Clark Fork’s Best Earns Semifinal Spot

A-3/A-4

Basketball teams want to be playing their best ball at tournament time. Clark Fork seem to be doing just that.

The Wampus Cats may have played their best game of the year in the first round of the Idaho A-4 high school basketball tournament Thursday night at Hillcrest High School.

Clark Fork (14-8) combined a height advantage with unselfish play to defeat Cascade (19-6) 58-44 to advance to the semifinals. They’ll play North Gem (19-5), a 62-51 winner over Oakley, tonight at 7:15 PST.

“This was one of our better games,” Clark Fork coach Bill Nietmann said. “We’ve been playing better every game since we got to district.”

Clark Fork’s inside trio of 6-foot-5 Mike Gow, 6-4 sophomore Jason Stevens and 6-3 Jeremy Lizzotte combined for 47 points and 38 rebounds.

Lizzotte, who scored 11 of his 15 points in the first half, took on an added responsibility in the second half. He collected five of his six assists then, feeding Gow and Stevens for layups.

“We had a lot of unselfish play,” Neitmann said.

Lizzotte and point guard Matt Lamburth controlled the tempo.

“We had the tempo going our way. Our defense played real well,” Neitmann said. “We used our trapping defense. I don’t think Cascade ever got into an offensive flow the whole game.”

Gow had 16 points and 11 rebounds. Stevens hit 7 of 9 for 16 points.

Clark Fork 58, Cascade 44

Cascade 12 9 13 10 -44 Clark Fork 13 13 14 18 -58

CASCADE Kimmel 0, Waldron 11, J.Jull 6, Cimbalik 8, Freeman 3, Stevens 12, S.Hull 0, McDonald 0, Dunn 4.

CLARK FORK Lamburth 2, Gow 16, Cheslic 9, Reuter 0, Lizzotte 15, J.Stevens 16, B.Stevens 0.

North Gem 62, Oakley 51

Senior guard Adam Peterson sank two 3-point shots in the third quarter to spark North Gem (19-5) over Oakley (18-7).

Dietrich 61, Nampa Christian 47

Bryce McCowan and Chester Southwick scored 18 points each to lead Dietrich (21-6) past No. 1 Nampa Christian (22-2).

Notus 56, Troy 50

Senior Kevin Christensen led the way with 17 points as Notus (23-3) beat Troy (21-4).

A-3: Potlatch 69, Fruitland 58

Junior post Jacob Vowels’ 17 points led No. 1 Potlatch (24-1) past Fruitland (17-8).

Lapwai 85, West Jefferson 75

Junior forward Rocky ThreeIrons scored 36 points to lead No. 5 Lapwai (21-6) past No. 3 West Jefferson (19-5).

Wendell 66, Parma 47 Senior post Dale Bunn put in 20 points as Wendell (18-7) blew past Parma (13-11).

Teton 69, Malad 64 (OT)

Spencer Nead and Kelly Nead each contributed 15 points as Teton (22-7) beat defending champion Malad (18-6).