Lakeside Responds To Challenge, Reaches State

A-4 District I

Despite dominating the North Star League all season and scoring 16 points in the Knights’ district-opening game the night before, Lakeside post Andrew Twiss was being dominated by Mullan in the first half.

Unfortunately for Mullan, Lakeside coach Greg Stutzman lit a fire under the 6-foot-5 junior at halftime. He came back to score 13 of his team-high 17 points in the second half to lead the Knights to a 72-43 victory over the Tigers Friday night in the championship of the A-4 District I Tournament at Lakeland High School.

The win gave the Knights a berth in the state tournament.

“I told him that he can take over if he made himself a target, so he got his hands up and our guards found him,” Stutzman said.

The Knights, 19-1 and ranked No. 1 in A-4, will play in the State A-4 tournament, beginning Wednesday in Middleton. Lakeside will face the District III runner-up at 5:30 PST at Borah High.

In the loser-out game played earlier in the night, Falls Christian used 38 points from Ben Larson to defeat Clark Fork 73-54. The win set up a 6:30 p.m. loser-out game today against Mullan at Lakeland High. The winner will advance to state and face the runner-up of District IV at 2:15 PST Wednesday at Bishop Kelly High School.

Lakeside 72, Mullan 43

Lakeside didn’t look like the best team in the state in the first half, as Mullan used tough man-to-man defense to shut down the Knights’ offense.

Mullan broke the Lakeside press with ease, and jumped out to a 31-26 halftime lead behind 14 points from Al Sisk. The key to the early success was the Tigers’ ability to deny Twiss the ball in the post.

“In the first half we played tough man-to-man and handled the press fine but we got in some foul trouble and the wheels came off,” Mullan coach John Drager said.

Lakeside point guard Glen Lambert almost single-handedly kept the Knights in the game in the first half, and then teamed up with Twiss to remove Mullan’s wheels after intermission.

Lakeside dominated the third quarter, outscoring Mullan 22-6 including an 18-4 run to start the half. Twiss scored nine points in the quarter and Lambert, who ended up with 15 points, continued to find him throughout the game.

“I think Glen Lambert was the difference for us tonight,” Stutzman said. “I haven’t seen him play that aggressive in weeks.”

“We totally lost concentration in the second half,” Drager said. “But we’ll come after Falls Christian (tonight).”

The Knights return to state, where they were defeated by Troy in the championship game last year. A second place trophy isn’t in the plans again.

“You better believe that we’re ready to go down there and play just like we did tonight,” Lambert said.

Lakeside 72, Mullan 43

Lakeside 13 13 22 24 - 72

Mullan 15 16 6 6 - 43

Lakeside - Twoteeth 2, Nelson 3, Lozeau 7, McFadden 3, Pluff 9, Lambert 15, B. Morris 0, Twiss 17, T. Morris 7, Allen 9.

Mullan - Fritz 0, Chavez 6, Angle 11, Sisk 18, Zingler 2, Greenfield 6.

Falls Christian 73, Clark Fork 54

The Eagles used Larson’s career-high 38 points to easily defeat Clark Fork and keep the dream of a state berth alive.

The 6-2 senior forward who teamed up with Jared Bligh for an inside-out combo the Wampus Cats couldn’t stop. Bligh ended up with 20 points and 20 rebounds.

The game was close throughout the first three quarters, as Falls Christian (10-11) was up just 46-43 at the start of the fourth. As Clark Fork (9-12) got in foul trouble and Larson stayed hot, though, the Eagles pulled away.

Falls Christian 73, Clark Fork 54

Falls Christian 17 21 10 25 - 73

Clark Fork 15 13 14 11 - 54

Falls Christian - Baker 7, Staggs 3, Bligh 20, Burns 5, Larson 38.

Clark Fork - Higgins 11, Powell 3, Klontz 2, Beers 14, J. Stevens 4, B. Stevens 20.