Expectations Make Trip With North Star Reps

Two teams from the North Star League traveled to the State A-4 boys basketball tournament that begins today with burdens they are glad to bear.

The Lakeside Knights, ranked No. 1 in the final poll, carry the expectations that go with being the team to beat. The Mullan Tigers shoulder the hopes of a tight-knit community that will travel to Boise with them.

With an enrollment of fewer than 100 students, Mullan High School won’t hold regular classes the rest of the week because of the student exodus to the tournament.

“We didn’t know if we’d make it until Saturday night, so it has been pretty hectic for everyone to get prepared,” said Mullan coach John Drager. “We’re taking the team, the band and some students, so the school and the town will be pretty wiped out.”

In place of regular classes, the remaining 40 students will take part in field trips and other educational activities. Drager, on the other hand, will be enjoying himself in the final trip to state of his 33-year coaching career.

“We’re going to have fun down there,” Drager said.

Of the 16 teams playing in the newly expanded tournament, Lakeside is the one everyone is gunning for. The Knights, who came in second last year to Nampa Christian, return with basically the same players this season. The only difference is 6-foot-5 post Andrew Twiss, a transfer from Vancouver, Wash. His presence in the lineup gives the Knights a dominating interior player.

Lakeside has one of the most balanced attacks. Knights coach Greg Stutzman said the guard play of Glen Lambert and James Twoteeth can step it up if Twiss or forward Brenden Nelson aren’t getting into an offensive flow. The inside-out play is a key to their success, but more important in A-4 is their depth.

Lakeside goes four-deep on the bench, which allows them to constantly pressure the opposition. The allout pressure has helped the Knights to a 19-1 record, with their only loss coming to Troy.

Nampa Christian figures to contend for a repeat. Troy, considered a contender earlier in the season, dropped out of serious consideration because of the loss of leading scorer and rebounder Mike Kozenzi to academic troubles.

“If we don’t win it all this season, it will be a huge disappointment,” Lambert said.

Lakeside opens tonight against Wilder (17-8) at Borah High School. Tipoff is at 5:30 PST.

Earlier, Mullan (17-6) meets North Gem (12-9) at Bishop Kelly High in a 2:15 start.

If the Knights don’t win it all, Lambert said the team they want to see win would be Mullan.

It’s a mutual-admiration society, as Drager is quick to confess.

“Lakeside is the team to beat, and I know that we’ll both represent the league well,” he said.

In other openers at Borah, Oakley (18-6) meets Valley Christian (16-6), Rockland (15-6) goes against Dietrich (20-4) and Highland-Craigmont (15-11) battles Cascade (17-3).

In other matchups at Bishop Kelly, Troy (20-3) takes on Hagerman (17-8), Nampa Christian (20-4) meets Carey (14-11) and Shoshone (17-7) tangles with Rimrock (15-9).