Bear Creek boys take third at state basketball tournament | SLIDESHOW

Published 7:41 pm Saturday, March 8, 2014

Bear Creek’s boys basketball team took third place with a 63-39 victory over Liberty on March 8 in the 2B state Hardwood Classic at the Spokane Arena.

Senior Jesse Leuenberger led the Grizzlies with 26 points.

In March 7 action, Morton-White Pass defeated Bear Creek, 63-57, in the semifinals.

Leuenberger and fellow senior Luke Blankenbeckler had 15 points each and senior Collin Feight had 13 points.

The Grizzlies defeated Northwest Christian (Colbert), 57-53, on March 6 in their opener.

Blankenbeckler had 16 points and senior Feight and sophomore Jordan Block had 11 points each for Bear Creek.

Bear Creek led 26-23 at halftime and the score remained close throughout the game. Leuenberger sunk two free throws with two seconds left to seal the victory.

Bear Creek finished its season with a 23-3 overall record.

Bear Creek’s girls (21-3 overall) lost to Northwest Christian (Colbert), 52-14, on March 6 at state. Senior Catherine Fernandez had eight points and junior Darryln McDonough had six points.

In a 57-48 loser-out defeat to DeSales on March 7, McDonough had 13 points and sophomore Michelle Kahue had 12 and hit four-of-five 3-point attempts.

At the end of the game, Bear Creek coach Greg Cheever put injured senior Kristina Engelstone in for one play and she scored a 3-pointer.