Pocatello 66, Sandpoint 43

IDAHO FALLS — Pocatello out-rebounded the Bulldogs 31-11, which led to a 23-point Thunder victory Friday in the East Idaho Holiday Shootout Tournament championship match held at Skyline High.

With 4:46 remaining in the first quarter, Aliya Strock went down with an injury for Sandpoint and would be ruled out for the contest. 

“Aliya, of course, is a returning all-state player,” head coach Will Love said. “She has been leading us in scoring and does so many other things on the court. We played earlier without her this year, but having to make adjustments mid-game is a lot harder. Credit to the girls today … We tried to make adjustments and they did everything we asked and worked hard.”

Facing an uphill battle after Strock went down, the Bulldogs fought hard, going on a 9-2 run led by Demi Driggs at the beginning of the second quarter.

“Demi is one of those players who we asked to take on a different role within the game that she hasn’t played in any other games this year,” Love said. “I’m just really proud of Demi because she stepped up and made baskets for us … we had that run and she really keyed that. It’s something we drew up and she executed it well. Demi’s approach is – whatever you ask her to do, she does – she usually takes on our opposing teams' best post player and just battles.”

Pocatello eventually took control of the game midway through the second quarter after a 9-0 run and built onto their lead the rest of the contest, often going inside on the Bulldogs.

“Their post player (Kennsyn Garza) is a legit 6-3 and is a hard matchup for our team,” Love said. “I give credit to our girls – they really, really battled – and we tried to get in there and grab some of those rebounds, but Pocatello played solid down low.”

Karlie Banks led Sandpoint with a team-high 15 points, four rebounds, and two assists. Driggs added a season-high nine points and two assists. Brecken Mire and Jordyn Tomco had eight and six points, respectively.

Pocatello’s Kennasyn Garza had a game-high 24 points and 16 rebounds for the Thunder. Saige Hagler added 14 points. Abby Lusk had nine points, seven assists and three steals.

Despite the loss, Love said the trip was very much a necessary part of their schedule if the team wants to make another deep run at the 4A state tournament. Overall, Sandpoint went 2-1 on the trip, defeating Madison on Wednesday and Snake River, who is currently the No. 2 ranked 3A team in the state, on Thursday.

Sandpoint (11-2, 3-0) will head to Lewiston on Tuesday.

Sandpoint 14 9 13 7 – 43

Pocatello 16 18 16 16 – 66

PTS: SPT – Banks 15, Driggs 9, Mire 8, Tomco 6, Laybourne 3, Richardson 2, David 0, Strock 0. POC – Garza 24, Hagler 14, Hokanson 12, Lusk 9, Marshall 4, Johnson 2, Quirl 1, Bringhurst 0, Rogers 0.

REB: SPT – Banks 4, Laybourne 3, Strock 1, Mire 1, Tomco 1, Richardson 1. POC – Garza 16, Lusk 4, Hokanson 4, Marshall 3, Hagler 2, Johnson 2.

AST: SPT – Banks 2, Driggs 2, Knowles 1, Strock 1. POC – Lusk 7, Marshall 4.

STL: SPT – Banks 2, Mire 2, Tomco 2, Strock 1, Driggs 1, Richardson 1. POC – Lusk 3, Graza 1, Hokanson 1.

BLK: SPT – Banks 1. POC – Lusk 1.