Effort there, but shots don't fall for Lakeland
COEUR d’ALENE — After losing to Moscow by 38 and 26 points when they met in 4A Inland Empire League play, the Lakeland Hawks looked to try something different Monday night.
The third-seeded Hawks got after the Bears defensively, mixing up defenses, pressing at times, always attempting to harass second-seeded Moscow.
Lakeland forced the Bears into 22 turnovers, and 17-of-61 shooting from the field.
That was the good news.
The bad news was, Lakeland made just 12 of 50 (24 percent) from the field, and committed 30 turnovers.
The result was a 39-30 victory for Moscow in the loser-out first round of the 4A Region 1 girls basketball tournament at North Idaho College’s Rolly Williams Court.
“We played on our heels the first two times we played them,” Hawks coach Steve Seymour said. “We wanted steals tonight … we’re not the best shooters — I don’t know if you noticed — but we’re kind of quick in places and we said, ‘Use your quickness.’”
Gracey Meyer scored a game-high 19 points and added six rebounds, three steals and a blocked shot for Moscow (8-10), which plays top-seeded Sandpoint (11-7) on Wednesday at 8 p.m. at NIC in the first game of a best-of-3 title to decide the regional champion and the region’s lone berth to state.
Sophomore Mel Loutzenhiser scored nine points, junior Taylor Elpers eight for Lakeland (4-16), which saw its season end.
But the Hawks didn’t go down without a fight. Though Moscow led most of the way, Lakeland kept it close throughout.
Twice in the fourth quarter, Lakeland pulled within three points. But with a chance to inch closer, a missed shot or a turnover usually followed, keeping the Hawks just out of reach of the Bears.
“We competed,” Seymour said. “I wish we could have got the jaws of life to open that basket just a little bit wider. We had good shots. We competed defensively, we executed offensively. We shoot higher than 28 percent from the floor … we wanted to have a shot in the fourth quarter, and we did.”
The Hawks were particularly effective in their 1-3-1 defense, utilizing quickness from Izzy Kirk up top and Sofi Schnepf on the back line. Schnepf had six steals to go with her four rebounds.
“My initial thought was, poor shooting and lots of turnovers,” Moscow coach Robin Barnes said. “But credit to Lakeland, playing tough, physical defense.”
Lakeland also got a lift from freshman Katy Ryan, playing in just her fifth varsity game after being called up from the junior varsity. The 6-foot-3 left-hander added five points and grabbed seven rebounds, mostly battling Meyer, Moscow’s top player.
“It was an education for her, but I thought she did really well,” Seymour said.
Katie Kitchel added all 10 of her points in the first half for Moscow.
Barnes said she likes the new best-of-3 format, but would have liked to have had the chance to get one of the games in Moscow. Since Sandpoint went undefeated in league, the Bulldogs will host Game 2 and Game 3, regardless of who wins Game 1 or Game 2.
“They earned it,” Barnes said. “I wish it wasn’t that; I wish we had a chance to win and host. But it gives the league a purpose.”
Lakeland 8 7 5 10 — 30
Moscow 13 7 8 11 — 39
LAKELAND — Leon 2, Cooper 0, Schnepf 4, Edinger 0, Pruitt 0, Elpers 8, Loutzenhiser 9, Neff 2, Kirk 0, Stutheit 0, Ryan 5.
MOSCOW — Watson 0, Rauch 4, Claus 0, Si. Carscallen 2, Meyer 19, Anderson 2, Waters 0, Jung 2, Kitchel 10.