STATE 4A BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT: Lakeland fights, but comes up short in consolation round

BOISE — It wasn’t so much the youth, the defense or the effort that resulted in an 0-2 showing for the Lakeland boys basketball team in a second straight trip to the state 4A tournament.

That defense however, gave them a shot to keep the season going.

Sophomore Kaden Davis had nine points and senior Andrew Knight had seven points and seven rebounds for the Hawks in a 39-35 loss to the Middleton Vikings on Friday at Borah High.

Lakeland finished 10-14.

“Defensively, I thought we did a hell of a job,” said fifth-year Lakeland coach Dave Stockwell, who has four seniors on the roster. “We allowed 20 points in the first half — and led 23-20 at half — and defense wasn’t our problem. We just had some stretches where we couldn’t throw it in the ocean. Defensively, we did a good job. They were just a little bigger than we were, which has been the case most of the season. But all of our kids worked hard. I’m just really proud of them.”

Lakeland advanced to state last year for the first time since 2004.

“We’ve got three really good sophomores that will be another year older next year,” Stockwell said. “It’s been a long hiatus that Lakeland had for not getting to state and these guys are fixing it and wanting it. Maybe next year, we’ll get back down here and win a game.”

Middleton used a 16-2 run to pull away in the second half. The Vikings will face Rigby in the consolation championship game today at Borah High.

“We just went through a bad stretch in the second half,” Stockwell said. “It was close right until the end when they got a couple of free throws to seal it. They were pretty tough on their press, but the kids battled all the way to the end. I’m proud of the way they finished. Considering nobody gave them a shot to get down here at the start of the season, it was a successful season.”

Lakeland 9 14 4 8 — 35

Middleton 12 8 12 7 — 39

LAKELAND — Brueher 0, McDaniel 0, D. Knight 5, Davis 9, McDevitt 6, Zubaly 8, A. Knight 5, Ray 2. Totals 14-31 5-9 35.

MIDDLETON — Foote 0, Crawford 7, Carson 0, Harrel 0, McPherson 2, Downs 4, Tentinger 1, Wilson 2, Stevenson 0, Kofoed 5, Robinett 18. Totals 16-40 6-10 39.