Young Lakeside Set To Take Shot

State A-3 girls basketball

When the public address announcer at the State A-3 girls basketball tournament introduces Lakeside’s starters, he can save himself a few words.

Instead of saying the year in school of each Lakeside player, he could preface his introductions this way: “Now the starters for the Knights, all of whom are juniors.”

Lakeside took eight players to state, which begins today at Middleton High School. Seven are juniors and one is a sophomore.

Coach Ron Miller has more players - Lakeside fielded a junior varsity team of five freshmen and two sophomores - but they’re too inexperienced to take to state, he said.

There are no seniors. The senior class had two players turn out as freshmen, but none since.

“That class has been a big hole in the program,” Miller said. Don’t feel sorry for Miller, though. His team will have more state experience than most teams in the field.

This is the third trip to state for his starters.

“All of the juniors have been playing together since the third grade,” Miller said.

That explains why Lakeside made a smooth transition from A-4 to A-3 this year, playing in the traditionally difficult Central Idaho League, which has produced the past five state champions.

Lakeside (20-5) earned the CIL’s second state berth and joins district champ Prairie (18-5) at state.

In opening-round games, Lakeside will meet District VI champ West Jefferson (19-4) at 2:15 PST. In the final evening game, Prairie will take on Homedale (18-4).

In the other games, West Side (15-6) goes against Parma (12-12) and Declo (21-1) meets Firth (20-4).

The Knights are led by 5-foot-9 post Mary Kolar (12 points per game), 5-8 wing Michelle Kelley (11 ppg) and 5-6 guard Amy Fuchs (10 ppg).

West Jefferson boasts as much balance as Lakeside. The Panthers’ starters all average near double figures. Posts Jenny Jemett (6-1) and Stefanie Dalling (6-0) give the Panthers a height advantage.

“If we’re on our game, we can play with anybody,” Miller said.

Tall and quick teams like Prairie have given Lakeside the most trouble. The Knights lost to Prairie in league (46-34) and district (47-41).

Miller is taking his seventh team to state in 10 years. In his first year at Plummer, before the school consolidated with Worley, Miller’s team won the A-4 championship (1989-90).

Miller knows what it takes to win state. And he likes the potential of this year’s team, particularly in regards to next year.

“We want to build off of this year,” Miller said. “This league is notoriously the toughest in the state. So we think we can do well.”