Lake City Seeks First State Title
A week from today, the Lake City High School girls basketball team could be heading home from Caldwell with the first state championship for the new school.
The Timberwolves will converge on Albertson College as the heavy favorite to capture the State A-1 title when the tourney begins a three-day run on Thursday.
Lake City, 21-1 overall and ranked No. 1 all season, will meet Highland of Pocatello (20-5) in a state opener. Tip off is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. PST.
Interestingly, the Lake City-Highland opener involves several players who played in the state championship game that featured Coeur d’Alene and Highland last year.
In other openers, meanwhile, Blackfoot (17-6) and Borah (18-5), the other teams on LC’s half of the bracket, meet in the tournament’s first game; Pocatello (21-2) takes on Nampa (17-7); and traditional power Centennial (21-2) meets Madison of Rexburg (12-13) in the nightcap.
The A-2 tourney begins the same day at Centennial High School in Meridian.
Three-time champion Moscow returns as does runner-up Bonners Ferry.
In a game some figure could be for the state title, Moscow (15-7), which will be seeking a four-peat, opens against Shelley (20-0) at 2.
In other openers, Preston (20-2) meets Bishop Kelly (14-10); Jerome (14-7) takes on Sugar-Salem (16-6); and Bonners Ferry (16-7) battles Kuna (17-5) in the day’s final game at 8:15.
The A-3 tourney, at Boise’s Capital High School, also begins Thursday. A new champion will be crowned.
In opening-round games, Clearwater Valley (24-2), which finished third last year, takes on Fruitland (19-6); Firth (14-8) meets Lapwai (17-9), a 64-46 winner over Wallace in a playoff game Saturday; Melba (14-9) meets Valley (15-8), state runner-up last year; and Grace (19-6) battles Kimberly (23-4).
The A-4 tourney begins the same day at Borah High School in Boise. A new champion will be crowned.
District I champion Lakeside (12-10) meets traditional qualifier Cambridge (19-5) in the nightcap at 8:15.
In other games, HighlandCraigmont (21-4) takes on Maranatha (18-6); Nampa Christian (22-1) meets Oakley (20-3), last year’s runner-up; and Shoshone (22-1) goes against North Gem (13-10).
For the first time, all four state championship games will be played at the same site, at Albertson College, on Saturday.
The A-4 title game will begin at 1:30 p.m., followed by the A-3 championship game at 3:40, the A-2 final at 5:50 and capped by the A-1 showdown at 8.