Lady Badgers on to state!
Holly Ansley breaks the Wildcats’ pressure during Friday’s game.
Photo by Mandi Bateman Miranda Wenk goes for the points.
Photo by Mandi Bateman With their teamwork and determination, the Lady Badgers have come out on top of the game.
Photo by Mandi Bateman Bonners Ferry High School cheerleaders Lillian Goad, Kaylee Worley, and Cassidy Chaffin. Cheer and Dance will compete for a chance to go to State on Feb, 24 at Lakeland High School.
Photo by Mandi Bateman Kassy Skeen aims high to bring home the gold.
Photo by Mandi Bateman The Lady Badgers brought on a 46-36 victory and earned a second place in districts to qualify for the state tournament.
Photo by Mandi Bateman The packed bleachers, full of Badger fans, were elated at the end of a great game.
Photo by Mandi Bateman The Lady Badgers brought their best for the playoff game, coming out on top.
Photo by Mandi Bateman Getting past the opposing teams defense seemed to be a breeze for the girls.
Photo by Mandi Bateman Holly Ansley kept her eye on the ball, right along with her teammates, as they strived for the win.
Photo by Mandi Bateman The key to many sports is reaching for the goal, which is to win.
Photos by Mandi Bateman The Bonners Ferry girls’ basketball team celebrates its 46-36 win over Kellogg, which qualified them for the 3A state tournament.
BONNERS FERRY — The Lady Badgers are headed to the 3A state tournament for the first time since the 2012-13 season, when they won the consolation trophy.
After being upset by Kellogg in the first round of districts at North Idaho College, the Badgers recovered to beat Priest River 70-22 in the second round. The second-seeded Badgers then hosted the third-seeded Wildcats for the Intermountain League’s second spot at state. It was the third time in nine days that the Lady Badgers and Lady Wildcats played each other.
With a 46-36 victory, the Badgers (18-5) are among eight teams vying for Idaho’s 3A title, and will play the Panthers of Snake River (17-6) at Skyview High School in Nampa at 7 p.m. today, Feb. 15.
Bonners Ferry 70, Priest River 22: Miranda Wenk led the Badgers with 19 points and 10 rebounds as Bonners Ferry jumped out to a 22-3 first quarter lead en route to a blowout victory.
Kadi Bateman contributed 15 points and fellow senior guard Kassy Skeen added 10.
Priest River 3 10 4 5 — 22
Bonners Ferry 22 16 26 6 — 70
Priest River: Kren 3, Rusho 0, Fink 7, Fitzmorris 2, Palfrey 2, Martinez 4, Jo. Martin 0, Minish 2, Meek 0, Ja. Martin 2, Hegel 0.
Bonners Ferry: B. Blackmore 1, Skeen 10, Pluid 8, Villelli 1, Wenk 19, Burt 0, Bateman 15, Ansley 8, Liermann 3, Ram 5, Jackson 0, E. Blackmore 0.
Bonners Ferry 46, Kellogg 36: Freshman Holly Ansley scored 15 points and the Badgers held off a late Kellogg rally for a 46-36 win in front of a packed gymnasium at Bonners Ferry High School.
Ansley made two free throws with 3 minutes left in the third quarter, giving the Badgers a 34-17 lead. Kellogg quickly rallied with a 15-2 run and cut the lead to 36-32 with five minutes remaining in the fourth. But that is as close as the Wildcats would get as the Badgers calmed down to finish the game on a 10-4 run to secure the victory and earn second place in districts to qualify for the state tournament.
Kadi Bateman scored 11 points, including three 3-pointers, and added 5 steals. Jerzie Pluid continued her dominance on the boards with 13 rebounds to go along with 7 points.
Kellogg: Cates 2, Nusz 3, Riekena 0, Rauenhorst 2, VanHose 0, Senteney 0, Sheppard 0, Figueroa 16, Brandt 13.
Bonners Ferry: Skeen 6, Pluid 7, Wenk 7, Bateman 11, Ansley 15, Liermann 0, Blackmore 0.