Cold shooting burns Spartans in season-opening loss to St. Maries

DYLAN GREENE | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years AGO

Junior Jace Yount looks to get past a St. Maries defender.
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY)

Blake Barrett looks to attack the basket during Tuesday's game.
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY)

Head coach Jaden Barrett talks to his team during a timeout Tuesday.
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY)

Trentyn Kreager attacks the basket and tries to convert a layup during Tuesday's game.
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY)

Blake Barrett looks to elevate for a shot on Tuesday.
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY)

Trentyn Kreager fights through contact as he looks for a basket Tuesday.
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY)

PRIEST RIVER — Well, they call it a season opener for a reason.

The Priest River boys basketball team showed some rust in a 64-36 loss to the defending 2A state champion St. Maries Lumberjacks on Tuesday night at PRLHS.

Head coach Jaden Barrett said the Spartans just couldn't buy a basket.

"We did a lot of good things in the first half," he said, "we were just cold the whole game."

Priest River trailed 33-28 at the half, but only managed to score 8 points in the final 16 minutes of play.

The Spartans only made eight field goals in the game and just one 3-pointer. Barrett said you aren't going to win many games with those kind of numbers.

"They came out in the second with a lot more energy than us," he said, "and we were in foul trouble and kind of demoralized."

Jace Yount scored a team-high 10 points.

"Jace had a great game and did a lot of good things for me," Barrett said.

Trentyn Kreager tallied 9 points, Luke Butler scored 6 and Blake Barrett added 5. Overall, Barrett said he was pleased with the defensive effort, particularly from Butler and Teigan Marinello.

For a season opener, Barrett was impressed with his team's conditioning.

"We were in great shape," he said. "I knew that with me being the coach that would be the case because I'm big on being in shape and running, especially since we are a smaller team. Usually you're not in good shape the first game of the year."

Barrett was disappointed he couldn't deliver the Spartan faithful a victory in his head coaching debut.

"I wanted that one especially against the defending state champions ... but it just wasn't meant to be tonight," he said.

Priest River (0-1) hosts Riverside, Wash., at 7:30 p.m. next Tuesday.

St. Maries 18 15 25 6 — 64

Priest River 12 16 5 3 — 36

ST. MARIES — Gentry-Nelson 10, Sands 15, Badgett 0, Ross 11, Wolfe 5, Holder 0, Elliott 3, T. Renner 4, Wicks 0, C. Renner 12, Hill 4.

PRIEST RIVER — Mathews 0, Butler 6, Kreager 9, Barrett 5, Thompson 4, Yount 10, Marinello 2.