Wolfes pick up Vikings

The Lake City High boys basketball team did a marvelous job defending Coeur d’Alene 3-point shooting ace Matt Palmer.

Check that. Garrett Lambson did a splendid job guarding Palmer.

Problem was the Timberwolves didn’t defend anybody else – particularly the big bad Wolfe twins.

When Palmer couldn’t find his range behind the 3-point arc, the Wolfe brothers took over, beating Timberwolves repeatedly on moves to the basket.

Coeur d’Alene survived an otherwise cold night from the perimeter as the Vikings held off Lake City 61-55 in an Inland Empire League game played before an estimated crowd of 1,700 at LC.

Palmer made a season-high seven 3-pointers in CdA’s 56-52 win over LC last month. He hit 7 of 15 from behind the extra-point arc and finished with a career-high 25 points.

It was obvious from opening tip Friday that the T-Wolves (7-5 overall, 2-3 league) weren’t about to let Palmer beat them single-handedly again. He shot 0 for 8 from the field (0 for 5 from 3-point range) in a scoreless first half. He finished 1 for 10.

Palmer, who came into the game averaging five 3-pointers made, redeemed himself in the second half, however, by making all 11 of his free throws, nine coming in a third quarter that saw CdA (5-4, 2-1) build as much as a 14-point lead after taking a 22-21 advantage into halftime.

“That’s all I could make,” Palmer said, shaking his head.

The key contributions, though, came from Jake and Joe Wolfe. The 6-foot-1 wings combined for 26 points and 23 rebounds with Jake leading the way with 16 points and 12 rebounds.

“They both always work hard, but I thought tonight was Jake’s best game as a high school player,” said second-year coach Kent Leiss, whose teams are 6-0 against LC since he took over at CdA. “I thought he really started to take control of the game midway through the second quarter when we made a little run and got the lead. He played very well rebounding the basketball and taking the ball to the hole.”

LC senior guard Ben Widmyer scored nine of his team-high 16 points in the second quarter as the T-Wolves built their biggest lead at 16-9. But a 13-5 spurt by the Viks to close the first half was pivotal in turning the game’s momentum.

CdA hurt itself at the foul line. Take Palmer’s 11 of 11 away and the rest of the Viks made just 9 of 27.

“We missed way too many free throws,” Leiss said. “That game didn’t need to be that close.”

The win was especially pleasing for CdA after a disappointing 67-62 loss at home to Lakeland on Tuesday in which the Viks were outrebounded 33-22.

Leiss said he challenged his team – particularly the Wolfe twins – to get to the boards Friday. They answered the challenge.

“We came out flat as a team against Lakeland,” Jake Wolfe said. “Don’t take anything away from Lakeland because they took it to us. It doesn’t seem like there’s anybody dominant in the (league) this year. Whoever comes out and plays the best game is going to win.”

Despite falling behind by 14 points late in the third period, LC didn’t quit. While it was seemingly an uphill battle thereafter, the T-Wolves clawed their way back within six points three times, including the final margin.

“The Wolfe boys did a nice job of taking the ball to the basket,” LC coach Kris Knowles said. “I don’t want to say that we didn’t come to play, but there were times that we got bogged down. We were a little lethargic with what we were doing. Our mantra has been ‘no lull’ in activity. I thought that we lulled most of the game tonight.”

LC post Ryan McPhee had a game-high 15 rebounds to go with 13 points.