Sandpoint 3, Lewiston 2

SANDPOINT — Down 2-0 after just 13 minutes of play, Sandpoint could have changed things up, but they stuck to their gameplan and persevered. 

Sophomore Dixon Reed scored the game-winner on a 25-yard free kick, senior Logan McGrann and junior Brennan Shaw both scored set-piece goals late in the first half, and the Bulldogs hoisted the 5A District 1-2 Championship trophy for the sixth straight year after a defeat of the Bengals on Tuesday at War Memorial Field.

It wasn't the prettiest of starts as Sandpoint allowed a goal on a defensive miscue during the seventh minute and again during the 13th minute on a solid through ball that gave Lewiston an early 2-0 lead. 

However, they would bounce back, and in a big way.

The Bulldogs got on the scoreboard during the 32nd minute when Reed drew a foul in the box and McGrann buried the ensuing penalty kick into the top-right corner of the net. Nearing the end of the first half, Shaw, on a McGrann corner kick, was waiting next to the near-side post and got his head on a ball that found its way into the back of the goal as Sandpoint tied the game 2-2 in the 39th minute.

In the second, Sandpoint controlled the ball in Lewiston territory for the majority of half, and after numerous chances, their aggressiveness finally paid off. During the 65th minute, Reed found the middle-right corner of the net off a free kick from the left-hand side of the field to put the Bulldogs in front by a score of 3-2, which stood until time expired.

"Very happy for him and the confidence that it will bring him," Sandpoint High head coach Dan Anderson said of Reed's game-winning goal. "He's a very good player who loves the game, so to see him rewarded for all the countless hours he puts in was just a great thing to see."

Anderson said due to the Bengals' unorthodox style of play and physicality, they're a team that's extremely difficult to catch when playing from behind, but he had faith that his Bulldogs would find a way.

"To go down by two goals and come back in a final is a very hard thing to do," coach Anderson said. "Nerves start to really set in, so for the boys to stick to their principles, stick together, and continue to grind and work for each other, that's the reason we got the job done today. It's a testament to their togetherness and their ability to stick to a gameplan and execute."

Junior goalkeeper Landon Brinkmeier had two saves for Sandpoint (13-3-2), which will advance to the 5A State Championship tournament set to be held Oct. 23 through Oct. 25 at Columbia High in Nampa. The Bulldogs' seed number and first-round opponent will be announced early next week.

Lewiston (7-8) will host the District 3 runner-up this Saturday for a state play-in game.

1st half — 1, LEW, Ryan Katzenberg (unassisted), 7'. 2, LEW, Kyle Wicks (Treyton Burke), 13'. 3, SPT, Logan McGrann (penalty kick), 32'. 2, SPT, Brennan Shaw (Logan McGrann), 39'. 2nd half — 5, SPT, Dixon Reed (free kick), 65'.

Shots on goal: SPT — 12. LEW — 4.

Saves: SPT — Landon Brinkmeier 2. LEW — Gauge Zumwalt 9.