BONNERS FERRY — 3A Badger boys basketball led the 5A defending state champions Lake City until the third quarter, finishing within four points as junior Asher Williams scored a three-pointer at the buzzer.

The Badger (5-2) fell 74-70. 

Bonners Ferry head coach Nathan Williams said

“As a coach I’m striving and wanting more movement on offense,” Bonners Ferry head coach Nathan Williams said. “I thought Lake City did a great job jumping our screens. We couldn’t move the ball and so we moved to other sets that don’t have screens, but not as much movement.” 

This caused stagnation on offense, he said. 

“[On offense] we were supposed to penetrate and then kick the ball, but we weren’t doing that well,” he said. 

Williams said the game showed the teams defense and defensive rebound inconsistency just like in the season opener against Coeur d’Alene. The game also revealed the stagnation on offense and poor ball movement, Williams said the last two games revealed this trend. 

He is working on getting the team more consistent on defense so they can play against strong teams that they will face at the state tournament. 

“If we can’t box out down the stretch when we are tired, we’re not going back to the state tournament,” he said.

 After the game, coaches and players talked about mental toughness. 

First-year Lake City boys basketball coach James Anderson knew it was going to be a challenge going into the home gymnasium of the state 3A runner-up on Wednesday, Dec. 13. 

Junior Reese Strawn scored a game-high 31 points and junior Cason Miller hit a 3-pointer down the stretch in the fourth quarter for the Timberwolves.

“We knew how tough Bonners Ferry was going to be and it’s not typical, but it was a great chance to get tested to the limit,” Anderson said. “Bonners played fantastic the entire night. We knew we’d get a measuring stick game for where we’re at as a team and program. It was a good game for us.”

Bonners Ferry led by as much as 12 points in the second quarter before Lake City rallied to take the lead, keyed by a pair of free throws by Jordan Carlson to make it 63-60 in the fourth quarter.

“Josh Watson, his play in the second half really kept us in it,” Anderson said. “He did a good job of getting some steals and finishes. He just played with a ton of energy in the second half.”

Asher Williams scored 23 points for Bonners Ferry and fellow junior Thomas Batman scored 19.  

Bonners Ferry hosts Orofino on Saturday. 

Lake City    16    16    19    23    —    74

Bonners Ferry    21    17    12    20    —    70

LAKE CITY — Porter 2, Strawn 31, Miller 12, Watson 12, Kloos 0, Arrieta 9, Williams 0, Meredith 0, Carlson 8.

BONNERS FERRY — Jimenez 0, Blackmore 7, Rice 4, Smith 0, Hinthorn 9, Williams 23, Th. Bateman 19, Tr. Bateman 4, Cartwright 0, Abubakari 4.