still held an eight-point lead, 26-18.

Seeling worked to close the gap, landing another deuce, but Samantha Hiatt went to the stripe, hitting one of two.

Kellogg's Bridgett Lund answered with her second trey of the game, bringing Kellogg to within 4, 27-23, with :40 left in the game. But a winded Kellogg couldn't keep the ball long enough to capitalize on the time left, and they just let it fall to the floor mid-court as the buzzer sounded.

While Kellogg was undefeated prior to Tuesday, the loss ties them with the Badgers in league play, with both their records now at 4-1. If the Badgers can maintain the intensity they showed for the rest of the season, chances are Hinthorn's wish could very well come true.

Bonners Ferry 11 1 10 8 — 30

Kellogg 9 3 2 9 — 23

BONNERS FERRY — Lowther 6, Kelly 0, Robertson 8, Hiatt 4, Kellogg 0, Winkleseth 4, Tetrault 0, Clausen 0, Poston 8.

KELLOGG — Cantrall 0, Bush 0, Robb 0, Lund 6, Cochrane 0, Crow 0, Calabretta 0, Dumont 2, Seeling 15.