It was ugly early, but a win is a win is a win.
The Lewiston High girls' basketball team overcame some opening-night jitters as the Bengals knocked off Moscow 50-40 at Booth Hall on Friday night on the first day of the Inland Cellular Shootout.
"I'm thrilled," Lewiston coach Pat Teichmer said. "It wasn't pretty: We shot terrible, we threw the ball around, we didn't play with as much intensity as we'd have liked through the first 12 minutes of the game, but after that, I'm happy as can be."
Lapwai downed Grangeville 59-45 in the other first-round game.
Lewiston started off with an ugly first quarter and then some. The Bears beat the Bengals in the battle of the boards.
In that quarter, for example, Lewiston lost on a rebound of a free throw under Moscow's basket and the Bears got the bucket on the putback.
"You gotta start someplace," Teichmer said.
Things finally got up to pace in the fourth quarter when the Bengals started playing a zone defense, thanks to some foul trouble on starting point guard Karlee Wilson. Teichmer switched to their zone, much to his chagrin.
But then, the unexpected happened. Players like Chelsea Waters started jumping passing lanes, looking more like NFL defensive backs on pick-six plays.
"Honestly, it was a surprise," Teichmer said of the steals. "I don't like to play zone that much."
Midway through the fourth, the Bengals had five steals on five Moscow possessions in a row.
Waters had 11 points to start off her senior campaign, but Tisha Phillips took team scoring honors with 14.
If anything, the Bengals should take heart in their fourth quarter, when they played with quick, snappy offense and stifling defense. Even though they trailed 16-10 after the first quarter, the Bengals didn't let it get to them.
"Even when we were down by two or four, we were fine," Teichmer said, pointing out his players' lighthearted approach to the game.
"That's the way it goes. Good start."
The Bengals will play Grangeville tonight at 6:30 at Booth Hall on the second day of the Shootout, which is following a predetermined schedule.
MOSCOW (0-2)
Brittnay Davis 1 0-0 3, Abi Quinnett 2 9-11 13, Chloe Quinnett 3 2-4 8, Bailee Olmstead 2 1-3 7 Kylie Gorton 3 0-2 7, Kendyl Landeck 0 0-0 0, Brook Sprenger 0 0-1 0, Kim Sprenger 1 0-0 2. Totals 12 12-21 40.
LEWISTON (1-0)
Karlee Wilson 2 1-1 5, Lynzee Wilson 2 0-0 5, Kendra Schlader 0 0-0 0, Marissa Bernatz 0 0-0 0, Jennifer Hansen 2 0-0 5, Klaree Hobart 1 3-4 5, Paige Wells 2 1-2 5, Tisha Phillips 6 2-2 14, Chelsea Waters 4 2-2 11. Totals 19 9-11 50.
Moscow 16 2 5 17-40
Lewiston 10 7 12 21-50
Three-point goals - Lyn. Wilson, Hansen, Waters, Davis, Gorton, Olmstead (2). Total fouls - Moscow 16, Lewiston 22. Fouled out - none.
Lapwai 59, Grangeville 45
The Lapwai Wildcats bounced back from a disappointing season-opening loss Thursday night to Kamiah by topping the Grangeville Bulldogs.
"I really liked our effort," Lapwai coach Shawn Spencer said. "It was a good turnaround from last night."
The Wildcats moved the ball quite well as they constantly challenged the Bulldogs' fast-break defense.
"We moved the ball around a little better tonight," Spencer said. "Our youth really got thrown into the fire (Thursday night) ... It was probably a near-capacity crowd (in Lapwai)."
The quick turnaround didn't bother the Wildcats or slow them down.
Natahnee Spencer was her usual self, slicing the defense like a knife for lack of a better term.
With 3:56 left in the game, Spencer had a steal followed by a layin, and a foul to boot, to make the score 57-41 and effectively seal the game.
"That's kind of our game," Shawn Spencer said of their fast-paced style. "We're notoriously short."
Lapwai will play Moscow today at 4:30 p.m. at Booth Hall. The Wildcats will look to tame Abi Quinnett.
"Quinnett ... is tough," Spencer said. " ... she's good."
LAPWAI (1-1)
Natahnee Spencer 8 6-8 23, Erin Ramsey 4 0-0 8, Marquel Shawl 5 0-0 16, Morning Star Andrews 1 0-0 2, Kiki Ellenwood 1 2-2 4, Celilo Miles 0 2-2 2, Cyra Cunningham 2 0-0 4, Elizabeth Fernandez 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 10-12 59.
GRANGEVILLE (0-1)
Megan Sullivan 2 0-0 5, Chantel Key 3 0-1 7, Sheyenne Stewart 2 1-2 5, Addie Lutz 0 0-0 0, Sky Wilson 1 0-1 3, Lizz Forsman 1 2-3 4, Kniten Kaschmitter 1 0-2 2, Faith Bieler 1 0-0 2, Taylor Canaday 6 3-6 15, Madeline Schwartz 1 0-0 2. Totals 17 6-15 45.
Lapwai 15 16 18 10-59
Grangeville 8 14 12 11-45
Three-point goals - Sullivan, Key, Wilson, Spencer, Shawl (2). Total fouls - Lapwai 17, Grangeville 15. Fouled out - none.
