Lake City boys struggle but beat Coeur d’Alene in overtime; Girls dominate in easy win

The Lake City boys basketball team struggles offensively from time to time.

It’s not just troubles scoring but things as simple as dribbling and passing.

The Timberwolves overcame a hideous third quarter by fostering just enough composure to hold off the visiting Coeur d’Alene Vikings 48-46 in overtime in a 5A Inland Empire League game Friday.

It’s the second time in eight days that Lake City and Coeur d’Alene had to play bonus time. Earlier, the Vikings prevailed in a double overtime league opener, 50-49.

Earlier in the girls game, Lake City played as well as it has this season, blowing past the Vikings 56-30.

Boys

Lake City 48, Coeur d’Alene 46 OT: The T-Wolves (8-5 overall, 2-1 in league) had just five turnovers in the first half that saw them open a 33-22 lead by intermission.

Then they had 11 turnovers in the third quarter with only three shots and two points. They had seven more turnovers in the final 12 minutes.

CdA (8-4, 1-2) abandoned its 2-3 zone in the second half because it needed to try to force the issue.

It worked as the Viks cut LC’s lead to 35-29 going into the fourth.

CdA took its first second-half lead at 39-38 when Brody Lundblad got a steal leading to a layup with 2:40 to go in the fourth.

The Viks’ Colby Daniels made one of two free throws to knot the score at 40 with 1:56 remaining.

That’s where the score would stand, forcing overtime.

Joe Pasquale made two free throws to put LC ahead 48-44 with 22 seconds to go in overtime.

“Sooner or later we’ve got to settle down and understand that we’ve got to do little things like bring the ball up the floor and enter the ball (into offense),” LC coach Jim Winger said. “That part of the game is extremely disappointing. The first half is how I think we can play.”

Nick Hancock led LC with 19 points and six rebounds.

“In the first half we didn’t function well on either end of the floor,” CdA coach Kurt Lundblad said. “In the second half, defensively especially, I thought we dug in a little bit and played a little bit harder and a little bit smarter.”

CdA, picked to win the league, has some work to do.

“Right now, especially offensively, we’re just dysfunctional,” Lundblad said. “It’s tough to win games when you shoot it as poorly as we’re shooting it right now.”

Girls

Lake City 56, Coeur d’Alene 30: Had the Timberwolves (14-4, 3-2) taken better care of the ball in the first half, the game would have gotten out of hand much quicker.

As it was, LC managed to go into halftime leading 26-11 despite 12 first-half turnovers.

LC coach Bryan Kelly didn’t ask his team to ease off the intensity in the final two quarters, but he did emphasize valuing possessions.

The result was the T-Wolves owned the second half.

“I challenged them this week to bring energy,” Kelly said.

Several T-Wolves played big roles – none bigger than 6-foot-4 sophomore post Lauren Rewers.

Rewers finished with nine points, nine blocked shots and five rebounds.

“Every person who stepped on the court contributed and played hard,” Kelly said.