Badgers earn first season win, face tough teams

DEER PARK — Bonners Ferry girls basketball (1-3) came back against the Deer Park Stags on Dec. 5, to within two points at halftime, but the third quarter was their downfall.

The Badgers finished the first quarter with the Stags leading 20-10. The Badgers went on to score 17 points in the second, trailing 29-27 going into halftime. 

The Stags were then warmed-up and dropped four of their seven free-points in the second half. With additional passes on offense, the Badger defense was out of position giving Deer Park the option to shoot or drive. 

Freshman Taren Bateman led Bonners Ferry with 20 points, 10 of which were in the third quarter. Badger senior Asha Abubakari scores 10 of her 16 points in the fourth quarter. 

The Badgers played Rogers High School at home on Wednesday and will play at East Valley (Spokane Valley) on Saturday. 

The Badgers will play Clark Fork at home on Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. 

BF: 10 17 14 18 — 59

DEER PARK: 20 9 23 15 — 67

BF: Bateman 20, Abubakari 16, Pulid 10, Petesch 4, Kimball 4, Baisden 2, Hinthorn 2. 

Badger beat Cougars by large margin

BONNERS FERRY — Badgers girl basketball (1-2) took the lead early over Stillwater Christian from Kalispell, Mont., leading 20-5 in the first quarter and eventually earning their first victory of the season, 64-25. 

The Badgers went on a 13-point run in the first quarter and, from there, Bonners Ferry’s lead only expanded, despite several turnovers and a lack of rebounds. 

Freshman Taren Batman led the Badgers with 25 points and three three-pointers, followed by seniors Asha Abubakari with 16 and Markynn Pluid with 10 points. 

Abubakari went on to score her 1,000th point in the third quarter, where the Badgers outscored the Cougars by 21 points. 

The Badgers kept up the pressure on defense with Alexys Meirke, earning two steals. 

Bonners Ferry head coach Mike Cowley said the girls have improved since playing against 4A Sandpoint and Moscow. He added the girls have been working hard in practice, which is transferring over to game play. Since the program is smaller this year and the team is light on substitutes, cardio in practice has been a major focus. 

BF 20 15 25 4 — 64

Stillwater 5 13 4 9 — 25

BF: Kimball 5, Baisden 2, Pluid 10, Bateman 25, Abubakari 16, Hinthorn 6. 

Stillwater: Prewitt 4, Schultz 11, Anderson 2, Poolini 12, Pond 2. 

    Alexys Mierke earns a steal against Stillwater Christian.