Bombs Drop On Timberwolves Lewiston Upsets Lc, Then Fealko Resigns

Briefly before tipoff, Lewiston High’s girls basketball coach Pat Zink said his players didn’t have the flu, they weren’t injured, and therefore they didn’t have an excuse to lose.

They didn’t need one either, earning a 41-40 upset victory over Lake City in an A-1 Region I game Friday.

The win marked the first for the Bengals (10-13) over the Timberwolves since Lake City was built. It also gave the Bengals the opportunity to continue play against Post Falls at Post Falls tonight at 7.

LC coach Dave Fealko announced the conclusion of his coaching career after the game. He said he decided a couple of weeks ago that his first season at Lake City (13-9) would be his last.

“You’ve got to spend tons of time,” said Fealko, who had returned to coaching after a three-year break. Fealko served 18 years as head girls coach at Coeur d’Alene High.

“The fire in the heart’s got to burn and ache for basketball,” he said. “I enjoyed the year. The kids were great and I have no regrets. It was fun to be in the battles, but it’s time to let someone else carry on the war.”

The Bengals won the game in the final 3 seconds when Michelle Bausch hit a close-range basket.

The T-Wolves had led the entire game, including a 32-26 cushion going into the fourth, but they began deteriorating early in the quarter.

“I would have preferred to win it defensively and not have needed the last-second basket,” Zink said. “It ranks up there with one of the best wins we’ve had.”

Forward Krista Sullivan scored two of her six fourth-quarter points on a transition layin with about 1:30 left to take the first lead 37-36 for the Bengals. LC’s Laura Dodge responded a minute later, quickly driving off the dribble to make it 40-39.

And then came Bausch.

“Coach told us not to let them score,” said Bausch, who finished with a team-high 12 points. “Dodge drove on me and scored. I looked at the clock, saw the opening in the middle and went for it.”

The Timberwolves had plenty of opportunity to keep control. With 5 minutes left in the third, LC turned the ball over on five consecutive possessions, allowing the Bengals to sneak within 26-23.

The Timberwolves controlled early, too. Twice in the first quarter LC had three consecutive offensive rebounds without scoring.

“The first quarter was very typical,” Fealko said. “Offensive rebounds (were) missed, we just couldn’t get it. You couldn’t say we didn’t have the opportunity to put it away early. It’s something we’ve been searching for the last three games; we just haven’t been able to find it.”

Dodge led LC with 12 points and Cassie Bro had 10 points, including 6 of 6 free throws.

Neither team shot well. Lewiston hit 18 of 47 from the field and 5 of 6 from the foul line. The Timberwolves made 16 of 54 from the field and 8 of 8 free throws.

Lewiston 41, Lake City 40

Lewiston 6 9 11 15 - 41

Lake City 10 10 12 8 - 40

Lewiston (10-13) - Benner 0 0-0 0, Stellmon 0 0-0 0, Zobel 1 0-0 2, Gill 5 1-1 11, Sullivan 3 2-2 8, Andrews 0 0-0 0, Weaver 1 0-0 2, Brudie 0 0-0 0, Bausch 5 2-3 12, Peterson 0 0-0 0, Spencer 0 0-0 0, Mattoon 3 0-0 6. Totals 18 5-6 41.

Lake City (13-9) - Chamberlin 1 0-0 2, Troxel 0 0-0 0, Schuh 0 0-0 0, Hayes 2 0-0 4, Carpenter 1 0-0 2, Colwell 1 0-0 2, Brumley 1 0-0 2, Cook 0 0-0 0, Bro 2 6-6 10, Riggs 0 0-0 0, Hanson 0 0-0 0, Lien 0 0-0 0, Dodge 6 0-0 12, Metz 0 0-0 0, Stern 2 2-2 6. Totals 16 8-8 40.

Total fouls - Lewiston 9, Lake City 13.