PREP BASKETBALL: Boys and girls basketball teams fall, but show grit

Boys 

Lewiston 72, Bonners Ferry 60 

On Dec. 12, Bonners Ferry boys basketball played Lewiston at home. Sulay Abubakari scored 17 points, Jameson Cartwright-Kissee scored 15 on five three-pointers, Peyton Hinthorn scored 13 points and Ty Schrock scored 12 points on four three-pointers.  

The first half was played at a breakneck pace, with both teams not shy about taking shots from behind the arc. Most of them went in. The half ended with the Badgers down by just two points. 

The second half started with an 8-0 Lewiston run, as the Bengals quickly established a comfortable lead. From that point on, points became tougher to come by and both teams started missing three-pointers. 

Lewiston operated on defense with a full court press for most of the game, but Ty Schrock in particular showed composure with the ball in the backcourt. Conrad Hiatt went to the ground multiple times to fight for possession as Bonners Ferry showed tenacity against one of the toughest teams they should play in the regular season.  

It was not enough for the Badgers, who lost by eight points. They play next at Moscow on Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. 

Bonners Ferry 21 17 14 8 — 60 

Lewiston 23 17 19 13 —  72 

Girls 

Lakeland 57, Bonners Ferry 45 

On Dec. 11, the Bonners Ferry girls basketball team played at home to the Lakeland Hawks, losing by twelve points.  

There was a height advantage for Lakeland, as they have three players on their roster who are six feet or taller. The Badgers have none, and the first quarter looked like that would result in a blowout, with Bonners Ferry outscored 18-6 in that quarter. However, the next three quarters showed resolve and perseverance, as the Badgers scored 39 points in that time, the same as the Hawks.  

Junior Eva Willis was a strength in the paint, grabbing six rebounds, including three on the offensive side. Junior Taren Bateman was the team’s highest scorer with 29 points on 43% shooting, also adding six rebounds. Junior Nolie Hiatt was two for three from beyond the arc, scoring six points and six rebounds. She recovered from what appeared to be a serious leg injury in the first quarter.  

Senior Alexys Mierke had three steals and three assists; both team-highs and freshman Jaycee Bateman had two steals. Freshman Bristol Hill scored two three-pointers, finishing with six points. 

After the game, Lakeland was ranked 17 in Idaho and were 5-1 on the season.  

Bonners Ferry 6 10 15 14 — 45 

Lakeland 18 11 13 15 — 57 

PTS: T. Bateman 29, Hiatt 6, Hill 6, Thomson 2, Mierke 2 

REB: Willis 6, T. Bateman 6, Hiatt 6,  J. Bateman 2, Mierke 2, Hill 1 

AST: Mierke 3, J. Bateman 2, T. Bateman 1, Hill 1 

STL: Mierke 3, Hill 2, T. Bateman 2, J. Bateman 1 

BLK: Hill 1, Hiatt 1, T. Bateman 1 

    Bristol Hill flings a pass to Jaycee Bateman.
  

    Sulay Abubakari shoots a three-pointer.