Asher Williams breaks 35-year scoring record at the Backwoods Brawl

SPIRIT LAKE — Boundary County students raised over 2,300 pounds of food donations for the Backwoods Brawl, and Bonners Ferry High School senior guard Asher Williams scored a school-record 50 points in the boys’ basketball 73-28 win at Timberlake. 

The scoring record was previously held for 35 years by class of 1991 Badgers alum Jeff Nearing, who scored 46 in a home game against Priest River. Williams, who has committed to playing basketball at Montana Tech, almost broke the record in a Jan. 7 home win over the Libby Loggers when he scored 45 points in three quarters. 

Coach Nathan Williams said he was sick to his stomach after the Libby game because he had thought Asher broke the record, and that’s why he pulled him from the game for the fourth quarter. 

But now that the record is undisputedly broken, Williams said he can breathe a sigh of relief. 

“I didn’t play him the whole fourth quarter in the game against Libby because I couldn’t remember if the record was 43 or 46,” Williams said. “It feels good now to know now that Asher’s got the record.” 

The Bonners Ferry Badgers boys’ basketball team, seeking its third straight trip to the 3A state championship game, hasn't lost in 393 days. 

In a raucous Timberlake High School gymnasium, the final tally from the two schools’ Backwoods Brawl food drive was announced. 

Though the fundraising totals were down this year compared to last, both school districts put forth great effort in raising a total of 3,635 pounds of food donations.  Boundary County raised a total of 2,330 pounds, and Lakeland raised a total of 1,305 pounds. 

Boundary County Middle School and Bonners Ferry High School students began their food drive in October. In the fall, students donated boxes of oranges to the foodbank. 

Beginning after Thanksgiving break, students also held the ham and turkey drive, raising a total of 161 hams and turkeys. 

BFHS Associated Student Body vice-president Makeen Loretto ignited a last-minute fundraising effort by allowing students to pay $1 for a chance to shave his head in front of the whole school. The proceeds went to buy more food for the food drive. 

Jaycee Atkins, BFHS instructional paraprofessional, said that the inflated cost of food played a part in her opinion as to why the fundraising totals for both Bonners Ferry and Timberlake were down this year. 

“My hope is to try something more community service based in the future where we don’t have to buy anything but instead give our time,” Atkins said. 

Bonners Ferry – 15 20 24 14 73 

Timberlake – 4 12 7 5 28 

PTS: BF – Williams 50, Bateman 10, Blackmore 5, Hinthorn 4, Rice 4. T – Simpson 13, Vallieres 7, Hiassen, DeVore 2, Dykeman 2, Shively 1 

REB: BF – Bateman 5, Rice 4, Williams 4, Abubakari 2, Blackmore 1, Hinthorn 1, Schrock 1 

AST: BF – Rice 10, Blackmore 3, Hinthorn 3, Abubakari 2, Schrock 2, Williams 2, Bateman 1 

STL: BF – Abubakari 4, Hinthorn 2, Rice 2, Williams 2, Bateman 1 

BLK: BF – Bateman 1, Williams 1