Badgers win IML district title
Photo by DOUG BEAZER They Badger boys took the win against Coeur d’Alene Charter in the district finals.
Photo by DOUG BEAZER Bonners Ferry’s Daniel Walker rises above the crowd for a header during the IML District title game against Coeur d’Alene Charter on Saturday, Oct. 19. The Badgers won 4-1 and will compete in the 3A state tournament, beginning today.
Photo by DOUG BEAZER Thomas Rivkin during the Intermountain League title game against Coeur d’Alene Charter.
Photo by DOUG BEAZER Carson Spencer scored multiple goals during the Intermountain League title game against Coeur d’Alene Charter.
POST FALLS — The Badger boys faced St. Maries for a semifinals game on Oct. 18, then played at Coeur d’Alene Charter on Oct. 19 at Real Life Ministries fields for the first Intermountain League district title game.
The game against St. Maries began at 6 p.m. after Coeur d’Alene Charter defeated top-seeded Timberlake in the first semifinal.
“Watching Charter upset Timberlake really got our guys going early,” said Badgers coach Brycen Lunger. “It really made them notice you don’t just walk onto the field and win games.”
The game started with both teams making deep runs into the attacking half. Both defenses kept the game scoreless until Dalin Foster scored on a penalty kick to make it 1-0.
“Ben Tadlock had a great run into the box, the goalie came out and hit Ben in the box,” said Lunger. “Not long after that, St. Maries conceded an own goal while defending a corner kick making it 2-0.”
Daniel Walker and Carson Spencer each scored a goal, bringing the score to 4-0 at halftime. Then the defense held St. Maries and Josh Beazer made saves throughout the game to preserve the shutout victory.
On Saturday in the Intermountain League title game against Coeur d’Alene Charter, Lunger said that the game started out fast and furious.
“Coeur d’Alene Charter came out swinging,” said Lunger. “About 10 minutes into the game we looked on our heels and then the guys went on the counter attack.”
Daniel Walker scored on a breakaway around the 15th minute, which Lunger said was a tone setter for the rest of the game.
“Carson Spencer then caught fire. He scored a breakaway goal in the 20th minute, a second goal in the 22nd minute where the keeper came out and he dribbled around and tucked it in,” said Lunger. “Carson then scored his third goal of the game in the 24th minute, after Daniel Walker passed it across, and Carson volleyed it in for the hat trick.”
Lunger said that Carson Spencer and Daniel Walker have been working great together.
“With a 4-0 lead into half, Coeur d’Alene Charter looked shocked,” said Lunger. “Our guys woke up and our strikers woke up in a big way in a big game.”
In the second half the Badgers conceded an own goal by Dalin Foster, for the first goal they had allowed in seven games, putting the final score at 4-1.
“The defense has been such a big reason for our success, and when the defense plays like they do, and the offense puts goals up — we are hard to play against,” said Lunger. “It’s nice to bring the IML championship back to Bonners Ferry.”
Lunger believes that the loss last year to Timberlake in the finals on penalty kicks, may have lit a fire under the team.
“They just wanted to bring it back to Bonners,” said Lunger.
The Badgers will face Weiser High School today at 10 a.m. PDT in a 3A state quarterfinal at Vallivue High School in Caldwell.
“Our last state game against Weiser was a 4-3 loss two years ago,” said Lunger. “We have a few guys who played in that game and they are looking forward to the rematch.”