PRIEST RIVER — Priest River girls basketball lost their second straight game Tuesday night against Riverside (Wash.), falling 46-23.

No stats were available at the time of publication.

In an email, Priest River head coach Gary Stewart said it just wasn’t the Spartans night.

“We just didn’t have any effort in the second half to compete,” Stewart wrote. “We got crushed on the glass tonight, Riverside was getting two or three shots on every possession. Hard to compete when the other team is getting twice the shots. We have to have maximum effort and focus each night to compete against any level of team.”

The Spartans head to Clark Fork 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

Foul trouble dooms Priest River in loss to St. Maries

ST. MARIES — The Spartans trailed by only 4 points late in the fourth quarter Friday night at St. Maries but ultimately the Lumberjacks pulled away to secure a 46-33 victory.

Both teams struggled to score in the opening quarter as they combined for 12 points. With a 7-5 lead heading into the second quarter, fouls started to become an issue for the Spartans as seniors Maddy Rusho and Adrie Minish, two key starters, each picked up their third fouls, forcing Stewart to sit them.

Stewart said the team lacked height and the ability to rebound with Rusho and Minish out, allowing St. Maries to grab a 18-16 halftime advantage.

The Lumberjacks continued to pull away from Priest River in the third quarter and took a 33-26 lead into the final quarter.

The Spartans decided to utilize a full court press in the fourth, allowing the team to get within 4 points of St. Maries. But then junior Makia Fitzmorris and Minish fouled out and the Lumberjacks knocked down key free throws down the stretch to grab the win.

“The second half our lack of numbers cost us,” Stewart wrote. “We have seven varsity girls and float two girls, Haylee [Meek] and Annika [Rantala], for one quarter. St. Maries started attacking our lack of height inside and fatigue.”

Karah Fink led the team with 16 points. St. Maries junior Sami Badgett tallied 23 points, seven rebounds and five steals in the game.

Stewart was proud of how hard his team competed throughout the game.

“That’s the biggest positive of that game, not giving up and giving yourself a chance to stay in the game by persevering and hustling even when teammates have fouled out and you’re running on empty,” Stewart wrote.

PRIEST RIVER 7 9 10 7 — 33

ST. MARIES 5 13 15 13 — 46

Priest River — Rusho 6, Fink 16, Fitzmorris 2, Palfrey 7, Meek 2

St. Maries — Badgett 23, Holder 11, Rimel 2, Watkins 4, Miller 2, Hammond 4.