PREP 3A BOYS: Tigers get long-range win

COEUR d'ALENE - After facing man-to-man defenses through most of the first half of the season, the Timberlake Tigers have faced mostly zone in the second half of the season.

"And honestly, we struggled early with the zone, but lately, we've been knocking down shots," Timberlake coach Tony Hanna said.

That was certainly the case in the first half Monday night.

Against a zone defense from fourth-seeded Priest River, top-seeded Timberlake knocked down 8 of 15 3-pointers in the first half en route to a 55-50 victory over the Spartans in the first round of the 3A District 1 boys basketball tournament at North Idaho College's Rolly Williams Court.

Keegan Scott hit all five of his 3-pointers in the first half, and finished with 27 points for Timberlake (10-11), which will play third-seeded Kellogg (12-7) in the championship game Wednesday at 6:15 p.m. at NIC for a berth to state. Earlier, Kellogg knocked off second-seeded Bonners Ferry (9-10) 53-49.

Priest River (1-19) will play Bonners Ferry on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. at NIC in a loser-out game.

Timberlake 55, Priest River 50: Scott was 4 of 6 from 3-point range in the first half. Austin Allen was 3 of 6, Vance Kistler 1 of 3. Scott and Allen both shoot in the mid-30s, percentage wise, from 3-point range.

Scott and Allen hit 3s in the first four minutes for a 7-0 lead. But Priest River, which lost by 22 and 16 points to Timberlake during Intermountain League play, refused to go away, taking an 18-16 lead on a 3-point play by Thomas White. But Scott and Allen each connected twice from downtown, Kistler once over the last 3:25, and Timberlake took a 31-21 lead at half.

Timberlake made just one 3 in the second half as Priest River went to a man-to-man defense. Timberlake led by as much as 18 late in the third quarter.

Jimmy Koch scored 13 of his 17 points in the second half, which came as close as five points on a 3-pointer just before the final buzzer. Colton Nunley hit four 3-pointers and added 12 points for the Spartans.

Timberlake played without its main post presence, Mason Cramer, who suffered a sprained ankle in the last game, a 49-48 win over Kellogg that won the IML for the Tigers. Hanna said he's hoping Cramer is available for the championship game.

Timberlake is the defending district champion.

"They just keep getting better as the season goes on," Hanna said of Kellogg. "They have size, good shooters, and they're tough."

Priest River 10 11 11 18 - 50

Timberlake 14 17 12 12 - 55

PRIEST RIVER - Clark 0, Anselmo 0, Griffin 0, Linton 5, Hartwig 3, McDonald 3, Koch 17, Nunley 12, White 7, Roland 3.

TIMBERLAKE - Johnson 5, Austin 0, Menti 0, Scott 27, Jones 4, Allen 14, Kistler 3, Cronnelly 0, Tonkin 2, Smith 0.

Kellogg 53, Bonners Ferry 49: Jesse Lambert scored 16 points and Tucker Gust added 13 points and eight rebounds as the Wildcats upended the Badgers. Gus Colburn added 12 points for Kellogg.

Josh Pluid scored 14 points for Bonners Ferry.

Kellogg 11 12 14 16 - 53

Bonners Ferry 13 12 11 13 - 49

KELLOGG - G. Colburn 12, Lambert 16, Easley 0, Waechter 0, deYoung 10, Gust 13, McDonald 2.

BONNERS FERRY - Ray 3, Bennett 6, Pluid 14, Rice 4, Stone 2, Woods 8, Nelson 6, Sabin 6.