Historic win, free throws lead Badgers to victory

BONNERS FERRY —- It all came down to Charles Henslee at the free throw line, in an historic win for the Badgers boys basketball team winning 74-68 over the St. Maries Lumberjacks on Jan. 6.

With under a minute left in the game, Henslee went to the line twice, as the Badgers were up three points. Two top Badger scores fouled out in the third quarter and others were in foul trouble.

Henslee sank three for four giving the Badgers a six point lead and the victory over the Lumberjacks. The Badgers have never beat the Lumberjacks and winning in front of the home crowd made it so much sweeter.

The Badgers came back from a seven point deficit in the first quarter to lead, but St. Maries answered by hitting a three-point buzzer beater and took the lead 23-22.

Bonners Ferry’s largest lead of the game was nine points in the third quarter.

Greyson Sands for the Lumberjacks made five 3-pointers and 12 of 16 free throws for St. Maries (4-2), in a game where 52 fouls were called and three players fouled out.

Dillon Holder hit two 3s and added 13 points for St. Maries.

Ridge Williams hit two 3s and led Bonners Ferry (8-1) with 18 points. Asher Williams and Charles Henslee each added 12 for the Badgers, who hit 20 of 26 free throws, including 6 of 9 in the fourth quarter. The Willaims brothers fouled out in the third quarter.

After St. Maries went up by one point with 5 minutes left, Braeden Blackmore and Henslee each hit 3s for Bonners.

Henslee fought to keep the ball in play for the Badgers, he even dove into the packed stands and successfully kept the ball for the Badgers.

“It was a good high intensity game, which is what we need,” head coach Nathan Williams for Bonners Ferry told the Herald.

The Badgers entered foul trouble right away with Braeden Blackmore, a strong scorer, earning his second foul in the second minute of the game.

“We had a slow start. I had to pull Braeden out and then had to get him back in when we were down,” Williams said.

The Badgers allowed the Lumberjacks 68 points, the most any team has scored against Bonners Ferry this season.

Williams said it was a fun game and the Badgers played hard, but when it came down to fouls and defense it wasn’t their smartest game.

“Both teams pressed a lot; it could have gone either way,” Williams said. “Sands, he hit some big shots. I’ve been harping on my guys since third grade, that close games will come down to free throws.”

He added he was happy with Riley Petesch and Henslee’s composure at the free throw line in the fourth quarter.

Last year against Homedale in the consolation round of the state tournament, the Badgers had one-and-one free throw opportunities, but missed the first shot opportunity twice. They then lost the game by one point, giving Homedale a fourth place win in the tournament.

“I know that’s weighing on [the team],” he said.

Williams said Ridge Williams did a great job defending Greyson Sands of St. Maries. Sands made deep three-pointers that were hard to stop.

The Badgers tried many different offenses throughout the game. All-in-all Williams said he was proud of the team’s composure down the stretch.

He commended St. Maires program, as 2A former state champions, last year’s runner up and with winning seasons with four losses or less. With the changes in the Intermountain League with Kellogg and Priest River moving down to 2A, it has allowed the Badges the opportunity to play other bigger schools with winning records.

As athletic director, Williams has reached out to schools in Spokane and Montana with winning records to prepare the team for the state competition.

Bonners Ferry plays at Moscow on Tuesday. St. Maries travels to Kellogg on Thursday for a key Central Idaho League game.

The Badgers and Lumberjacks will meet again at St. Maries in February.

St. Maries 23 16 18 11 — 68

Bonners Ferry 22 19 19 14 — 74

ST. MARIES — Holmes 4, Sands 35, Badgett 5, Holder 13, Renner 2, Wicks 3, Hill 6,

BONNERS FERRY — R. Williams 18, E. Blackmore 9, Henslee 12, Petesch 4, A. Williams 12, Th. Bateman 10, Hammons 0, Tr. Bateman 0, Schulte 0, B. Blackmore 9.