For the week of January 7 - 13, 2004

Mushers, Cutthroats
go down to the wire

Camas girls secure 33-32 league victory

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Both teams were seeking their first Northside Conference girls’ basketball victories of the 2003-04 season when the Camas County Mushers and Community School Cutthroats clashed Saturday night in Sun Valley.

Jenny Rutherford, Community School senior captain, flies down the lane during the tightly-played Northside game won by Camas County 33-32 Saturday in Sun Valley. Express photo by David N. Seelig

And the decision went down to the wire, Camas County prevailing 33-32 on a pair of Nicole Bennett free throws with 68 seconds left. The Cutthroats had rallied from a seven-point deficit into a 31-31 tie with 2:35 left.

Kari Engelstad led Camas County (4-5, 1-5 Northside) with 15 points, 7 rebounds and 5 steals. Coach Gary Carr’s Cutthroats (2-7, 0-5), seeking their third win in four games, were topped by Blake Ellis with 10 points.

There were five ties and six lead changes in the tight game.

Boosted by the return of Caitlin Cairncross, who pulled down 4 rebounds and scored a bucket in the second quarter alone, the Cutthroats grabbed a 17-15 half-time lead.

Engelstad and Beth McLam (11 points, 5 boards, 2 steals, 2 assists) took over the scoring for Camas in the 12-7 Musher third-quarter outburst. Camas assumed its biggest lead, 31-24, when Bennett (4 points, 7 boards, 5 steals) hit a bank shot on a pass from McLam early in the fourth quarter.

The Community School proceeded to tie the game on a 7-0 run started by two free throws made by senior captain Jenny Rutherford (9 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals, 3 assists). Cairncross made a basket, then Jackie Goddard added a free throw and field goal.

But the Cutthroats (4-for-11 charities in the fourth) missed some free throw opportunities down the stretch—and Bennett of Camas County made hers for the victory.

Gussi Ochi, Cutthroat junior, had another productive all-around effort with 8 rebounds and 4 assists against Camas. Express photo by David N. Seelig

Ellis of Sun Valley drilled a pair of 3-pointers among her team-high 10 points. Goddard chipped in with 3 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocked shots. Gussi Ochi had 2 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists, while Cairncross finished with 6 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals and 3 assists.

Katie Peterson added 2 points and Caitlin Enright had 2 rebounds.

For the Mushers (10-17 free throws), Kortnee Hurless had 3 points and 2 assists, Rose Schwarzbach 4 rebounds and 2 steals, and Kandace Boggs 2 rebounds.

The Cutthroats played at Dietrich Tuesday and go to Bliss Friday.

Northside standings as of Sunday:

Shoshone (11-1, 5-0) after its 33-31 OT home loss to Valley (11-1) Friday and 33-31 win at Richfield Saturday; Richfield (7-3, 3-2); Dietrich (8-3, 4-1); Carey (5-7, 3-3); Camas County (4-5, 1-5); and Community School (2-7, 0-5).

 

Dietrich trips Carey girls

The Dietrich Blue Devils got off to a 32-13 half-time head start and breezed past the visiting Carey Panthers 58-35 Saturday night in the new Dietrich gym. Ayleen Sorensen and Nicki Miller each tallied 15 points.

For Carey, Lacey Peterson scored 11 points including a pair of 3-pointers, Jessica Royal added 7, Whitney Peck 6 and Sarah Lynn Shaffer 6.

Carey entertains Richfield Friday. Richfield is ranked fifth, with Shoshone first and Dietrich 10th, in the Idahosports.com 1A girls’ poll.

 

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