Priest River boys get home win

COEUR D’Alene – The Priest River Spartans boys’ basketball team got a come-from-behind, non-league road win over Coeur du Christ Tuesday, Feb. 3, 76-73.

The Spartans trailed by seven in the first quarter, by six at halftime and were down 60-56 at the end of the third quarter.

“Dawson Strange hit a crucial three pointer that put the Spartans in the lead,” Priest River Coach Brian Hall said.

Spartan shooters turned it on when needed, with Ian Lamanna scoring 25 points on the night, Jacob Best scored 17, and Brady Hatton had 12 points.

Spartans played well in other parts of the game, too, Hall said.

“Lucas Matthews had a great game with five assists and three steals on the night,” Hall said. Best and Lamanna also had three steals each.

“It was a very hard-fought contest,” he said. “The kids battled hard and worked together to win this game. It was a great team effort.”

Priest River didn’t have as good an outing against a strong St. Maries team, losing a Central Idaho League game 80-44 Friday, Feb. 6 at St. Maries.

The Spartans couldn’t get out of single digits in the first quarter, with St. Maries going on a 22-8 run. The second quarter went better, but St. Maries still extended the lead, up 44-25 at the half. The Lumberjacks put the game away in the third quarter with a 27-13 effort.

Lamanna scored 15 points to lead Spartan scorers and Matthews scored 14.

Thursday, Feb. 12, the Spartans are home for a game with Timberlake at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, they’re home again, taking on Kellogg at 7 p.m.