Lakeland’s move makes sense after all

I must admit that I was dumbfounded when Lakeland High School announced in late November that it is withdrawing from the Inland Empire League effective next fall. I was going to harangue school officials for the decision.

After considerable consideration, though, I’ve come to this conclusion: The Rathdrum school was out of its league in the 5A/4A combined IEL. Excuse me for being blunt, but I don’t see what the 5A schools get out of playing Lakeland in most sports.

Since it moved up from 3A to 4A in 2004-05, the school has struggled in most sports. The only sports that have been consistently competitive are wrestling, girls basketball and girls soccer.

I contend that the reason some 4A IEL teams have been competitive at state tournaments – see Sandpoint’s boys and girls soccer, volleyball and wrestling, and Moscow volleyball – is in part because of playing the 5A schools.

Lakeland officials are concerned that continuing to play a full schedule of league games against 5A schools in boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, volleyball, baseball and softball is hurting those programs. They maintain that playing those schools in under-varsity programs is also affecting turnouts.

They have a point, especially if you look at the varsity records of those teams since 2004. Consider: boys basketball (5-39 league, 22-57 overall including this season); girls basketball (20-27, 47-43 including this season); boys soccer (4-41-3, 8-51-5); girls soccer (22-20-6, 37-22-8); volleyball (14-34, 45-62); baseball (8-44, 15-55); and softball (19-33, 31-48). Just girls soccer, which finished second at state in 2005, has a record better than .500 in league during that span. Only girls soccer and girls basketball have overall winning records.

Lakeland cut back scheduling 5A schools in football after 2005 because it was concerned that it lacked numbers to be competitive with the bigger schools, let alone challenge for a 4A state playoff berth. Officials believed the program would grow faster by playing schools with comparable enrollments. The Hawks have had back-to-back winning seasons the last two years (12-8 overall) and qualified for the 4A state playoffs for the first time last fall, advancing to the semifinals.

Moscow and Sandpoint say they’re committed to staying in the IEL. They cite the convenience of filling out schedules when it’s difficult to find opponents as a major reason for staying put. The schools also believe that playing the 5A schools prepares them for postseason play.

The big issue facing the 4A schools is how Lakeland will be seeded into Region I state-qualifying tournaments. Lakeland believes head-to-head games among the 4A schools should determine seeding.

It’s a much more complicated issue than just using head-to-head games, though. Lakeland’s teams will be playing softer schedules than Moscow and Sandpoint. Lakeland could be coming off playing a 3A Intermountain League school or a similar school from Washington while Moscow and Sandpoint could be coming off playing a 5A team.

Moscow and Sandpoint should be given credit for playing in a league. It’s an issue that the Idaho High School Activities Association may ultimately have to step in and solve, though.

Regular season concludes

Inland Empire League girls basketball teams conclude the regular season this week. Coeur d’Alene (17-1 overall, 10-0), which wrapped up the league title and 5A Region I top seed, is at Post Falls (15-3, 7-3) tonight at 5:45. Lake City (13-4, 8-2) visits Post Falls on Friday at 5:45.

The regional begins Feb. 1 with two games at CdA. Games thereafter will be held at the site of the highest seed. The top two teams advance to state.

•The 4A Region I tourney begins Tuesday with No. 3 Moscow (0-18, 0-10) traveling to either Sandpoint (7-12, 3-8) or Lakeland (5-13, 3-8). Lakeland travels to Lewiston tonight and Sandpoint plays host to Lewiston on Friday. A coin flip may be needed to decide the top two seeds. The regional champ advances to state.