'Moose Madness" pits Bonners against Sandoint

Bonners Ferry and Sandpoint high schools will test their spirit during the 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, boys and girls varsity basketball games.

The two schools will battle it out on Badger turf during a variety of contests for what will be the first-ever Moose Madness. The winning school for the charity benefit will receive a pair of moose antlers mounted on a plaque for one year.

Because the games are a fundraiser, no passes will be honored. Admission is $5. Children under 6 and senior citizens will be admitted free.

Tickets will be sold in advance from 7:30 a.m. to 4:20 p.m. Monday through Thursday at the high school. Bonners Ferry will have one-half of the bleachers and Sandpoint will have the other half.

It’s hoped that Moose Madness will become an annual event between the Badgers and Bulldogs.

“We just wanted to do something fun and get school spirit up at both schools,” said Ted Reynolds, assistant principal and athletic director for Bonners Ferry.

Events may include a moose-calling competition, and competitions between the schools’ dance teams and cheerleaders.

“We will have a decimal meter to see who records the loudest (applause),” Reynolds said.

One of the competitions is to see which school has the most fans wearing their school colors. Bonners Ferry has had blue and white “Welcome to the Badger Den” T-shirts designed for this event. They can be purchased for $5 at the high school.

“We have 200 shirts available and can order more if necessary,” Reynolds said. “Please purchase one of these shirts and show your spirit by wearing it to the games on Jan. 17.”

The moose antlers were donated by Idaho Department of Fish and Game, said Greg Johnson, senior conservation officer for the agency in Boundary County.

Johnson obtained the antlers from the agency’s storage facility in Coeur d’Alene. It’s likely the moose paddles came from an animal that was hit on the road.

Fish and Game annually holds an auction to sell furs, hides and antlers from road-kill animals and animals seized after they were taken illegally. The items also can be donated for education.

A check will be presented to a charity during half-time of the boys’ game.

For questions, call Reynolds at 267-3149.