PREP BOYS BASKETBALL: Lake City earns state berth in thriller; Lakeland, Timberlake fall in winner-to-state games
Lakeland, Timberlake fall in winner-to-state games
LEWISTON — Lake City made the last scheduled high school game in Booth Hall a memorable one — but not for the home team.
Junior Jack Kiesbuy scored the go-ahead basket in the post with 14 seconds, and the fourth-seeded Timberwolves survived a wild finish — a missed 3 by Lewiston, and a missed tip-in by the second-seeded Bengals at the buzzer — to win 60-59 on Saturday and advance to the state 5A boys basketball tournament next week in Nampa.
“It was an awesome game,” Lake City coach Jim Winger said. “It was the last game at Booth Hall, and they promoted it quite well. They had a ton of alumni, a packed house. It was cool for me; I played there in the early ’80s, and have been going there as a coach and AD for more than 30 years.”
Freshman Kolton Mitchell scored 18 points and Kiesbuy added 15 for Lake City (16-8), which will face Borah (19-5) of Boise on Thursday at 7 p.m. PST at the Ford Idaho Center.
Junior Joel Mullikin scored 16 points for Lewiston, which finished 13-9.
Lewiston hit 8 of 11 3-pointers in the first half — four by Jace McKarcher in the first half, and three by Mullikin in the first quarter — and led 32-25 at halftime.
But Lake City outscored Lewiston 22-11 in the third quarter to take a two-possession lead, and made the play at the end when it counted.
“I told the kids at halftime, ‘Hey, we took their best punch,’” Winger said. “‘If you keep your head up, we’re going to win this thing.’”
Lewiston finished with 10 3s. Lake City had six, including two each by Kiesbuy and Mitchell.
Lake City 13 12 22 13 — 60
Lewiston 22 10 11 16 — 59
LAKE CITY — Janke 2, Irvin 8, Kiesbuy 15, Spellman 2, Johnson 1, Hanson 6, Mitchell 18, Meredith 8.
LEWISTON — Eke 2, McKarcher 14, Lang 8, Mullikin 16, Hottinger 3, Hepburn 4, Forsman 0, Forsmann 12.
Moscow 49
Lakeland 46
MOSCOW — Noah Haaland’s putback pulled the visiting Hawks within three points in the closing seconds of the deciding game of the 4A Region 1 boys basketball tournament at Bear Den.
He missed the free throw but Lakeland got the rebound, but missed a 3 that would have tied the game before the ball went out of bounds to Moscow with 3.8 seconds left.
The Bears inbounded the ball and Lakeland — which had the possession arrow in its favor — thought it had forced a tie-up. But there was no whistle, the clock ran out and Moscow advanced to state, and Lakeland’s season was over.
“We didn’t get the call, so we didn’t have the chance to get the shot to tie it,” Lakeland coach Dave Stockwell said.
Moscow (15-9) won the best-of-3 series for the regional title two games to one. By going undefeated in 4A Inland Empire League play, Moscow got to host all three games of the championship series, played over the last four days.
“I think it’s a big advantage for Moscow, there’s no doubt,” Stockwell said. “Our league meeting is on Monday, and if it’s the last thing I do, I’ll get that changed back to double-elimination.”
Ben Zubaly, the lone senior starter, scored 17 points for Lakeland (18-6). Haaland, a junior, finished with 14 points and eight rebounds, and junior Ammon Munyer had 10 points, six rebounds and four steals.
Lakeland won Game 1 65-58 on Wednesday. Moscow took Game 2 75-59 on Friday.
“I couldn’t ask for more,” Stockwell said of his team. “We had zero quit, we held our composure. After that game last night, to come back ... “
Ben Postell scored 15 points, Benny Kitchell 12 for Moscow, which opens state vs. Minico (17-7) of Rupert on Thursday at Borah High in Boise.
Lakeland 11 11 12 12 — 46
Moscow 12 7 15 15 — 49
LAKELAND — Zubaly 17, Seay 5, Henry 0, Ab. Munyer 0, Am. Munyer 10, Haaland 14, Waddington 0.
MOSCOW — Diego 0, Decker 3, Abendroth 3, Simpson 7, Colter 0, Postell 15, Buchanan 9, Kitchel 12.
Marsh Valley 62
Timberlake 50
WEISER — Senior Jacob James made three 3-pointers and scored a game-high 20 points, but the Tigers were kept at arm’s length by the Eagles in the second half and saw their season come to an end in a state 3A tournament play-in game at Weiser High.
“We played well; they just played a little better,” Timberlake coach Mike Menti said.
Timberlake, bidding for its fourth straight trip to state, finished 7-17.
Sophomore Karter Howard hit four 3-pointers and scored 16 points for Marsh Valley (16-10), which will face District 4 champion Kimberly (21-1) in the first round at state Thursday at Meridian High.
Timberlake trailed 28-23 at halftime. Marsh Valley opened the third quarter with a 7-0 run, but Timberlake battled back to within seven points later in the half, but could come no closer.
“We just couldn’t dig into it,” Menti said. “Every time we got close, they’d hit a big shot.”
Timberlake will lose three seniors, including James. But the Tigers started two sophomores, and a freshman and sophomore were the first two players off the bench, Menti said.
“We’re young; we’ve got some talent coming up,” he said. “I was proud of how hard we played.”
Marsh Valley 13 15 13 21 — 62
Timberlake 13 10 11 16 — 50
MARSH VALLEY — S. Howell 3, Hansen 13, B. Howell 14, Wissenbach 9, K. Howell 16, Roche 2, Howe 5.
TIMBERLAKE — Peightal 4, Menti 3, Higgins 4, Paslay 0, Yetter 5, McDonald 5, James 20, Dickinson 9.