Lady Badgers win three games in busy week
Photos by Tanna Yeoumans Kassy Skeen jumps high to lay the ball in the basket against Priest River in the Badgers’ 62-18 home win on Jan. 6. Skeen had 11 points in the game.
Kassy Skeen looked to her teammates as she tried to get around the Priest River defense.
The Lady Badgers used a 35-2 first-quarter advantage to help earn their Intermountain League win over the visiting Priest River Spartans, which brought the Badgers to a 1-0 league record and an 11-2 overall record.
The girls were on their toes fighting for rebounds.
Miranda Wenk focuses as she shoots a free throw, while her teammates prepare for a possible rebound, on Jan. 6 against Priest River.
BONNERS FERRY — On Wednesday, Jan. 3, the Lady Badgers braved the snowy roads and traveled to Eureka, Mont., to play the Lions of Lincoln County High School. The Badgers overcame one of their lowest shooting-percentage games (29 percent) and pulled out a 52-44 win.
The Badgers trailed the entire game until seniors Kadi Bateman and Kassy Skeen had back-to-back steals/layins with less than six minutes left in the fourth quarter.
“It just felt like we were right there and needed to make a little run. Finally in the fourth we had one,” said coach Travis Hinthorn.
Bateman and Miranda Wenk combined for 6-of-7 shooting from the free-throw line to seal the victory for the Badgers. Bateman led all scorers with 17 points and also had 6 steals. Wenk contributed 11 points to go along with a dominating 20 rebounds. Fellow post Jerzie Pluid had 19 rebounds and 6 points.
“Those two combining for 39 rebounds is pretty amazing,” Hinthorn said.
Bonners Ferry 10 10 14 18 — 52
Lincoln County 11 12 13 8 — 44
Bonners Ferry: Kassy Skeen 8, Jerzie Pluid 6, Miranda Wenk 11, Kadi Bateman 17, Holly Ansley 4, Baylee Blakemore 2, Grace Villelli 4.
Lincoln County: Hanson 0, Escobar 2, Utter 16, Pacella 3, Graves 2, Frost 4, Hammock 5, Their 12.
n The Lady Badgers then traveled to Wallace on Friday, Jan. 5, for their 10th road trip in their first 12 games. After building an early 22-2 lead, the Badgers cruised to a 54-20 victory. Kassy Skeen had 10 points and 4 steals to lead a balanced attack where nine Badgers scored. Jerzie Pluid recorded 9 rebounds to go along with her 8 points.
The Badgers’ effort impressed Wallace coach Nichole Farkas.
“They’re a very good team,” Farkas said. “They’re physical, they’ve got good fundamentals, and good shooting.”
Kimmie Krous and Maggie Howard led the Miners’ offense with 9 and 8 points, respectively.
Bonners Ferry 19 13 13 8 — 54
Wallace 2 4 8 6 — 20
Bonners Ferry: Baylee Blackmore 2, Kassy Skeen 10, Jerzie Pluid 8, Grace Villelli 0, Miranda Wenk 5, Tori Burt 3, Kadi Bateman 9, Holly Ansley 7, Maecie Liermann 4, Leilani Ram 0, Emily Blackmore 6.
n The Priest River Spartans visited Bonners Ferry on Saturday, Jan. 6, for their first league game of the season. The Lady Badgers jumped out with an explosive start and took a 35-2 first quarter lead. The 62-18 win brought the Badgers to a 1-0 league record and an 11-2 overall record.
Freshman Holly Ansley scored 19 of her 21 points in the first quarter. Ansley made 9 of 12 field goal attempts and also had 5 steals.
Priest River 2 14 2 0 — 18
Bonners Ferry 35 12 11 4 — 62
Priest River: Kren 1, Russo 0, Brown 2, Fink 7, Fitzmorris 0, Jo. Martin 2, Archer 0, Martinez 3, Minish 0, Ja. Martin 3.
Bonners Ferry: Baylee Blackmore 2, Kassy Skeen 11, Jerzie Pluid 4, Grace Villelli 5, Miranda Wenk 4, Tori Burt 0, Kadi Bateman 6, Holly Ansley 21, Maecie Liermann 3, Leilani Ram 0, Emily Blackmore 6.
n The Lady Badgers played at Timberlake Tuesday, Jan. 9, and host Kellogg at 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13.