Lakeland has seen error of its ways

First, I have to offer truth in disclosure here.

Last winter I wrote that I endorsed Lakeland’s withdrawal from the Inland Empire League. At the time, I said 4A Lakeland was in over its head against the league’s four 5A schools.

I made my statement before all the shoes had dropped on the issue and it was determined that Lakeland, by virtue of not playing in the league like 4A schools Sandpoint and Moscow, would be seeded last for all state-qualifying tournaments.

I won’t spend any time rehashing the nitty-gritty of the issues. But I believe Lakeland is seeing the error of its decision, although you won’t hear administrators admit as much.

In principle, I know the Rathdrum school thought it was doing its student-athletes right. But the fact that the school has approached league officials about rejoining the league sooner than later is admission enough that they didn’t fully think out all the possible ramifications.

Lakeland’s withdrawal was to run concurrently with the 2008-10 classification cycle. Something hit the fan in Rathdrum last spring when the school’s postseason seeding was determined.

Lakeland officials thought a more beneficial compromise would be struck.

I understood Lakeland’s argument that it was exposing its athletes to too much competitive 5A play. I think more harm was taking place, though, against 5A schools at the junior varsity, sophomore and freshman levels than the varsity level.

Lakeland’s administration didn’t envision this happening: The Hawks’ girls soccer team, which is 1-0-1 against Moscow, most likely will have to travel to Moscow next week in a winner-to-state, loser-out match instead of playing at home (although Lakeland has been pleading for a change of venue behind the scenes this week).

When the winter rolls around, it’s a pretty good guess that the Lakeland girls and boys basketball teams will have the upper hand against Sandpoint and Moscow. But there won’t be any postseason reward.

If Lakeland was confident in its decision to leave the league, it wouldn’t be back knocking on the IEL door this soon pleading with the league to work out a compromise that the IEL declined in a 12-2 decision last fall.

My sense is a compromise won’t be worked out. There’s no need to work out a concession if the current system works for the majority of schools.

The only way Lakeland will find itself back in the IEL is to agree to return to life as it was before it left. Perhaps the best “compromise” is for Lakeland to play fewer 5A schools at the lower levels.

Panhandle picks

I made a nice comeback last week, going 8-2. If it wasn’t for those Lakeland School District teams, I’d have had a perfect week.

That puts the overall record at 32-22 (.593).

Coeur d’Alene at Lewiston: This was an easy pick before the season started. But the way the Vikings played in September has caused me considerable pause.

I’m not sure which team is better here. It’s hard to discount Lewiston’s 5-0 start and the fact the Bengals are coming off a 43-28 win at Sandpoint. Remember what happened to CdA against Sandpoint? The Bulldogs drubbed the Vikings 27-7.

Based on that alone, I can’t pick against the Bengals at home. Lewiston 28, CdA 21.

•Other games: Lake City 28, Vallivue 21; Central Valley 35, Post Falls 21; Sandpoint 28, Raymond (B.C.) 14; Ontario (Ore.) 28, Lakeland 14; Timberlake 28, Bonners Ferry 13; Orofino 35, St. Maries 6; Kellogg 13, Priest River 6; Lakeside (Plummer) 28, Mullan 22; Wallace 26, Clark Fork 12.

Coming up

Today: The Sandpoint girls soccer team (10-3-3, 7-0-2) visits Coeur d’Alene (9-4-3, 6-0-3) at 4 in a regular-season finale that will decide the IEL title.

•Check out the Prairie Voice today for a feature on the Lakeland girls soccer team’s best defender, Bailey Thompson.

•You’ll find a feature on Coeur d’Alene two-sport standout Sadie Simon in Saturday’s Handle Extra.