Spartans beat Grangeville

PRIEST RIVER — The Priest River Spartans boys basketball team started their Central Idaho League season with a 65-60 win over Grangeville Friday, Dec. 12 at Priest River.

The Spartan’s new coach, Brian Hall, said he emphasized to the team the importance of league games before the Grangeville game.

“We needed to get a conference win and in order to do it we needed others to step up on the offense and score 60 plus to win,” Hall says.

Priest River was up 32-26 at the half. The teams played a 19-19 third quarter and Grangeville outscored the Spartans by one in the fourth quarter.

Hall said the game was close until the end. “Ian Lamanna gained two free throws in the last .6 seconds to seals the win,” Hall says. “It was a great win for the new Spartan program.”

Brady Hatten had a double with 20 points and 12 rebounds. Lucas Matthews scored 10 points.

“The real momentum lifter was a three-point floater at the buzzer at halftime by Broden Collins,” Hall says. Madden Redinger also scored eight points.

The day before, Thursday, Dec. 11, Priest River went to Riverside for Hall’s first game as Spartan head coach.

“I had about an hour to practice with the team,” Hall says. “We went to Riverside, and I had no idea of what to expect from their kids or ours.”

Riverside was a big team with some hot shooters, he said. The Rams got the 62-35 win over Priest River in the non-league contest.

“(Thirty-five) points is not what any team wants to end with,” Hall says. “Ian Lamanna had 14 for us and Brady Hatten had 16. We only had four guys score.”

Priest River had a rematch with Riverside at Priest River Tuesday, Dec. 16, after The Miner went to press. They play Sandpoint Thursday, Dec. 18 at Sandpoint for a game that starts at 5:30 p.m.