Lake City Has Correct Answer After Vikings Build A Lead, Timberwolves Come Back To Win At A-1 Regional Tourney

On a night when Coeur d’Alene High played well, Lake City played better.

The visiting Vikings hit everything in the first quarter, but Lake City didn’t hit the panic button.

The top-seeded Timberwolves withstood the early barrage and posted an impressive 71-61 boys basketball victory Friday in the A-1 Region I tournament semifinals.

“It will never replace a championship game, but this was monstrous in my mind,” Lake City coach Jim Winger said. “Now somebody has to beat us twice in a row on our court and we’ve won 15 straight here.”

Lake City (19-3), the lone unbeaten in the tourney, awaits the winner of tonight’s Coeur d’Alene-Moscow game in Moscow. The second-seeded Bears (13-9) eliminated No. 4 Lewiston 44-41 Friday.

The stat sheet will point to Lake City’s 12 3-pointers, the contributions of backups Luke Anderson (13 points), Tyler Chisholm (6 points) and Conor Hammons (3 points and several key assists), and a defense that finally caught up with CdA senior Sam Conley.

But the biggest factor was Lake City’s composure after the Vikings, fresh from a win at Moscow Thursday night, knocked down 10 of 13 shots in a fast-paced first quarter.

CdA led 8-0 before the first signs of perspiration.

“It’s been a while since we were down like that,” Lake City guard Jacob Lenz said. “We’re usually the ones getting on top and setting the tempo.”

Conley had 11 points in the first quarter and 15 by half. He hit tough, hanging jumpers inside as well as bombs from the top of the key. But instead of enjoying a cozy lead, CdA was up by just four because Lake City’s Daryl Wilder and Matt Dlouhy combined to hit five 3-pointers.

Tom Dennis’ three field goals pushed LC on top, 32-28, by half.

“They weathered the storm,” said Vikings coach Larry Bieber, whose third-seeded club dropped to 12-11. “I’m sure Jim (Winger) is happy about that. I know I would be if I had that team.”

Indeed, Winger praised his players for keeping their wits when CdA erupted early. He was even more pleased when Lake City’s second-half performance came off as scripted.

“We made some subtle adjustments on Conley,” Winger said. “We were overplaying him too much and he’s so quick. We just made him come at us with the dribble and tried to stay in position.”

Conley scored his only points of the second half on a 3-pointer midway through the fourth quarter.

By then, though, Anderson, Hammons and Chisholm had done their damage. Anderson restored an inside presence after the Vikings had dominated the boards.

Anderson had six rebounds.

Dlouhy made a key 3-pointer after a scramble for a loose ball to give LC a 51-44 lead early in the fourth. Chisholm’s 3 boosted the edge to 59-49.

“I thought we played pretty well,” Bieber said. “You’re going to have to catch them when they’re not shooting. They hit 12 3s and I counted 20 points between Anderson and Dennis inside.

“Anytime they do that, you’re going to have trouble beating them.”

Lake City 71, CdA 61

Coeur d’Alene 22 6 14 19 - 61

Lake City 18 14 14 25 - 71

Coeur d’Alene (12-11) - Simon 4 0-0 10, Rupp 2 0-0 4, Bligh 5 0-0 13, Rogers 4 2-2 10, Wilkey 0 0-0 0, Sather 0 0-0 0, Conley 8 0-1 18, Findley 2 2-4 6, Alderman 0 0-0 0. Totals 25 4-7 61.

Lake City (19-3) - Quinn 2 1-3 6, Dlouhy 4 0-0 12, Lenz 2 7-9 12, Hammons 1 1-2 3, Chisholm 2 0-0 6, Wilder 4 0-1 12, Anderson 5 3-4 13, Dennis 3 1-1 7. Totals 23 13-20 71.

3-point goals - Simon, Bligh 3, Conley 2, Quinn, Dlouhy 4, Lenz, Chisholm 2, Wilder 4. Total fouls - Coeur d’Alene 16, Lake City 6. Fouled out - none. Technicals - none.

Moscow 44, Lewiston 41

Drew Burton scored a game-high 13 and the Bears eliminated the visiting Bengals.

Lewiston 20 4 7 10 - 41

Moscow 14 14 8 8 - 44

Lewiston (11-12) - Martin 0 0-0 0, J. Huff 0 2-2 2, Johnson 0 0-0 0, Zager 1 0-0 3, Anderson 3 0-0 6, Klamper 4 3-4 11, C. Huff 1 0-0 3, Bruce 1 1-2 4, Haines 5 2-4 12. Totals 15 8-12 41.

Moscow (13-9) - Brown 2 0-0 6, Baysinger 1 0-0 2, Busch 2 0-0 5, Williams 5 1-2 11, Johnson 1 1-2 3, Richards 2 0-1 4, Twyman 0 0-0 0, Burton 5 3-3 13. Totals 18 5-8 44.

3-point goals - Zager, C. Huff, Bruce, Brown 2, Busch. Total fouls - Lewiston 14, Moscow 14. Fouled out - None. Technicals - None.

North Star League

Clark Fork 67, Mullan 34

Brent Stutzke totaled 20 points and five rebounds, and the Wampus Cats wrapped up their perfect league season by stopping the visiting Tigers.

Shawn Rounsville added 16 points, 13 rebounds and five blocked shots for Clark Fork. He has 31 rebounds in his last two games.

The A-4 District I Tournament begins Wednesday night at North Idaho College with two winner-to-state, loser-out games. No. 1 Clark Fork will play No. 4 Kootenai (5-11), and No. 3 Mullan will play No. 2 Falls Christian (13-7).

Mullan 11 2 8 13 - 34

Clark Fork 16 13 23 15 - 67

Mullan (7-11, 2-4) - Stanley 13, Elwood 2, Hegbloom 15, Winkler 0, Short 0, Greenfield 0, Elliot 2, Hoven 0, Gary 2.

Clark Fork (14-5, 6-0) - Changala 4, Stutzke 20, Stevens 6, Valliere 12, Vogel 6, Rounsville 16, Powell 3, Wold 0, Schiffman 0, Allen 0.