PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL: Reigning state champs clash: Sandpoint, which won 4A title last year, edges Coeur d'Alene, which claimed 5A crown

SANDPOINT — Led by senior Aliya Strock’s game-high 21 points, the defending state 4A champion Sandpoint Bulldogs edged the reigning state 5A champion Coeur d’Alene Vikings 53-49 in the Inland Empire League opener for both teams Tuesday night at Les Rogers Court.

Sandpoint (4-0) beat Coeur d’Alene (5-2) for the first time since the 2015-16 season.

Teagan Colvin had 17 points and three steals for Coeur d’Alene, and Maddie Mitchell added 15 points.

With Sandpoint down 44-42, freshman Jordyn Tomco, who netted 10 points off the bench for the Bulldogs, hit a 3-pointer assisted by fellow freshman Brecken Mire to take the lead. Coeur d’Alene responded with a basket, but Strock scored on a 3-pointer of her own the very next possession for a 48-46 Bulldog lead. Senior Karlie Banks hit another 3-pointer for Sandpoint to put the Bulldogs up by five.

“These girls played really well tonight,” Sandpoint coach Will Love said. “Our defense played really well, holding Coeur d’Alene to just 49 points. We had a good scout on them and executed our game plan well.”

Taicia Lopez had 11 rebounds, Kelsey Carroll eight for Coeur d’Alene, which travels to Moscow on Thursday.

“I personally think Karlie and Aliya are some of the best players in the state of Idaho,” Love said. “Aliya’s a tough guard.. She did a great job guarding Teagan Colvin tonight when Brecken got into foul trouble. She's focused, a good leader, and just a good kid.”

Sandpoint will face Post Falls at home on Friday.

Coeur d’Alene     16     7     13     13    —     49

Sandpoint     14     9     13     17    —    53

COEUR d’ALENE — T. Colvin 17, Mitchell 15, Carroll 8, Lopez 5, Bridge 2, Holecek 2.

SANDPOINT — Strock 21, Banks 10, Mire 10, Tomco 10, Thaete 2.

Lake City 81

Moscow 37

MOSCOW — Once the first one fell, it got contagious.

Freshman Macy Murphey scored 18 points, hitting six of the team’s 12 3-pointers on the night, as the Timberwolves rolled past the Bears in an Inland Empire League game at Bear Den.

“Macy did a good job of getting open and the girls did a good job of finding her,” Lake City coach David Pratt said. “She hit one and really got it going, which was good to see. We hit a boatload of 3-pointers and were able to do some things on the break in the first three quarters.”

Senior Avery Waddington scored 17 points for Lake City (7-1, 2-0 IEL), which hosts Sandpoint next Tuesday.

Addison Lassen scored 13 points for Moscow (2-2, 0-2).

Lake City    20    25    27    9    —    81

Moscow    9    10    12    6    —    37

LAKE CITY — Murphey 18, Frazey 4, Pickford 15, Zufelt 12, Waddington 17, Pearson 4, Fagan 0, Zimmerman 11, Hiltenbrand 0.

MOSCOW — Knott 3, Lassen 13, Anderson 3, Leituala 2, Johns 11, Williams 5, Rauch 0, Tiegs 0.

Kellogg 61

Wallace 43

KELLOGG — Senior Macy Jerome scored a team-high 17 points for the Wildcats, who made six 3-pointers in a nonleague win over the Miners at Andrews Gymnasium.

“We played good, aggressive team defense and had some good ball movement,” Kellogg coach Jana Nearing said. “Overall, the girls did a good job and played hard.”

Dani Henrikson scored 10 points for Kellogg (2-1), which faces Lakeside in the opening game of the Silver Valley Tournament on Friday at Kirby Krulitz Court in Wallace at 5:30 p.m.

Britany Phillips scored 19 points for Wallace (4-1), which faces Rogers in the second game of the Silver Valley Tournament at Kirby Krulitz Court in Wallace on Friday at 7 p.m.

Wallace    8    9    14    12    —    43

Kellogg    13    22    15    11    —    61

WALLACE — Birdsell 5, Striker 0, Lewis 0, Hasz 0, Wood 13, Br. Phillips 19, Delano 0, Be. Phillips 6, Hendrick 0.

KELLOGG — Jerome 17, Ma. Groth 9, Schillereff 7, Coe 9, Karst 0, Stutzke 9, A. Groth 0, Henrikson 10.

Genesis Prep 40

Clark Fork 19

CLARK FORK — Junior Summer Nelke scored 11 points to lead the visiting Jaguars past the Wampus Cats in nonleague play.

Ella Martin added 10 points for Genesis Prep, which plays host to Timberlake on Thursday.

Genesis Prep    12    11    5    12    —    40

Clark Fork    6    3    4    6    —    19

GENESIS PREP — S. Martin 2, Sorenson 0, Covey 2, E. Martin 10, Williams 5, Nelke 11, Yount 5, Nichols 3, Lawler 3, Wise 0.

CLARK FORK — Leadbetter 0, Shelton 2, Reuter 8, Printz-Hay 2, Herrick 0, Hoy, Matteson 2, Thompson 4, Mayorga 0.