Patient Sugar-Salem Fends Off Lake City

CHRISTMAS BASKETBALL CLASSIC

Shopping, bowling, pool - they were all part of the pre-game activities for the Sugar-Salem girls basketball team on Thursday.

“What do you do with them today,” wondered Diggers coach Lynn Romrell. “You do this at state.”

Undefeated Sugar-Salem also patiently waited for a 57-53 victory over Lake City in Saturday’s opener of the Christmas Basketball Classic.

“We didn’t panic,” Romrell added. “That’s the least number of points we’ve scored all year.”

The Lake City boys, on the other hand, got the boost from senior center Chad Beadell that coach Jim Winger wanted.

Beadell scored a career-high 26 points, as the Timberwolves strolled to an 84-57 win over Sugar-Salem, the two-time defending State A-2 champions.

“I’m still shocked,” Beadell said. “I just got my opportunities rebounding the ball and I just made the best of them.”

GIRLS

Sugar-Salem 57, Lake City 53

Guard Laura Tolzmann and reserve sophomore post Laura Dodge rallied the Timberwolves from an 11-point deficit with 1:10 left in the third quarter.

The two combined for 13 of Lake City’s 18-fourth quarter points, including a rebound conversion by Dodge at 1:44 which pulled the Timberwolves to within 52-50.

The Diggers spread their offense and forced Lake City to abandon its zone defense.

Senior forward Mandy Mortensen, an 80 percent free-throw shooter, sealed Sugar-Salem’s win at the line where she hit 5-of-6 free throws in the last 33 seconds.

“I consider this to be a real close team,” Lake City coach Dave Stockwell explained. “When you upset the apple cart a little, they doubted themselves a little bit.”

Stockwell went with a makeshift lineup, as illnesses sidelined starting forward Heather Stetson and point guard Katie Hatrock. The absence of Hatrock moved Lake City’s leading scorer Lyndsay Her bert from forward to point guard. Herbert finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds.

“We lose a lot of offense when she’s at the point position,” Stockwell added.

Sugar-Salem, the No. 1-ranked State A-2 team, shook loose from an 11-11 deadlock to start the second quarter with eight unanswered points.

Lake City (9-5) returns to Inland Empire League action on Thursday when Post Falls visits.

Sugar-Salem 57, Lake City 53

Sugar-Salem 11 18 15 13 - 57

Lake City 11 9 15 18 - 53

SUGAR-SALEMWasden 2, Jensen 0, Woodbury 0, Stears 0, Barrus 9, Mortensen 19, Williams 14, Hymas 13.

LAKE CITYJacobson 4, Tolzmann 11, Telford 8, M. Asher 3, Herbert 13, Dodge 8, A. Asher 6.

BOYS

Lake City 84, Sugar-Salem 57

Beadell and senior forward Jon Chatfield made their presence felt early against the Diggers (2-7), combining for 16 of Lake City’s first 20 points.

“Jon had got to do a real good job, (but) we need to get some other people involved,” Beadell said. “When somebody (else) steps up, it’s really nice.”

Beadell’s inside basket off a Jerid Keefer assist gave the Timberwolves the lead for good midway into the first quarter, and it was a 20-point game with 1:25 to go in the third quarter.

Lake City shot 55 percent from the field, including 11-of-13 in the fourth quarter when the lead swelled to 33 points.

“We needed a little bit of a breather,” Winger sighed. “The first seven games against solid teams went right down to the wire.

“They played great,” Winger added. “We’re coming together pretty good. The only thing we need to work on is we got beat on the baseline.”

The Timberwolves (6-3) open Inland Empire League play Thursday at home against Post Falls.

Lake City 84, Sugar-Salem 57

Sugar Salem 10 16 11 20 - 57

Lake City 20 15 20 29 - 84

SUGAR-SALEMGage 5, Peeples 18, Stoddard 2, Huntsman 4, Haacke 9, Dalling 0, Miyasaki 2, Gee 0, Romrell 13, Holman 0, Hymas 4.

LAKE CITYThompson 0, Keefer 7, Hoover 10, Chatfield 27, Beadell 26, Everson 2, Asper 8, Bemis 0, Bryan 0, Camantique 4, Heard 0.

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