Badgers fall to the Stags, Timberlake wins IML opener

BONNERS FERRY — With two Badger guards out of the game due to knee injuries, the Deer Park Stags pulled away in the third quarter, scoring 25 points and took the win over Badger girls basketball on Dec. 6.

Due to a knee injury, guard Sydney Hinthorn was taken out of the game in the first quarter. The Badgers trailed the Stags by six to end the first quarter, but turnovers and the Stags sinking layins off fast breaks put the Badgers further behind.

Coming back from half time, the Badgers were down 22-33. Badger guard Avery Bayer was also taken out of the game due to a knee injury, giving the Badgers a six-player team.

The Badgers fought and scored another 28 points in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to take the win.

Deer Park’s Darian Herring was a force to be reckoned with on the court. At six-foot she was strong down low, on defense and was a capable shooter. Bonners Ferry coach Travis Hinthorn commended her guard skills and many drives to the hole.

“In the second half, we got within nine, but then they hit back-to-back threes. We adjusted then they counter adjusted,” he said.

Losing two guards caused the Badgers to change defense and move players around in different positions. He said the lost doesn’t feel good now, but it is for the best by allowing the team to see what needs to be worked on.

Asha Abubakari led the Badgers with 12 points, followed by Kaylee Sumpter with nine.

The Badgers will play Kellogg at home on Friday, JV plays at 5:30 p.m. and varsity at 7 p.m.

Bonners Ferry — 12 10 12 16 — 50

Deer Park — 18 15 25 9 — 67

Timberlake shoots past Bonners in IML opener

BONNERS FERRY — Once Timberlake started hitting its shots, it was just enough.

Timberlake, held without a field goal after the first quarter, made eight 3-pointers in the final three quarters to pull past the Bonners Ferry Girls Basketball team 61-46 in the Intermountain League opener for both teams on Friday.

“All seven of their points came from the free-throw line in the first quarter,” said Bonners Ferry coach Travis Hinthorn. “They were in control after the first quarter. They just settled down and broke us down defensively. They just started to make shots and free throws and hit some 3-pointers.”

Freshman Malia Miller scored 18 points and senior Ciara Soumas 16 points for Timberlake (3-0), which hosts Genesis Prep on Monday.

Junior Asha Abubakari scored 22 points for Bonners Ferry (4-2), which hosts Deer Park on Tuesday.

The teams, the only two in the Intermountain League after Kellogg and Priest River dropped to the 2A classification this year, will meet again on Jan. 27 at Timberlake High for the Backwoods Brawl and spirit competition.

Timberlake — 7 21 17 16 — 61

Bonners Ferry — 12 9 13 12 — 46

TIMBERLAKE — C. Soumas 16, Dickinson 0, Young 11, Nelson 5, MacArthur 1, Needs 4, Miller 18, Chase 6.

BONNERS FERRY — Villaluz 0, Pluid 4, Hinthorn 7, Blackmore 2, Abubakari 22, B. Bayer 0, Sumpter 7, A. Bayer 4.