PREP BASKETBALL: Bonners Ferry boys win Reardan Tournament, girls fall just short
Guard Asher Williams hits the lane and finishes the lefty layup in a home game earlier this season.
Photo by NED NEWTON
Bonners Ferry 66, Reardan 57
REARDAN, Wash. — The visiting Badgers faced their toughest test of the season, but Asher Williams scored 32 points and came up with some key steals as Bonners Ferry defeated the tourney host Screaming Eagles in the championship game of the Reardan Christmas Tournament.
Thomas Bateman added 11 points, Brody Rice 10 for Bonners Ferry (7-0), whose closest win before Saturday was by 27 points.
“A very physical road win against a great Reardan team,” Bonners Ferry coach Nathan Williams said. “Peyton Hinthorn played well on both ends and played huge minutes for us when people were in foul trouble.
“Brody Rice controlled the tempo well, handling their full-court press all game long,” he added. “Eli Blackmore and Thomas Bateman hit huge shots and played great defense.”
Rysen Soliday scored 18 points for Reardan (8-1).
Bonners Ferry returns to action Thursday in a tournament at Lewis-Clark State College. They will face off against another undefeated opponent, the Lewiston Bengals (8-0) on Jan. 2.
Coach Williams said he feels good about the matchup, as long as the team stays healthy. A few players are currently battling illness.
Bonners Ferry 18 18 15 15 – 66
Reardan 17 9 20 11 – 57
BONNERS FERRY – Schrock 0, Blackmore 7, Rice 10, Hinthorn 4, Williams 32, Bateman 11, Abubakari 2.
REARDAN – Vaughn 12, Sobotta 6, Thorton 5, Krupke 2, H. Flaa 0, Singleton 13, Soliday 18, Frolov 6.
Girls fall to Reardon
Bonners Ferry 53, Reardon 59
REARDON, Wash. — The Bonners Ferry Lady Badgers (7-5) fell to the Reardon Screaming Eagles (8-1) on Dec. 28 in a tightly contested matchup, putting an end to their three-game winning streak.
Sophomore Taren Bateman led the way for the Lady Badgers with 23 points and six steals on 50% shooting from the field. Over the last five games, Bateman is averaging 25.6 points per game. Alexys Mierke contributed seven points and six steals in the losing effort.
The Lady Badgers were down six at the half, 27-33. In the second half, they did not make up or give any ground, as it finished in a 26-26 stalemate.
With its win, Reardon has now come out on top in its last 13 home games dating back to last season.
The Lady Badgers will now have some extended rest time. Their next matchup will be Jan 4. at home versus Thompson Falls (1-4) at 1:30 p.m. Their homestand will continue Jan. 7 against Libby (1-2) at 7 p.m.
Bonners Ferry 14 13 15 11 53
Reardon 17 16 15 11 59
BONNERS FERRY – Bateman 23, Hinthorn 7, Mierke 7, Baisden 6, Petesch 4, Hiatt 2, Thomson 2, Willis 2
REARDON – No stats available