1A DIVISION II DISTRICT 1 GIRLS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: Lakeside headed back to state

KELLOGG — Now that the Lakeside Knights have battled through the 1A Division II District 1 tournament, it’s time for the fun part.

After going 11 years between state trips, the top-seeded Knights won their second straight district title Friday night, beating the second-seeded Genesis Prep Jaguars 47-41 in the championship game at Andrews Gymnasium.

Junior Lillian Rhea scored 19 points and blocked four shots for Lakeside (15-5), which advances to face Rockland (18-6) in the opening round next Thursday at Nampa High.

“We’ve just got to go and have fun,” said Lakeside coach Chris Dohrman, who coached his team to a consolation championship in last year’s tournament. “We went into last year’s tournament with no expectations and had a great time down there. We lost a tough game to Dietrich last year, but ended up winning two games down there. Anytime you can win games down there, it’s a good thing, and that’s what we’re going to try and do.”

Bella Murekatete — a 6-foot-3 freshman post — had 15 points, 12 rebounds and seven blocked shots for Genesis Prep (11-11), in its first season as an Idaho High School Activities Association-sanctioned program.

“It was a very physical game,” Genesis Prep coach Debbie Holte said. “Foul trouble was a little bit of an issue for us early on and we had to play some rotations that we’re not really used to. But the girls fought back and we came pretty close, we just came up short.”

Rhea gave Lakeside a 16-15 lead with 1:42 remaining in the first half, then Murekatete picked up her fourth personal foul on Genesis Prep’s next possession.

“Our plan was to get her into foul trouble,” Dohrman said. “We knew we had to attack her and get her in foul trouble and we were able to do that with four in the first half. We weren’t able to keep her out of the game, but she couldn’t be as aggressive as she normally is. She’s a big presence in there and affected us in the game we lost to them. We just played more aggressive and slowly built a lead.”

Rhea scored seven points in the second quarter to spark the Lakeside rally.

“I was just trying to do the best I could to get the team pumped up,” Rhea said. “We’re super excited and glad we could get things going again.”

“She’s been a big part of our offense this year,” Dohrman said of Rhea. “She makes those high percentage shots for us. I thought it was a total team effort and most of our stuff is directed to get the ball inside to her.”

Cailyn Dohrman had eight points and Jordyn Nomee added seven for Lakeside.

“I thought our guards did a good job of slowing down their guards,” Dohrman said. “That was a big part of it too. I thought we played fantastic team defense.”

Freshman Rachel Schroeder had 17 points and four steals and fellow frosh Shaye Schreibeis had five points and four steals for Genesis Prep.

“The girls fought really hard,” Holte said. “I’m proud of the season, especially from where we came from. It stings when you lose and you’re done, but Lakeside played really well. They executed their game plan and we did what we could in the second half.”

Genesis Prep 13 2 12 14 — 41

Lakeside 11 8 13 15 — 47

GENESIS PREP — Morrow 0, Schroeder 17, Schreibeis 5, Martin 0, Scribner 2, Jones 0, Murekatete 15.

LAKESIDE — Nomee 7, Palmer 0, Rhea 19, Hendrickx 8, Arthur 3, Dohrman 8, Lambert 0, Peone 2.