Silver Valley Sports Recap: Oct. 15-21
Photo by Josh McDonald/ The Kellogg Wildcats celebrate following one of their set victories over the Priest River Spartans.
Photos by Josh McDonald Grace Nearing serves the ball during the Wildcats’ district win over Priest River on Friday. At right, Kellogg celebrates winning a set over the host Spartans.
Courtesy photo Kellogg cross country runner Jared White, left, keeps pace with his opposition during the 3A District 1 Meet on Oct. 18 in Bonners Ferry.
Photo by Josh McDonald The Miners scramble for a loose ball during their district play-in match with Genesee.
Kellogg High School
Volleyball
PRIEST RIVER — The Kellogg Lady Wildcats did it.
They may have taken the longer and bumpier route, but they did it nonetheless.
The Wildcat volleyball team ended a 21-year drought with a win over Priest River on Friday night after an up-and-down season and district tournament.
In Tuesday night’s first round at Timberlake High School the 3-seeded Wildcats beat the No. 2 seed Priest River in a hotly contested opening contest (25-22, 25-21, 13-25, 25-23).
The Wildcats went on to face No. 1 seed Timberlake on Thursday evening in the 3A District I championship match. The Tigers swept Kellogg (25-18, 25-12, 25-21), but played Timberlake tougher than they had all season.
Cierra Brandt had 13 kills, Jaron Figueroa 17 assists, Hailey Cheney four blocks and an ace, Emma Bristow one ace for the Wildcats.
That set up a rematch on Friday night between the Wildcats and Priest River, where the winner would qualify for the 3A State Tournament.
In the win-or-go-home environment the Wildcats found a way, but it took all five sets and each one as competitive as the previous one (22-25, 25-19, 21-25, 25-19, 15-13).
The Wildcats had split with the Spartans during the regular season prior to their first match of the District Tournament, and playing on Priest River’s home court wasn’t going to do Kellogg any favors.
It seemed as though both teams knew each other’s next move, which made for exciting play, but was also absolutely nerve racking for everyone in attendance.
Following the win, first-year head coach and former Wildcat standout Stephanie Brunner was extremely emotional and even more excited.
“I’m so excited,” Brunner said. “They played so well. We knew we were in for a fight and the girls kept pushing and digging in. It was some fun volleyball to watch and I couldn’t be more proud of this team.”
Junior Cierra Brandt left her fingerprints all over the match as she finished with 21 kills, and four aces, while Hailey Cheney and Kat Rauenhorst continued their stellar defense at the net as they tallied six and four blocks respectively.
Kellogg will open the 3A State Tournament this week with a match against Snake River this Friday at 11 a.m. (MST) at Mountain View High School in Meridian.
Football
Kellogg 29, Priest River 6: At the same time the girls were qualifying for the state volleyball tournament, the Kellogg football team was smashing Priest River next door to qualify for the 3A State Playoffs.
Both teams headed into the game with aspirations of nabbing the Intermountain League’s second seed, but it was the visiting Wildcats who would get their second double-digit league win of the season on Friday night.
Kellogg’s opening round opponent Fruitland hasn’t played since Oct. 12 due to Payette forfeiting their season, which could allow the Wildcats to have momentum on their side for this game but they will have to overcome playing 8 hours away from home.
Kellogg will take on Fruitland this Saturday at 12 p.m. (MST) at Fruitland High School.
Cross Country
BONNERS FERRY — Kellogg runner Jared White qualified for the 3A State Cross Country Meet after finishing 11th overall during the Oct. 18 District I Qualifying Meet.
White finished with one minute out of first place, but only 18 seconds out of the top five.
White will be running this Saturday at the 3A State Meet at Lewiston Orchards.
Mullan High School
Volleyball
District 1 Tournament
Mullan d. Kootenai
Clark Fork d. Mullan
HARRISON FLATS — The fifth-seeded Tigers advanced in the 1A District 1 Division II tournament with a win over the fourth-seeded Warriors on Tuesday night.
The later rounds of the tournament were played at Clark Fork High School on Saturday, where Mullan lost to Clark Fork in the first semifinal match (25-10, 25-15, 25-4).
Wallace High School
Volleyball
Genesee d. Wallace
POST FALLS — The size and length of the Bulldogs was too much for the Miners to overcome as they fell to Genesee in the Oct. 18 District I-II play-in game at Post Falls Middle School in three sets (25-14, 25-10, 25-17).
The Miners had to score from the service line and from the back row as the Bulldogs seemingly blocked everything that was played at the net.
Football
Genesee 68, Wallace 0: The Miners fell to the Bulldogs on the road to put them at 1-7 on the year and 0-6 in the Whitepine League.
Wallace will host Prairie this Saturday at 2 p.m. for senior day.