3A DISTRICT 1 GIRLS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT: Defensive domination

COEUR d'ALENE - All year long - even with the other schools spending time ranked in the top five of the state 3A girls basketball media poll - the Timberlake Tigers have sat on top of the ranks.

Wednesday, with a strong defensive showing, they left no doubt.

Sophomore Keelie Lawler scored a game-high 10 points to lead the top seed Tigers past the second-seeded Priest River Spartans 46-26 in the 3A District 1 tournament championship game at Rolly Williams Court.

Timberlake (19-3) will face either Fruitland (15-7) or Homedale (15-5) in the opening round of the state tournament next Thursday at 12:15 p.m. PST.

"I was really happy with the way the kids played," Timberlake coach Matt Miller said. "More than anything, defensively we played really well."

Priest River (14-7) will host Bonners Ferry (12-10) in the tournament's second place game tonight, with that winner advancing to a state play-in game in Grangeville on Saturday.

"All three of our concerns entering the game were the same afterward," Priest River coach Gary Stewart said. "We couldn't handle the pressure in the half court, and when we'd get it across the court, we couldn't get into our sets."

Timberlake 46, Priest River 26: Junior guard Payten Rhodes scored five of her nine points in the first half for Timberlake, which jumped out to a 24-9 lead.

"I think it's because they're our main league rivals," Rhodes said. "We've got Battle for the Buck, and they beat us in this game last year."

This time around - it wasn't close for long.

Priest River had 10 field goals in the game.

"Our coach spends a lot of time putting our defense together," Rhodes said. "We work as a group and not just one player."

Miller was named IML Coach of the Year following the game, with Allison Kirby earning Most Valuable Player.

"It's fun and nice to have with the other coaches voting on it," Miller said. "The district championship is nicer, but I'm very appreciative of it."

"It's pretty cool and super exciting," Kirby said. "We're all a big family and so close together and love each other. We trust each other with anything."

Priest River 4 5 9 8 - 26

Timberlake 12 12 13 9 - 46

PRIEST RIVER - Hurd 0, Luckey 0, Gamma 0, Clark 4, A. Summers 5, Krampert 6, Carey 2, Williams 4, Akre 0, K. Summers 5, DeMent 0, Warren 0.

TIMBERLAKE - Powell 0, Kelley 2, Rhodes 9, Mallet 0, Starr 6, Jezek 4, Kirby 6, Gardom 0, Simpson 9, Lawler 10.

see 3A GIRLS, B2

Bonners Ferry 33, Kellogg 29: Savannah Woods scored nine points, six coming in the second half, to lead the third-seeded Badgers past the Wildcats in a loser out game.

Kellogg trailed 14-0 after the first quarter, but fought back to make it a one possession game with under a minute remaining, but couldn't get the tying score to drop.

"We dug ourselves a huge hole getting down 14-0 in the first quarter," Kellogg coach Eli Bourgard said. "But we outplayed them in the final three quarters. I love this team because they never quit and don't feel sorry for themselves. We had some opportunities late, but the basketball gods knocked a few out late and it wasn't meant to be."

Andee Wendt scored a game-high 19 points for Kellogg, which finishes 10-10.

Kellogg 0 10 12 7 - 29

Bonners Ferry 14 10 4 5 - 33

KELLOGG - Wendt 19, Twidt 0, Golob 0, Lo 4, Zisk 0, Sheppard 3, Chambers 3, Bumgardner 0, Miller 0.

BONNERS FERRY - A. Skeen 0, Oxford 5, Byers 0, Woods 9, Bateman 2, Hill 5, Goder 0, Davir 5, Wonk 7.

ALL INTERMOUNTAIN LEAGUE TEAM

MVP - Allison Kirby, Timberlake

Coach of the Year - Matt Miller, Timberlake

TIMBERLAKE - Keelie Lawler, Payten Rhodes. PRIEST RIVER - Elisa Williams, Katlyn Summers. BONNERS FERRY - Savannah Woods, Kerstin Oxford, Jasmine Hill, Abby Skeen. KELLOGG - Janet Lo.