Spartans third at Ione

The Spartans lost their opener to Ione 51-35 on Friday, then rebounded to defeat Riverside 53-41 in Saturday’s third-place game.

Spartans take third

Chelsie Gulick led Pine-Eagle with 19 points Saturday.

“We challenged the girls to play better,” said Pine-Eagle coach Roger Gulick.

“My assistant coach challenged Chelsie to take over the game, and she did.

“In fact, everybody was flying all over the floor,” Gulick said.

Bri Thatcher added 14 points despite playing sick all weekend.

Elise Terjeson chipped in nine points.

“Elise played really well,” Gulick said.

“Jamie Butler played awesome defense. She was just in everybody’s grill. Lena Carr also played a good, solid game.

“And, Maddie Thatcher. If we had a hustle award for the year, or the century, she’s already won it,” Gulick said.

Third quarter stumps Spartans

Trailing 32-21 at halftime against Ione Friday, the Spartans went scoreless in the third period.

“We just didn’t play well,” Gulick said.

“We didn’t come out of the gate. We could never get a flow going.”

Gulick said Bri Thatcher picked up three fouls in the first three minutes of the game and played just four minutes the entire game before fouling out.

“It just looked like our first game,” Gulick said.

Chelsie Gulick led the Spartans with 11 points.

Pine-Eagle hosts Dayville-Monument in back-to-back games Friday and Saturday at Halfway.

Friday game

Pine-Eagle    11    10    0    14    — 35

Ione    12    20    11    8    — 51

Pine-Eagle (35) —  Gulick 11, Terjeson, B. Thatcher 9, Butler 2, Carr 6, M. Thatcher 5, Davis 2, Simrell, Digges, Thompson, Saunders, Pallan.

Ione (51) — Juarez, Cason 7, Halvorsen 2, Thompson 6, Holland, Ramos 7, Patton 12, Verduzco, Rietmann 4, Kenrick 13, Garrett.

Three-point goals — Gulick, B. Thatcher. Fouled out — Terjeson, B. Thatcher, Ramos. Total fouls — Pine-Eagle 17, Ione 22. Technicals — none.

Saturday game

Pine-Eagle    9    12    18    14    — 53

Riverside    12    7    8    14    — 41

Pine-Eagle (53) — Gulick 19, Terjeson 9, B. Thatcher 14, Butler 5, Pallan, Carr 3, M. Thatcher 3.

Riverside (41) — Lezama 3, Lopez 14, Olvera 4, Hernandez, Jiminez 4, Leon 4, Guerra 4, Gonzalez 5, Mendoza, Dominguez 3.

Three-point goals — Gulick 2, Lopez 4. Fouled out — Jiminez, Gonzalez. Total fouls — Pine-Eagle 11, Riverside 27. Technicals — none.