SANDPOINT — Not only will she be flying airplanes, one of her chief passions, but Sandpoint senior Maggie Kirscher will also continue flying down the lane and toward the rim, after signing a letter of intent on Friday to play basketball next season at North Idaho College.

The skilled three-sport athlete caught the eye of NIC head coach Chris Carlson by establishing herself as one of the top players in the Inland Empire League for the past three seasons, including a senior campaign that saw her average 15 points and six rebounds a game, including a career high of 36 points.

Kirscher was also looking at Rocky Mountain, Spokane Falls Community College and Laturno University in Texas, but Carlson and NIC ultimately swayed her to stay close to home and continue her basketball career.

“I think it’s the right place for me, and Chris is a great guy and a great coach,” said Kirscher, who plans to pursue international studies while continuing to play her favorite sport. “It’s nice to see all the hard work has paid off, and I’m looking forward to playing with people who are going to help me get better.”

Kirscher, who also excelled at soccer and softball at SHS, was a three-time 4A All-IEL performer on the hardwood and the Bulldogs’ go-to player for the past few years. She was also nominated for Female Athlete of the Year as well as Girls Basketball Player of the Year by the North Idaho Sports Banquet nominating committee.

Boasting a strong repertoire of low post moves and the ability to shoot from the perimeter, Carlson believes Kirscher will make a solid small forward for the Cardinals. He wasn’t sure he would be able to sign her, fully aware of her strong desire to eventually become a missionary pilot in Africa.

“It’s tough to fly and play basketball at the same time,” he said. “There was no doubt that we wanted to sign her. We’ve always had our eye on her.”

Playing time might be tough to earn next season, as the Cardinals return nine varsity players. Kirscher has played for the NIC coaches before as a member of the North Idaho Elite as well as the Spokane Stars.

A strong student, she is a member of the National Honor Society and carries a 3.7 GPA while taking numerous advanced placement and honors classes. The total package as a student-athlete made Carlson’s decision to offer a scholarship an easy one.

“Maggie has a versatile knack for scoring and a work ethic that is hard to match,” he said. “She has shown us that she has the character needed to be successful personally and to make an impact on the people around her. She is also an excellent student, which is something we value tremendously here at NIC.”