Priest River misses chance with Grangeville

GRANGEVILLE – The Priest River Spartans boys basketball team’s game with Grangeville came down to the final seconds, but the Spartans couldn’t hit shots and lost the Central Idaho League contest 63-62 Saturday, Jan. 10 at Grangeville.

“The Spartans had four wide open shots in the last 16 seconds and could not get them to fall,” Spartan coach Brian Hall says.

Priest River was up 1917 after the first quarter, with Grangeville pulling to within a point at the half. Grangeville had a strong third quarter, outscoring 17-11. The Spartans came back to be in a position to win with a 16-12 fourth quarter.

Jacob Best had a good game for Priest River, Hall says.

“Jacob Best had an outstanding game with 12 points and 13 rebounds and was the Spartan workhorse down low,” he says. “Best is about 5-feet, 11-inches and he was out rebounding taller posts in the paint.”

Ian Lamanna was top scorer for the Spartans, with 18 points. Ayson Simcox hit three 3-pointers for nine points on the night. Lucas Matthews also scored nine points.

The night before the Spartans played an undefeated Orofino team, losing 51-37 Friday night, Jan. 9, at Orofino. The Spartans were down 1413 at the end of the first quarter, but went cold in the second, outscored by 10 to trail 26-15 at the half. Priest River played a strong third quarter, outscoring Orofino 12-10 but couldn’t catch up as Orofino went on a 15-10 fourth quarter run to stay undefeated.

“It was a very physical game where the Spartans only had two free throw attempts to Orofino’s 14,” Hall says. He says the Spartans struggled with Orofino’s physicality.

Lamanna led Spartan scoring with nine points. Best had eight and Brodin Collins scored seven.

“We need to score a lot more to be competitive in this league,” Hall says.

He says he’s happy with the team’s drive and determination on the court. The Spartans made 18 of 34 free throws against Grangeville, an improvement over the night before.

Priest River (2-6, 1-2) hosts St. Maires Thursday, Jan. 15 for a game that starts at 7 p.m.