STATE 3A GIRLS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT: Priest River bows out in two

NAMPA - When Gary Stewart was a student at Priest River High, trips to state tournaments were just a dream.

Though this year's trip to the state tournament - the Spartans girls' sixth straight - came to an end with Friday's 51-35 loss to the Fruitland Grizzlies in a consolation round game at the state 3A basketball tournament at Skyview High, Stewart couldn't have been any more proud of his group.

"It's really hard to put into words," Stewart said. "Everyone claims to be a family, but we really are. I'm the biggest crybaby of them all. After every district game - win or lose - I'm right in the middle of it. It's been a great season. I'm a Priest River guy. When I went to school, nobody went to state or did anything. For these girls to have a streak like that, 15-win seasons, I consider that to be the benchmark of a high school program."

Priest River (16-9) was without starting wing Mellissa Krampert, a sophomore who suffered a concussion in Thursday's state opener against Filer.

Williams finished with 12 points for Priest River.

Brooke Teunissen had 16 points and 10 rebounds and MaKenna Little scored 17 points for Fruitland (17-8), which advances to the consolation championship game today vs. Marsh Valley.

Priest River 3 17 7 8 - 35

Fruitland 12 11 15 13 - 51

PRIEST RIVER - Hurd 0, Wilson 0, Luckey 0, Gamma 0, Clark 1, A. Summers 5, Carey 8, Williams 12, Akre 5, K. Summers 4, DeMent 0, Warren 0. Totals 11-45 8-17 35.

FRUITLAND - Husfloen 0, Farmer 4, M. Collins 2, Dahle 6, LaCrone 2, H. Collins 2, Little 17, Lee 0, Fitzimonds 0, Teunissen 16. Totals 14-42 23-28 51.