Season opener: Back-and-forth battle against the Bears

BONNERS FERRY — Badger girls basketball had a back-and-forth battle against the 4A Moscow Bears, with freshman Taren Bateman scoring 25 points for the Badgers. 

In the first quarter the Bears pulled away on a ten point run, leading 18-9. Due to the new rule change, once the Bears hit five team fouls, they sent the Badgers to the free throw line. 

After several jump balls and turnovers in the final minute Taren Bateman went four-for-four and Markyyn Pluid went two-for-two at the free throw line, making the Badgers trail 18-15. Before the buzzer, Bateman hit a jump shot in the key putting Bonners Ferry within one, at 18-17. 

In the second quarter, the Badgers continued to fight against Moscow's press and tried to stay out of foul trouble The Badgers went on to lead 28-21, but by half the Bears kept in stride with Bonners only leading 36-34 at halftime. 

Lola Johns for Moscow Scored 11 of her 13 game points in the third quarter. Moscow nabbed 21 points in the third, with Bonners earning nine. The fourth quarter started with the Badger down 55-47. 

The Badgers came back with Pluid going two-for-two at the free throw line and Bateman earning a steal, putting the Badger within four of the Bears, 55-51. 

Moscow pulled away again making it 64-54.

Bonners Ferry took possession again after Bateman took a defensive charge, making Moscow earn another offensive foul. Bateman and Abubakari scored back-to-back three pointers, making it 65-60 with a minute left in the game. 

Unfortunately, the Badgers couldn’t rain possession and sent Moscow to the foul line. The Bears went 0-2, but with nine seconds left on the clock the Badgers were unable to score. 

Bonners Ferry head coach Mike Crowley said the team came back in the second quarter offensively and began to make some shots. He noted that the Badgers’ play was a little out of control, as they are trying to push the ball, but soon once conditioning sets in, they will be able to out pace opponents. 

He said at the whistle they aim to push the ball right away and make easy shots.

This was also the first home game where the shot clock was implemented. Due to the program being smaller this year, the team is lacking substitutes. This made facing Moscow’s full court press difficult, as the team was struggling running their own press breaker.

Crowley said the team is working on moving their offense and knew that Moscow would implement a press. 

“We had good passes over the top,” he said in regards to breaking the press. 

It is still very early in the season and the team hasn't had time to work in depth on their defense or offense. Crowley said the mistakes made on the court in game one are things the team is going to work on in practice. 

“I took timeouts earlier than I usually do, because the girls needed a rest,” he said, adding there are some players he’d play all game if their conditions was at a level that allowed it. 

“We have a lot of youth on the team that may not quite be ready [for varsity play],” he said. “But after a few games they will be ready.”

The Badgers played 4A Sandpoint on Tuesday at home. Due to the early printing deadline for Thanksgiving the game will be covered online and in the next edition of the Herald. 

BONNERS FERRY—17 (19) 9(15) — 60

MOSCOW—18 (16) 21 (10) — 65

Bonners Ferry: Petesch 6, Baisden 3, Pluid 11, Bateman 25, Mierke 0, Abubakari 15. 

Moscow: Knott 14, Kiblen 3, Anderson 24, Skinner 9, Leituala 2, Johns 13. 

Asha Abubakari pulls up for a jump shot against Moscow on Nov. 17. (PHOTO BY: EMILY BONSANT)