Bonners Ferry girls basketball team go to state

The Bonners Ferry girls basketball team will play  Wendell  in the first round of the state tournament at 7 p.m. today, Feb. 19, at Skyview High School in Nampa.

The game will be broadcast on KBFI radio, 1450 AM in Bonners Ferry.

“We match up with Wendell pretty well.  It should be a good game,” said coach Travis Hinthorn.  “They are a tall team and have a tall half court offense.  We match up in height pretty well and have good guards to match their guards.”

The Wendell Trojans are 18-7 overall and 6-2 in the Sawtooth Central Idaho Conference. Bonners Ferry girls are 15-5 overall and 8-2 in the Intermountain League.

The Lady Badgers qualified for the state tournament after taking the District I title. Named to the Intermountain League All Team were junior Erin Hiatt and seniors  Alicia Hedrick and Ashley Winkelseth.

Bonners Ferry defeated Timberlake 38-35 to win the title at Lakeland High School.

Bonners Ferry was ahead 12-6 after the first quarter, but was outscored 10-2 in the second. The Lady Badgers went 11 minutes and 30 seconds during the second and third quarters without scoring.

“We just couldn’t score, but luckily they were struggling offensively, too,” Hinthorn said.

Hedrick scored 6 of the team’s leading 10 points in the fourth, including making her last four free throw attempts.

Winkelseth scored 6 points and had 11 rebounds, and Caitlin Clausen scored 5 points, had 9 rebounds and 4 assists.

During the first district game, the Lady Badgers beat Priest River.  

Trailed by 2 going into the fourth, the Lady Badgers outscored Priest River 18-14 in the fourth quarter to win by 2 points.

 Clausen made a free throw with 4.6 seconds left to put Bonners Ferry up by 2.  Priest River got the ball across half court and called a time out.  Jaime Koch from Priest River threw a half court pass to the front of the rim where Melissa Hopkins’  (PR) tip rolled off the side of the rim.

“They ran that last second play perfectly and got a great look.” Hinthorn said. “Fortunately for us she missed the tip in, but what a pass from half court.”

Bonners Ferry was led by  Clausen’s 11 points , 6 rebounds, 2 blocks and 2 steals.  Pauls and Accord contributed 12 points off the bench .