Badgers come close, but fall to Moscow

BONNERS FERRY — The Badgers were down by 12 points in the fourth quarter against the Moscow Bears on Tuesday, but pulled with one point with 3:10 left before losing a hard-fought contest, 69-63.

The Badgers tried to stop the clock by sending the Bears to the free-throw line, but Moscow went 11 out of 14 in the fourth quarter and expanded their lead and took the win over Bonners Ferry 69-63.

The Badgers led in the second quarter, but after turnovers and the Bears taking advantage off fast breaks, Moscow led 32-26 going into half.

“They shot well, way better than last time,” said Bonners Ferry head coach Travis Hinthorn.

“Last year, they killed us with the pick and roll, (today) it was outside shots,” he said.

Hinthorn said that down low, Moscow’s Lola Johns would make a couple of moves on the basket, causing the Badgers to respect her and play defense. She then dished the ball out to a guard for a three-pointer.

“We got within one, and tried to foul in the end, but they were 20 of 25 from the free-throw line,” he said. “We were boxing out, but waiting to see who gets the ball. It is hard to simulate that in practice.”

Markynn Pluid and Sydney Hinthorn are back on the court after injuries, but are still not 100 percent.

Kaylee Sumpter, senior, and Avery Bayer, junior, are still injured.

Badger Asha Abubakari was the high scorer of the game with 29 points.

Punk Knott scored 17 points for Moscow.

Bonners Ferry 14 12 14 23 — 63

Moscow 13 19 19 18 — 69

Bonners Ferry:, Petesch 0, Kimball 4, Pluid 6, Hinthorn 11, Blackmore 13, Abubakari 29, Baiseden 0, B. Bayer 0.

Moscow: Knott 17, Kiblen 4, Parson 0, Anderson 11, Thompson 8, Rainer 9, Lituaula 6, Johns 14, McLoors 0, Skinner 0.