LIBERTY LAKE — Clark Fork started strong and finished strong, but managing only two points in the second and third quarter proved too much to overcome, as the Wampus Cats fell 42-25 to North Idaho Christian in nonleague girls basketball Monday night at the HUB Sports Center.

Tessa Sutton led the Wampus Cats (0-4) with seven points, Lily Simko added six points and five boards, Brooke Stevens eight rebounds and five steals and Allison Warner two steals in defeat.

The Cats are still looking for a breakout game offensively early in the season, and despite some good looks, struggled to make shots in the loss, making only 18 percent of their shots.

Head coach Mark Stevens praised the play of Simko and Lia Crumpton in the loss.

“Lily’s getting stronger every game, and that’s what we want to see out of her. She’s working hard on the post,” said Stevens, lauding the low post defense of Crumpton. “Lia had a really good defensive game, she’s working hard and picking her game up.”

Kiera Holmes finished with 17 rebounds and 10 points, and Kaylee Prosch added 10 points and seven assists, and Mary Schlader grabbed 11 rebounds and had six blocks for North Idaho Christian (6-3).

Clark Fork hosts Mullan on Thursday in a North Star League opener, tipping off at 6 p.m.

Clark Fork 10 2 2 11 — 25

NI Christian 12 12 11 7 — 42

CLARK FORK — Stevens 3, Lambert 0, Warner 0, Young 0, L. Simko 6, Kiebert 5, T. Sutton 7, A. Sutton 4.

N. I. CHRISTIAN — Prosch 10, Holmes 10, Ward 2, Brennan 5, Schlader 7, Seeley 6, Kruse 2.

n NIC avenges loss to Wampus Cats

LIBERTY LAKE — Freshman Kobe Banks tallied 12 points, four rebounds and two steals, but the Wampus Cats struggled to find offense in a 63-23 loss to North Idaho Christian in nonleague boys basketball Monday night at the HUB Sports Complex.

Bryant Moore added four points, three assists and three steals, Spencer Jeffres five points and Wade Stevens two as only five Wampus Cats (2-1) found the scoring column on a tough night.

The Cats beat NIC 58-50 in the opener, but things were different on Monday night in the rematch.

Clark Fork hosts Mullan on Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. in their North Star League opener.

n Wampus Cats take down Panthers

CLARK FORK — Spencer Jeffres posted a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds, Kobe Banks added 12 points and Hunter Boudousquie eight points and 10 boards as the Wampus Cats notched a 39-36 nonleague win over Coeur d’Alene Charter on Saturday night.

Banks led the team with assists, and Wade Stevens and Bryant Moore scored the other three points while bringing huge defense and hustle tot he floor.