Lc Nails Down Automatic State A-1 Berth Timberwolves Survive Scare From Sandpoint In Region’S Title Game

As if it’s by a random process, another Lake City High player came off the bench to provide the impetus for victory Wednesday night.

Senior guard Chad Bramlet was the catalyst, but the Timberwolves had to hold on by their paws at the end before stopping Sandpoint, 52-49, in the boys A-1 Region I tournament championship game.

Lake City (17-8) survived three 3-point attempts in the final seconds to earn the region’s lone automatic state berth. State will be held March 4-6 at Nampa.

The Timberwolves’ opening-round opponent will not be determined until a cross-district playoff Saturday.

Sandpoint (15-10) can still earn a state berth. The Bulldogs will take on District III third-place finisher Meridian (13-14) Saturday at 1 p.m. PST at Grangeville High School.

Wednesday’s game - witnessed by an estimated crowd of 2,500 - marked the third in six nights between the teams. It didn’t come close to matching Tuesday’s thriller in terms of execution. But the intensity certainly was equal, if not higher.

“I’ve had quite a few great moments in seven years of coaching, but how this was done was incredible,” LC coach Jim Winger said. “To win three in a row and beat the same team twice, the kids are something else.”

Bramlet, suspended for two weeks midway in the season for an athletic code violation, had to earn back some playing time the past month.

He capped his personal comeback with a season-high 22 points, 15 coming in the second quarter.

“The (shots) were going in in the first half. It was like practicing in the backyard it was so amazing,” Bramlet said. “The last couple of years we’ve been young and we’ve had some disappointment. This is what the nine seniors have been waiting for.”

Bramlet made a 3-pointer to extend LC’s lead to 17-11 with 5:32 left before halftime. That would start a stretch where he scored 15 of the T-Wolves’ next 16 points.

His baskets came on assorted shots. He made two 3-pointers, drove through traffic and made a circus scoop shot with his opposite hand and had two cherry-picking layups.

Bramlet was fouled on his last breakaway layup. He completed the three-point play to give LC a 30-21 lead.

Sandpoint first-year coach Kurt Lundblad, incensed all game with the officiating, snapped a referee on the rump with a towel as he walked across the court toward the locker room. The official called a technical.

LC’s Jeff Schuh came out of the locker room less than a minute into intermission to make the two free throws.

Bramlet made his third and final 3-pointer to open the fourth quarter, pushing LC’s lead to its widest margin at 44-30.

As if flipping a switch, Sandpoint’s comeback began after Bramlet scored his final basket, a layup in transition, to put LC ahead 46-33 with 6:14 left.

Sandpoint jumped into full-court pressure, forcing four of LC’s eight final-period turnovers.

Following another turnover, Paul Nieman hit a 3-pointer with Bramlet’s hand in his face to pull the Bulldogs within 50-49 with 40 seconds left.

The biggest last-minute effort for LC came when junior reserve post Tom Dennis got a rebound after two missed free throws by Justin Nipp.

Dennis was fouled and he made both free throws for a 52-49 lead with 25 seconds left.

Sandpoint had at least two good looks on its final three 3-point shots.

Lundblad was still steaming about the officiating some 30 minutes after the game.

“I thought it was really unfortunate, the officiating in a (regional) championship game,” Lundblad said. “The one official - you know who I’m talking about - didn’t blow his whistle for us when he got mad at me. It seemed like it was something personal toward me. It was a poorly officiated game on his behalf. I wish the kids would have decided the game and not the officials. I’m not taking anything away from Lake City. They played a great game.”

Winger hopes Sandpoint wins Saturday.

“Sandpoint deserves to be at state,” Winger said. “They’re a good team and they’re well-coached.”

Sandpoint 5 16 9 19 - 49

Lake City 11 21 9 11 - 52

Sandpoint (15-10) - Nieman 5 1-2 13, Mills 2 0-0 6, Singleton 0 0-0 0, Watson 6 3-4 16, Menard 3 0-0 7, Malone 3 0-0 6, Rinaldi 0 1-4 1, Palmer 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 5-10 49.

Lake City (17-8) - Barlow 2 1-2 6, Bramlet 7 5-7 22, Schuh 1 2-2 5, Reiswig 0 0-0 0, Lenz 1 2-2 5, Nipp 2 2-6 6, Stroh 1 0-0 2, Quinn 0 0-0 0, Dennis 0 6-8. Totals .

3-point goals - Mills 2, Nieman 2, Menard, Bramlet 3, Barlow, Lenz. Total fouls - S 18, LC 12. Fouled out - Rinaldi. Technicals - Sandpoint coach Kurt Lundblad.

WASHINGTON

Southeast B girls

Garfield-Palouse was on its way to finishing its season 0-3 against LaCrosse-Washtucna’s girls.

But the Vikings took a detour and rallied for a 47-44 win during loser-out games of the District 8 B tournament at Washington State University on Wednesday.

Katie Coles and Jenny Iverson combined for 16 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Vikings comeback.

Gar-Pal shot 19 percent from the floor in the first half to trail by 14 points. L-W had defeated the Vikings twice during the regular season while tying for the Whitman County title.

Gar-Pal plays either Asotin or St. John-Endicott at 1 p.m. Friday at WSU in another loser-out game.