Bonners Ferry regains lead, downs Timberlake

BONNERS FERRY — Early on, it worked.

By the end of Tuesday’s opening game in the best-of-3 3A District 1 championship series, Timberlake was happy, but still has work to do to catch top-ranked Bonners Ferry.

Senior Braeden Blackmore scored 14 of his team-high 18 points in the first quarter, sinking four of five three pointers for the Badgers, who shot past the Tigers 74-57 at Bonners Ferry High.

The Badgers jumped ahead in the first quarter, but by half the Tigers nipped at their heel Tigers, trailing by 3 points.

“We came out in zone and left Blackmore open a few times and got into a hole,” said Timberlake coach Mike LaFountaine. “We were right with them and made it a three-point game at halftime (33-30), but they got a few second-chance points in the third. They came out and got on a roll in the fourth quarter and we couldn’t crawl back into it. I like what we did tonight and hopefully we can put a full game together on Thursday.”

“Timberlake executed well,” said Bonners Ferry coach Nathan Williams. “I thought they played well. Hats off to them. I’m going to review our sets and offenses. I’m glad we had a close game with them. They’re a good team and tough.”

Game 2 is Thursday in Bonners Ferry. If the Badgers (20-1) win, they advance to the state tournament starting March 2 at Meridian High. If Timberlake (8-13) wins, a deciding third game will be played in Bonners Ferry on Friday. The last time Bonners Ferry boys basketball placed at state was 2002.

Sophomore Asher Williams scored 23 points for Bonners Ferry.

Timberlake 16 14 13 14 — 57

Bonners Ferry 24 9 18 23 — 74

Boys basketball win IML title first time since 2007

TIMBERLAKE — Olivieri 17, McLuskie 7, Yetter 2, Vallieres 11, H. Higgins 11, V. Higgins 2, MacArthur 6.

BONNERS FERRY — R. Williams 4, E. Blackmore 2, Henslee 15, Petesch 4, A. Williams 23, Th. Bateman 2, Tr. Bateman 6, B. Blackmore 18.

On Feb. 17, Thomas Bateman and Braeden Blackmore each scored 19 points as Bonners Ferry Badgers beat the Timberlake Tigers 79-61 on Friday to win the Intermountain League for the first time since sharing the title with Kellogg in 2007.

Going into the half, the Badgers executed off looks down low to junior Trey Bateman. After a defensive rebound from a free throw, Thomas Bateman sank a three-pointer sending the Badgers to the locker room with a 43-25 lead.

With three minutes left in the game, with the Badgers up 78-52, the crowd called for senior David Hammons to come on to the court. When going up for an offensive rebound, Hammons was sent to the free-throw line and shot one-for-two.

Timberlake made a six-point run, but the Badgers won 79-61.

Thomas Bateman made five three-pointers for Bonners Ferry. The Badgers 10-for-13 at the free throw line.

Timberlake 11 14 18 18 — 61

Bonners Ferry 22 21 23 13 — 79

TIMBERLAKE — Olivieri 7, Jonas 2, McLuskie 6, Yetter 15, Vallieres 10, Meidinger 0, H. Higgins 16, V. Higgins 3, MacArthur 2.

BONNERS FERRY — R. Williams 8, E. Blackmore 7, Rice 0, Henslee 0, Petesch 6, A. Williams 10, Th. Bateman 19, Hammons 1, Tr. Bateman 9, B. Blackmore 19.