BONNERS FERRY — The Badgers made back to back three-pointers, but once the Lumberjacks changed to man defense their size smothered the Badgers.

Head coach Nathan Williams said that he had watched video of St. Maries games, but even he was surprised by the size of the Lumberjacks.

“When I saw the Lumberjacks warming up, holy Moses, were they big,” Williams said.

The height of the Lumberjacks down low is 6-foot-5 and 6-foot-7 and the team took full advantage of the match-up with smaller Badgers. The wings were also massive and St. Maries won state last year.

The Lumberjacks had a 7-0 lead over the Badgers in the first quarter, but Bonners Ferry fought back, scoring 18 points in the second quarter to trail the Lumberjacks 20-29 at halftime.

“I told the boys all close games come down to free throws. St. Maries made 13 of 16 free throws in the first quarter,” Williams said.

In the third, the Badgers made 14 points in three minutes. Nine of those points were back-to-back three pointers from the Badgers. St. Maries switched from zone to man defense to keep the Badgers from shooting beyond the arch.

In the fourth quarter Charles Henslee had back-to-back steals and lay-ins, scoring two baskets. St. Maries answered at the free throw line making 10 of their 12 attempts, growing the Badger deficit from five points to nine.

Badgers battled hard and were a few possessions away from winning big games, like St. Maries and other state contenders, said Williams.

The Badgers made nine out of 11 free throws. Blake Rice and Charles Henslee had three steals. Four Badgers shot over double digits. Henslee and Asher Williams shot made three three-pointers each. Trey Bateman and Travis Petersen made a three-pointer each.

Badgers will be in Stanfeild, Or this weekend to play La Grande High School and Stanfeild High School. Both are 4A schools.

BONNERS FERRY: 11 18 21 17 67

ST. MARIES: 17 13 25 22 76

Rice 11, Henslee 11, Hubbard 11, Williams 11, Blackmore 9, Trey Bateman 3, Petersen 3, Thomas Bateman 4, Petesch 2.