Lakeside uses late spurt to claim state berth

Well after their 64-54 victory in the 1A District I title game Friday, the Lakeside Knights and their fans continued to hang around the gym at Lakeland High in Rathdrum, taking pictures and relishing in the win.

Maybe the reason for their prolonged celebration was that they had to work so hard to earn it.

One thing’s for sure – the Knights are breathing much more easily this morning.

Top-seeded Lakeside (21-1) needed a late spurt to down No. 2 Post Falls Christian (15-7) before a packed gym to grab the district’s first berth to the 1A state tournament, beginning Wednesday at Vallivue High School in Caldwell.

PFC plays Mullan, a 43-39 winner over Wallace in an earlier loser-out game, today at 4 p.m. at Lakeland for the district’s second berth to state.

Lakeside never trailed in the title game through the first three quarters and held a seemingly comfortable 10-point lead early in the period.

But the pesky Eagles would not give in. A 9-2 run pulled them within two, at 45-43, with 7:43 left and the teams traded baskets giving Lakeside a 49-46 lead.

Following a Lakeside turnover, PFC’s Tyler Scholler got inside for a layin. Eight seconds later, Danny Anderson’s jumper gave the Eagles a 50-49 lead, their first of the game.

Unfortunately, it would also be their last.

The Knights, behind the play of senior guard Tim Wolfe, decided to settle the issue.

Wolfe’s 3-pointer from the top of the key made it 52-50 and it ignited a 12-1 Lakeside run to put the game away at 61-51 with 2:17 to go.

Wolfe, who finished with a game-high 23 points, had 10 of those 12 points.

“There was no way we were going to let them beat us,” Wolfe said.

“We knew we had to start playing harder and get our minds on the game.”

“I was a little bit worried,” Lakeside coach Stacy Sonder said. “We weren’t taking care of the ball and we got a little sloppy.”

Eagles coach Tim Mitchell was quick to point out the difference in the game.

“Turnovers,” he said. “Just the small mistakes down the stretch killed us.

“We had them on the ropes and then we didn’t take care of the ball. But we get a chance to close out tomorrow.”

In addition to Wolfe’s 23, Arthur Elwell had 14 points for Lakeside and James Samuels and Casey Moore each had 10.

Post Falls Christian was led by Tim Laux and Brack Adkins with 10 points each.

Lakeside 64, Post Falls Christian 54

Lakeside Samuels 10, Moore 10, Elwell 14, Sonder 3, Wolfe 23, Stifanick 0, Stifford 1, Whipple 3.

Post Falls Christian (15-7) Scholler 7, Rouse 5, Park 4, Vick 0, Laux 10, Adkins 10, Messier 2, Anderson 7, Munson 1, Shaw 6, Goodall 2.

Mullan 43, Wallace 39

In the earlier game, Mullan eliminated Wallace in a tightly contested game.

Neither team led by more than six points. The game wasn’t decided until the final moments, when the Tigers were able to convert some crucial free throws.

Mullan was led by junior Jesse James’ 16 points.

James also grabbed several key rebounds for the Tigers, who also got 12 points from Cory Pehan and 10 from Joe Ploharz.

Justin Keener had 13 points for Wallace and Paul Norris had 12.

Wallace (9-14) Bartel 0, Hartmann 0, Heiser 8, Keener 13, McGee 0, P.Norris 12, S.Norris 4, T.Norris 2.

Mullan (11-11) Scales 2, Murray 5, Pehan 12, James 16, Jo.Ploharz 10, Ja.Ploharz 0.