Vikings Girls Edge Timberwolves, Again

For the second straight game, the Lake City High girls basketball team dictated the tempo against its crosstown rival.

But for the second time all Lake City could walk away with was a moral victory.

And for the second time, Coeur d’Alene senior point guard Patti Stranger made the key free throws to thwart the Timberwolves’ upset hopes.

Stranger made 3 of 5 foul shots in the final 32 seconds as the Border League-champion Vikings slipped past LC 49-45 Thursday before an estimated crowd of 800 at Viking Gym.

LC pushed CdA to the distance two weeks ago before the Viks prevailed 45-41.

CdA senior post Shaylia Davis scored two of her season-high 24 points when she hit an 8-foot fadeaway jumper to extend the Viks’ lead to 44-41 with 3:43 left.

Following an LC timeout on the next possession, the T-Wolves’ Amber Hanson hit a 3-pointer from the corner behind a screen to knot the score at 44-all.

After LC’s Megan Carpenter hit 1 of 2 foul shots, Davis gave CdA what would prove to be the lead for good at 46-45 when she rebounded her own miss in the key with 1:48 left.

But the final 108 seconds would be entertaining nonetheless.

CdA took nearly a minute off the clock before LC was forced to foul. Stranger hit both ends of a one-and-one opportunity with 32 seconds remaining.

A 3-point attempt by Hanson from near the same spot she made it earlier bounced off the rim. In a crowded scramble, LC was called for an intentional foul that had T-Wolves coach Darren Taylor well onto the court protesting.

Stranger missed the first free throw, but made the second with 13 seconds left.

LC’s final possession ended without a shot being taken. The T-Wolves got the ball late to shooter Cassie Bro, but she couldn’t square up in time as time expired.

LC’s fullcourt pressure exposed a CdA weakness - ballhandling against a press. And Viks coach Bill Pratt was thankful to have a second game that forced his team to make smart decisions at the end.

The T-Wolves were in control in the first half, building a 22-13 lead before CdA rallied within 23-22 at the half.

“That’s a good press,” Pratt said of LC’s pressure. “We broke it, but we didn’t execute in the first half. And we didn’t shoot the ball very well from the outside. I wasn’t pleased at halftime, and I don’t think it (outside shooting) got any better in the second half.”

Where CdA hurt LC in the second half was inside. Davis and post Brittany Douglas combined for 21 points. Douglas scored all 11 of her points in the second half.

“Shaylia and Brittany came out and powered it up and quit dinking around,” Pratt said. “We’re a power team. But I would have liked to have seen the perimeter a little more involved in the offense.”

CdA improved to 18-1 overall, 17-0 in league. LC, which is fighting for a host berth in first-round regional loser-out games with Lewiston, fell to 8-11, 7-10.

LC must beat Cheney tonight and Lewiston must lose to Clarkston on Saturday for the T-Wolves to host an opener Tuesday. An LC loss or Lewiston win means the T-Wolves would travel to Lewiston.

“It was a great game - see-sawing back and forth - until the (intentional foul call),” said Taylor, who was still livid about the call afterward. “We competed our hearts out as usual. We can play with anybody. We just need a break down the stretch of a ballgame.”

Taylor isn’t concerned about possibly traveling to Lewiston.

“We can beat anybody; we’ll beat Lewiston down there and and we’ll be right back here on this floor for the second game of (regionals),” Taylor said.

Coeur d’Alene 49, Lake City 45

Lake City 17 9 9 10 - 45

Coeur d’Alene 11 14 10 14 - 49

Lake City (8-11, 7-10) - Chamberlin 3 0-1 6, Smith 1 2-4 4, Metz 2 2-2 8, Carpenter 2 1-2 5, Colwell 0 0-0 0, Brumley 1 0-0 2, Cook 1 0-0 2, Bro 6 1-1 15, Tuntland 0 0-0 0, Hanson 1 0-1 3, Mitchell 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 6-11 45.

Coeur d’Alene (18-1, 17-0) - Lenz 2 0-0 5, Stranger 0 5-7 5, Vig 0 0-0 0, Baracco 0 0-0 0, Hauck 1 0-1 2, Bielec 0 0-0 0, Douglas 5 1-1 11, Budvarson 1 0-0 2, Davis 10 4-6 24. Totals 19 10-15 49.

3-point goals - Metz 2, Bro 2, Lenz. Total fouls - Lake City 16, Coeur d’Alene 14. Fouled out - none. Technicals - none.