Badger girls fall to defending 4A champs, prep for league

Sandpoint 73, Bonners Ferry 50

SANDPOINT — The Badgers’ nine-game win streak came to an end Jan. 10 as the girls basketball team (10-4) lost to Sandpoint 73-50 10 in non-league play.

Sandpoint, the 2023 4A state champions, led by a game-high 37 points from Karlie Banks and pulled away in the second quarter to notch a win over Bonners Ferry. 

Tied after the first quarter, Banks, who had 20 of her 37 points by halftime, took matters into her own hands, propelling the Bulldogs to a resounding 23-point victory.

In addition to Banks’ 37 points, rising star Brecken Mire added 15 points. Demi Driggs posted a game-high five assists and five steals. Lily Richardson hauled in a career-high nine rebounds for the Bulldogs.

Bonners Ferry’s Taren Bateman led the Badgers with 19 points, six rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Senior Asha Abubakari, who recently scored her 1,000th varsity point, had 12 for the Badgers.

The Badgers were set to play 4A Lakeland on Tuesday, but the game has been rescheduled. The Badgers will kick off league play against sole 3A Intermountain League opponent Timberlake (11-3). The game will be played at home Friday at 4 p.m. as part of the Backwoods Brawl, a spirit competition between the schools. 

Bonners Ferry 18 9 13 10 — 50

Sandpoint 18 19 21 15 — 73

PTS: SPT — Banks 37, B. Mire 15, Tomco 8, D. Driggs 5, Laybourne 2, David 2, Richardson 2, Thaete 2, L. Driggs 0, Knowles 0, T. Mire 0. BF — Bateman 19, Abubakari 12, Kimball 9, Baisden 5, Pluid 4, Mierke 1.

REB: SPT — Richardson 9, Banks 6, Laybourne 5, D. Driggs 3, B. Mire 3, Knowles 1, Tomco 1, David 1. BF — Pluid 6, Bateman 6, Abubakari 4, Mierke 3, Baisden 1, Kimball 1, Petesch 1.

AST: SPT — D. Driggs 5, B. Mire 2, Banks 1, Richardson 1, Knowles 1, Tomco 1, Laybourne 1. BF — Bateman 4, Baisden 4, Petesch 1, Abubakari 1.

STL: SPT — D. Driggs 5, B. Mire 2, Laybourne 2, Richardson 1, Banks 1, Thaete 1. BF — Bateman 3, Mierke 2.

BLK: SPT — Banks 2. BF — Bateman 1, Abubakari 1.

Badgers on nine-game win streak

BONNERS FERRY — Badger girls basketball sank 27 points in the third quarter to defeat the Flathead Valley Homeschool Crusaders 69-34, bringing their win streak to nine. 

Four Badgers hit double digits with freshman point guard Taren Bateman leading with 23 points and two assists. Junior Rylie Kimball added 14 points and two steals. Senior Markynn Pluid notched 12 points and 12 rebounds. 

Junior Brooke Petesch led the Badgers in rebounds with 20, adding three assists and 2 points. 

BF 15 15 27 12—69

FVHS 11 3 11 9 —34

BF: Petesch 2, Kimball 14, Baisden 10, Pluid 12, Bateman 23, Mierke 6, Haitt 2.