Mullan Outlasts Rival Lakeside, Forces Rematch

If a hard-fought win over an archrival in a big game is as sweet as they say, then the taste of victory will surely linger for the Mullan Tigers after their 55-53 A-4 District I boys basketball tournament victory over the Lakeside Knights Friday night.

Although this game was probably as fiercely contested and as close as they come, the two teams have little time to rest because they will do it again tonight.

By virtue of its North Star League championship, Lakeside (18-4) must be defeated twice to be eliminated from the tournament. So, Mullan’s win forces an extra championship game. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 at Lakeland High School.

The winner will earn a berth in the A-4 State tournament Feb. 29-March 2 at Hillcrest High School in Idaho Falls. The opening-round opponent will be District III runner-up Cambridge on Thursday at 12:45 p.m. PST.

Mullan’s Tigers (15-5), facing elimination against a team that had beaten them twice already this season, almost saw it happen again.

But thanks to a decided edge in rebounding, some timely free-throw shooting and a few lucky bounces, Mullan held off a frantic Lakeside rally in the game’s final seconds.

Down 39-36 with just over a minute gone in the fourth quarter, Mullan went on an 11-2 scoring run to take a 47-41 lead.

But Lakeside, behind the play of reserve Ken Pluff, stayed close. After hitting a free throw with 3:36 left, Pluff converted a three-point play that cut Mullan’s lead to 47-45.

The Tigers stretched its advantage back to seven points, at 54-47, with 41 seconds left and appeared to have matters in hand.

Pluff stepped up again.

The junior guard hit a 3-pointer with 35 seconds left and, after stealing the ensuing in-bounds pass, hit another trey 8 seconds later. That cut Lakeside’s deficit to one point.

Mullan’s David Reed then hit 1 of 2 free throws to give Mullan a two-point advantage.

Pluff had one more chance, but his 3-point attempt bounced off the front rim.

Lakeside junior Brendon Nelson rebounded the missed shot and was fouled with 2 seconds left. However, he missed both free throws - the second intentionally - and Mullan ran out the clock.

“This was the biggest game for us in several years,” said excited Mullan coach John Drager. “It was a great team effort. It was not just one person. Maybe we’re starting to put it together.”

Mullan got a big game from 6-foot-2 junior post Al Sisk. He led the Tigers to a 34-22 rebounding advantage and led both teams with his 15 points, many of them on offensive put-backs.

“This could have been the seniors’ last game,” Sisk said. “We know we have to win and everybody really has to pull together.”

Lakeside coach Greg Stutzman agreed that the difference was on the boards.

“Rebounding just killed us,” he said. “They’re (the Tigers) always around the basket.

“You couldn’t ask for a more competitive high school basketball game than this one. We’ll fight back; we’ll be here tomorrow.”

Mullan received 13 points from junior Chris Angle and 12 from senior David Reed while defeating an old nemesis - free-throw shooting.

Mullan converted 17 of 28 free throws - 11 of 16 in the fourth quarter - while Lakeside made 7 of 15.

“Free throws have been killing us,” Drager said. “But right now, it’s a total new season. Our kids know they can beat them. It (tonight’s game) is going to be a good one.”

Pluff finished with 13 points to lead the Knights, who also got 11 points from junior Glen Lambert and 10 from junior James Twoteeth.

Mullan 55, Lakeside 53

Mullan 14 12 10 19 - 55

Lakeside 8 19 8 18 - 53

MULLAN Fritz 7, Lindstrom 6, Angle 13, Sisk 15, Reed 12, Greenfield 2. LAKESIDE Twoteeth 10, Nelson 5, Pluff 13, Montague 8, Lambert 11, Matheson 3, Allen 0, Meshell 3.

, DataTimes