MOSCOW — Sandpoint led for the majority of the defensive struggle, yet a layup from Moscow’s Megan Jung with six seconds left lifted the Bears over the Bulldogs on Thursday.

“The kids for the most part, did great defensively,” Sandpoint head coach Will Love said. “We held them under 30 points and all the kids contributed by playing well defensively. The bugaboo in the second half was our defensive rebounding. I give credit to Moscow because they did a good job on the boards, which was one of the big deciders of the game.”

The Bulldogs and Bears were locked into a low-scoring struggle from the get-go, as both teams combined for nine first-quarter points. In the second, however, Sandpoint sophomore Hattie Larson bounced back from a scoring slump to score nine of the Bulldogs’ 13 points in the frame.

“[Larson] did a great job, especially in the second quarter,” Love said. “She had some mismatches that she took advantage of. Offensively, she played really well.”

Sandpoint would lead up until the final six seconds of regulation, while Moscow clawed back with its press. The mix of Bulldogs’ offense going cold in the second half, plus going 1-7 from the free-throw line and committing costly turnovers in the fourth quarter culminated into a less-than-ideal end to conference play. With Sandpoint’s loss, Lakeland became the outright winners of the 4A IEL regular-season title.

The Bulldogs have to quickly put the loss behind them, as both teams meet in three days for the loser-out game of the 4A IEL District Tournament.

“We’re going to have to make a recommitment to rebounding and holding Moscow to one shot,” Love said, discussing adjustments Sandpoint will make for the rematch.

Dawson Driggs led Sandpoint with 11 points and shared the game’s high-scoring honors with Moscow’s Megan Watson. Larson finished with 10 points and five rebounds.

Sandpoint (5-14, 2-2 IEL) will face Moscow (7-13, 1-3 IEL) in the district tournament at North Idaho College on Feb. 4.

Sandpoint 4 13 5 5 — 27

Moscow 5 3 11 10 — 29

SANDPOINT — Driggs 11, Morgan 0, Banks 0, Larson 10, Petit 2, Edwards 0, Steiger 2, Lish 2, Phillips 0, Anderson 0.

MOSCOW — Jung 5, P. Watson 9, Claus 0, Anderson 2, Verlin 0, Rauch 0, M. Watson 11, Bazzoli 2, Hanson 0.