Badgers rout Sandpoint in season opener
Senior guard Asher Williams scores against Sandpoint on a hard drive down the lane.
Photo by NED NEWTON
Williams scores 24, Hinthorn banks half-court buzzer beater in a wire-to-wire victory with a packed house at the Badger Den.
The Bonners Ferry Badgers (1-0) cruised to an 80-44 victory over the Sandpoint Bulldogs (0-1) on Saturday night, tipping off their campaign to defend the 3A state title.
The Badgers were led by senior guard Asher Williams, who poured in 24 points and grabbed 9 rebounds, while senior guard Brody Rice added 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists. Ty Schrock came off the bench to contribute 10 points on a night Bonners Ferry was shorthanded without guard Eli Blackmore.
The Badgers threw the first punch with an onslaught of fastbreak buckets in the opening quarter, jumping out to an early 14-5 lead. They would hold the upper edge for the rest of the game.
“I knew that we were going to come out with a little bit of fire in our eyes in the first quarter,” said BFH Coach Nathan Williams. “Our transition offense was the key, with speed up and down our lineup.”
Peyton Hinthorn banks in a halfcourt buzzer-beater to close the first half.Sophomore Peyton Hinthorn hit the only Bonners Ferry 3-pointer of the first half, a bank shot from inside the Badgers logo at halfcourt as the buzzer sounded.
“The buzzer-beater was awesome,” said Williams. "We do a drill called Halfcourt Buildup the day before every game. So, the boys do practice halfcourt shots. But for it to go in at the game was really special for Peyton. It really got the crowd going too.”
All game, both teams struggled to knock down 3-point shots, but Bonners Ferry was able to take advantage defensively of Sandpoint’s off night. The Badgers stayed home on shooters and sealed off passing and driving lanes, finishing with nine steals and two blocks.
On the offensive end, Bonners Ferry was able to execute despite their outside shooting woes. The Badgers attacked the offensive glass, outrebounding Sandpoint 27-16. Bonners Ferry also committed few turnovers, giving up just two steals, and they played with unselfish ball movement, finishing with 15 assists and scoring paint points at will.
“Out of their 42 points in the first half, I bet 30 of them were layups," said Sandpoint High head coach Brian Childs. “We were swimming upstream the whole night.”
Coach Williams was particularly impressed with his team’s defensive effort, holding a talented Sandpoint squad to 22 fewer points than they scored in last season’s meeting.
“That’s a 5A school that might win their league,” he said. “Our guys getting in the weight room and being a year older really helped us.”
Bonners Ferry will continue their homestand with a game Thursday night against East Valley at 7 p.m. and Stillwater Christian Saturday at 6 p.m.