PREP BASKETBALL: Boys pull away after close first half, girls dominate
Lakeland 55,
Bonners Ferry 71
The Bonners Ferry Badgers (17-0) defeated the Lakeland Hawks (8-8) to extend their winning streak to 34 games.
The game against Lakeland was the closest so far this season at the Badger Den. The Badgers were down for the first time at the end of the first quarter in a home game this season. But led by senior guard Asher Williams’ 34 points, the Badgers were able to extend the lead in the second half and pull away to win by 16 points.
Brayden Carrel led the way for Lakeland with 24 points, half of which came in Lakeland’s 22-point opening quarter to take an early one-point advantage. The Badgers’ Williams, Brody Rice and Thomas Bateman got in early foul trouble.
In the second half, the Badgers broke down the Hawks’ full court defense, leading to many paint points. And they turned up their defense, holding Lakeland to just eight points in the third quarter.
“To win the state championship, you have to be battle tested, and tonight was a good battle in the first half,” said Badgers coach Nathan Williams. “In the second half, we picked up the pressure and got stops. The biggest thing I was happy about was the second half rebounding.”
Lakeland – 22 10 8 15 55
Bonners Ferry – 21 15 16 19 71
PTS: BF – Williams 33, Bateman 12, Abubakari 8, Blackmore 8, Rice 8, Hinthorn 2. LKL – Carrel 24, Hillman 12, Harris 8, Yager 8, Hensley 3
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St. Maries 34,
Bonners Ferry 80
The Badgers cruised past the St. Maries Lumberjacks (6-7) on Senior Night at the Badger Den with a balanced scoring attack.
Senior forward Thomas Bateman filled up the stat sheet with 21 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and four steals. Senior Asher Williams led the scoring attack with 24 points. Senior Brody Rice scored 14, and seniors Eli Blackmore and Ivaan Cartwright combined to score 10 points and facilitated well with a combined seven assists.
Coach Williams said he was emotional in the hours before the game knowing that this group only has a few more games at the Badger Den.
“They’re a great group,” he said. “Hopefully for our last home game we host at districts. From there we’ll go our separate ways, go to college, get jobs.”
The Badgers will play the Couer d’Alene Vikings (8-8) on Jan. 31 at 6 p.m. at North Idaho College.
St. Maries – 7 7 14 6 34
Bonners Ferry – 33 16 23 8 80
PTS: BF – Williams 24, Bateman 21, Rice 14, Abubakari 11, Blackmore 5, Cartwright 5
REB: BF – Bateman 11, Abubakari 7, Hinthorn 5, Williams 5, Rice 3, Shrock 3, Blackmore 1
AST: BF – Bateman 6, Cartwright 4, Rice 4, Blackmore 3, Hinthorn 3, Schrock 2, Williams 2, Abubakari 1
STL: BF – Bateman 4, Rice 3, Abubakari 2, Hinthorn 2, Blackmore 1, Williams 1
BLK: BF – Abubakari 1, Cartwright 1
Girls dominate at home
St. Maries 47,
Bonners Ferry 80
Bonners Ferry Lady Badgers (10-7) bested the St. Maries Lumberjacks (2-12) for the second time this season with a 37-point victory Jan. 22 at the Badger Den.
Sophomore Nollie Hiatt set the tone scoring and defending, putting up a game high 20 points on very efficient 9-of-11 shooting from the field, including 1-of-2 on 3-pointers. Hiatt also had four blocks and six rebounds.
Junior Alexys Mierke contributed 15 points and nine steals. Senior Sydney Hinthorn scored nine points and controlled the glass with 10 rebounds. Junior Makenna Baisden also hit a 3-pointer on her way to 15 points on the night.
The Lady Badgers’ margin of victory ties their season-best 37 points, which also occurred against St. Maries when Bonners Ferry won 61-24 on the road Dec. 17. They outscored the Lumberjacks 17-0 in the fourth quarter of their latest win.
The girls will host the Lakeside Knights (9-6) on Thursday, Jan. 30. The game is Senior Night.
St. Maries – 14 12 21 0 47
Bonners Ferry 24 23 16 17 80
PTS: BF – Hiatt 20, Baisden 15, Mierke 15, Hinthorn 9, Thomson 6, Johnson 5, Petesch 5, Willis 5
REB: BF – Hinthorn 10, Baisden 7, Thomson 7, Hiatt 6, Willis 6, Petesch 5, Johnson 4, Mierke 1
AST: BF – Baisden 4, Hinthorn 4, Petesch 4, Hiatt 3, Mierke 2, Johnson 1, Thomson 1, Willis 1
STL: BF – Mierke 9, Hinthorn 4, Petesch 4, Baisden 2, Johnson 1, Willis 1
BLK: BF – Hiatt 4, Thomson 1, Willis 1