Kempton leads Post Falls at Vegas tourney

LAS VEGAS — The Post Falls Trojans were treated to a “Mel game” on Friday, in their third game at the Tarkanian Classic.

Gonzaga-bound Melody Kempton totaled 31 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, seven steals and four blocked shots as Post Falls defeated Southwest DeKalb of Decatur, Ga., 68-54 in a consolation bracket game.

“They just couldn’t match up with her,” Post Falls coach Marc Allert said of Kempton, who hit 13 of 17 from the floor. “We didn’t play very well, and she kinda saved our bacon. They just had no answer for her inside. She did a good job of getting the ball and making a quick move and doing something with it.”

Bayley Brennan and Tyler McCliment-Call each added 11 points for Post Falls (9-2). Allert also had praise for guard Jenna Gardiner, who chipped in eight points.

“She played well defensively,” Allert said of Gardiner, “and when they doubled down on Mel, she hit a couple 3s. She just played a solid all-around game.”

It was a rugged game, Allert said. Post Falls committed 21 turnovers (the Trojans average around 12), and midway through the second half had been whistled for 19 fouls, compared to the opponents’ three.

“It just wasn’t a very pretty game, but we found a way to dig in and win it,” Allert said.

Lanee Edwards, a 5-4 junior guard, led Southwest DeKalb with 13 points.

Post Falls, 2-1 so far in the tourney, wraps up tourney play today at 2:40 vs. Olinda of Brea, Calif.

SW Dekalb 33 21 — 54

Post Falls 41 27 — 68

SOUTHWEST DEKALB — Terrell 7, Thompson 2, Kimbrough 3, Edwards 13, Williams 2, Brownlee 3, Thurmond 6, Coulter 5, Bennefield 11, Christmas 2.

POST FALLS — Gleaves 0, Morris 0, Gardiner 8, Brennan 11, T. McCliment-Call 11, J. McCliment-Call 4, Faulkner 0, Kempton 31, Parks 3.

Bonners Ferry 46

Lakeland 32

BONNERS FERRY — The visiting Hawks trailed by 15 points in the third quarter, then closed within 6 in the third and fourth quarters before coming up short vs. the Badgers.

“We had plenty of great looks early, just shrinking basket-itis again,” Lakeland coach Steve Seymour said.

Alaina Pruitt and Melody Loutzenhiser each scored 10 points for Lakeland (2-7), which returns to action Dec. 27-29 at the West Valley holiday tournament, playing Deer Park, Newport and Riverside.

Miranda Wenk had a game-high 18 points, 16 rebounds, four assists, three steals and one block for Bonners Ferry (7-1).

Lakeland 2 6 11 13 — 32

Bonners Ferry 9 9 11 17 — 46

LAKELAND — Leon 0, Cooper 0, Schnepf 7, Edinger 0, Pruitt 10, Elpers 4, Loutzenhiser 10, Neff 0, Kirk 0, Stutheit 0.

BONNERS FERRY — Skeen 10, Pluid 5, Wenk 18, Burt 0, Bateman 2, Ansley 9, E. Blackmore 2.

Wellpinit 58

Lakeside 42

WELLPINIT, Wash. — Tara Allen scored 18 points for the Knights, who rallied to within eight in the fourth quarter, but were unable to get any closer in a loss to the Redskins in the opening round of the Wellpinit tournament.

Wellpinit jumped out to a 21-2 lead after the first quarter before Lakeside rallied in the second and third quarter.

The first quarter, it just wasn’t good and we didn’t show up to play,” Lakeside coach Chris Dohrman said. “We did a good job in the second and third quarter before they went on another run. I was proud of how we were able to change things after the first quarter, but it was too much to make up.”

Lakeside (8-4) faces Inchelium in a consolation game today at 3 p.m.

Christina Carden-Flett scored 19 points for Wellpinit.

Lakeside 2 12 14 14 — 42

Wellpinit 21 8 9 20 — 58

LAKESIDE — Brown 2, S. Pakootas 3, SiJohn 4, Adrian 6, Allen 18, T. Pakootas 1, Peters 0, Anderson 5, Olson 0, Hendrickx 3.

WELLPINIT — Twoteeth 0, Hill 12, Seyler 7, Sherwood 4, Boyd 6, Wynecoop 4, Carden-Flett 19, Matt 6.