by SAMMY BERRYMAN
The Sandpoint Bulldogs went up against the Columbia Wildcats on Friday night for game two of the 4A State Championship Tournament. Karli Banks led the Bulldogs with 16 points to help Sandpoint win 47-32 and a spot in the state championship final.
The Bulldogs got off to a good start with two three-pointers. Banks was 2-5 and Sandpoint ended the game with 40% from the outside.
"Karli Banks had a great game,” head coach Will Love said.
Sandpoint led 12-4 heading into the second quarter.
The next eight minutes were tight for the Bulldogs.
“They put in a zone that had us struggling offensively,” Love said. “But we didn’t let up and the girls played really well.”
The Bulldogs kept their lead 19-11 heading into halftime.
Sandpoint put their foot on the gas in the second half of the game. They scored 20 points in the third quarter to followed it up with 14 in the fourth.
“We put the clamps down in the third quarter, and had a great effort defensively,” Love said. “They got it down to three but we never trailed. Aliya banked in a 3 pointer that brought us to an eight point lead.”
Aliya Strock had 11 points and Daylee Driggs added eight to the board.
“We had a great game plan that the coaches put together,” Love said. “It was awesome, I was really proud of the girls.”
Sandpoint heads to the final for the first time since 1996 to face the winner of Shelley and Bishop Kelly today at 6 p.m. MST at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa.
Sandpoint 12 7 20 14 — 47
Columbia 4 7 7 8 — 32
SANDPOINT — K. Cessna 4, De. Driggs 5, Da. Driggs 8, Mire 0, David 0, P. Cessna 0, Laybourne 0, Richardson 3, Knowles 0, Owens 0, Bleckwenn 0, Strock 11, Banks 16, Thaete 0.
COLUMBIA — Reyna 5, Robertson 9, Andrews 2, Farris 0, Soto 0, Myers 6, Knight 0, Nabors 2, Lundergan 2, Mills 6, Callahan 0, Lozano 0.
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"IZ there anything besides basketball?" some may ask.
My answer: not now.
Soon life will go on to other things, but for now, at our house basketball dominates.
For the first time since 1996, Sandpoint High's girls varsity basketball team will play today at 5 p.m. PST for the Division 4A State Championship.
When the announcer doing the streaming play by play said this is the best the Bulldogs have ever done, I checked with a good source to see if that was an accurate statement.
That source: Marilyn Brown Ward, wife of former SHS varsity coach Duane Ward. Marilyn and Duane are staying in an air B and B with Willie's wife Debbie.
As an aside: Debbie and Marilyn told me last night that they won't be changing clothes for a third day straight cuz they're superstitious. Clothes that worked on Thursday should work on Saturday too, they think.
Anyway, according to Marilyn, Duane's team, led SHS and University of Idaho standout and Hall of Famer Alli Nieman, played in the State Championship.
The game against Centennial went into overtime, and the Bulldogs lost, ending the best season ever for Bulldog girls basketball.
So, Coach Love, with his assistants Madi and Joe and his mentor Duane Ward by his side, will try to top that tonight.
Also, Bulldog assistant coach and former SHS Bulldog standout Madi Schoening has a couple of bests under her belt. Before playing basketball for the University of Montana, Madi set a couple of records when she played in the State Tournament in 2015.
Again, her varsity coach: Duane Ward with his assistant Will Love.
Madi Schoening in her senior year at Sandpoint High.
Madi holds the Division 4A record for most points scored in the State Tournament---67.
She also holds the record for the highest average points per game---22.3
https://bonnercountydailybee.com/news/2015/mar/06/schoening-breaks-4a-idaho-state-tournament-7/
Lots of stories from past times to remember and lots of stories being written for future memories at this year's State tournament.
One of the moments I loved while watching the game through tears of joy last night was the scene of the SHS Bulldog victors going immediately after the buzzer to where the SHS band was seated and thanking them.
The band sounds great, and it's neat that they're performing at the tournament.
Another moment experienced virtually was Coach Love's sister Annie checking in from Alabama where she is involved in some geocaching activities.
Annie wrote:
"Yep, I showed everyone I talked to the game on my phone.
Watched the end with Josh Weisberg - a caching friend mom met in LA💓"
Here at the Love household both Ma and Pa Love were having a difficult time holding back tears of pride, joy and love that we were feeling for our son and this basketball milestone.
After all, the parents do follow the journey from Day One, and when moments like yesterday's happen, we get a little thrilled and nostalgic about the steps taken along that journey.
At one point, Bill turned around with tears in his eyes and said, "I helped start it all when I put that basket up in the hay mow."
He sure did.
Willie did play a little ball up there in the hay mow, often with friends. One in particular received a text about the Bulldogs from me last night.
Yes, Keith Chaiet, one of Willie's longtime friends, played basketball up there a time or two.
One day Keith fell through one of the openings where hay is thrown below.
He lived.
Keith has been a music teacher in Bend, Ore., for several years.
Since I'm on the nostalgia trip, I'll share this gem. Some of the folks I've mentioned above were on this team coached by Jim Nieman.
Can any of you locals name everyone in the picture?
Alex Sarama, a British basketball clinician based in Italy who travels the world, directed a two-day clinic with the Bulldogs and Lake City early last summer.
A phenomenal young man.
Anywho, just a few fun factoids associated with this fun week for Sandpoint High and for our family.
Wishing the Bulldogs the best tonight and letting them know that regardless of the outcome in the championship game, you have made us proud.
Thanks for the memories and your amazing season.
Oh yeah, I have not forgotten: today is another Bulldog trifecta.
Gonzaga men and women play today, the women in Spokane; and the men, at Pepperdine.
Men's game: 4 p.m. PST on KHQ/Root.
Hoping for another clean sweep in the win column.
GO, ZAGS! GO, SANDPOINT BULLDOGS!
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