SPOKANE — Bonners Ferry boys basketball relieved history at the West Valley Holiday Basketball Tournament, going 1-1; falling to undefeated West Valley 62-61, and finishing off Pullman in overtime, 70-64. 

East Valley 62, BF 61

Dec. 27

Bonners Ferry launched into a seven-point run early in the first quarter, with senior Trey Bateman nabbing up two steals, junior Asher Willaims collected three steals and scored nine of his 23 points, giving the Badgers a 15-point lead over the Eagles. 

The Badgers kept up the offensive pressure with Sulay Abubakari scoring back-to-back three-pointers, extending the Badgers’ lead to 28-8. 

The Eagles unlocked their offense and began sinking shots going on to score 18 against the Badgers, making up ground before halftime, making it 39-20. 

The physical nature of the game kept building in the third quarter, as the Eagles outscored the Badgers 21-11, and came within five points of Bonners Ferry. 

The Eagles continued to inch toward the Badgers, as they went on a six-point run, making it 51-52. The Badgers pulled away again with Asher Williams going 2-2 at the free throw line and a layin by Trey Bateman, leading again by five, 57-52. 

With two minutes left in the game, Williams made another pair of free throws, and Eli Blackmore added two free throws However, the Eagles made up the difference by going to the free throw line as well. 

The undefeated Eagles (10-0)  beat the Badgers (7-2) 62-61. Ben Fried led the Eagles with 23 points. 

In the 2022-23 season, Bonners Ferry’s (21-2) sole season loss was against East Valley, where the Eagles won 56-55. The Badger’s second loss was the state championship game. 

EV: 5 18 21 18—62

BF: 20 19 11 11—61

EV: Munns 18, Gadd Lewis 3, Busse 1, Oberemok 2, Abbey 4, Fried 23, Zette 3, Raiford 4. 

BF: Blackmore 7, Rice 5, Smith 2, Hinthorn 1, Williams 23, Th. Bateman 8, Tr. Bateman 9, Abubakari 6. 

BF 70, Pullman 64

Dec. 28

The Badgers faced the Pullman Greyhounds (5-4), of the 2A/3A/4A Greater Spokane League, winning in overtime to finish out the holiday tournament on Dec. 27. 

It was a tight match-up with the Badgers barely leading the Greyhounds each quarter. Bonners Ferry had a three-point lead at the half, 31-28. 

In the third quarter, Pullman went on a seven-point run and led 49-44. With 1:55 left on the clock and down, 59-55, the Badgers came back to tie it up at 59 with baskets from Thomas Bateman and Asher Williams. 

In overtime, the Badgers jumped ahead with three-pointers by Asher Williams and Trey Bateman. The Badgers went five-for-six at the free throw line to win 70-64.  

Williams led the Badgers with 31 points, followed by Thomas Bateman with 18. 

BF: 19 12 13 15 11—70

P: 18 10 21 10 5—64

BF: Blackmore 5, Rice 2, Smith 2, Williams 31, Th. Bateman 18, Tr. Bateman 9, Abubakari 3. 

P: Holstad 3, Pawaukee 18, Bickelhaust 5, Hill 3, Northcroft 3, Kwon 13, Hunt 19. 

The Badgers play 1A Lakeside (1-8) of Nine Mile Falls, Wash., on Saturday. The Eagles recently fell to West Valley 61-36. 

Bonners Ferry girls basketball also competed at the West Valley tournament, but game results were unavailable.