State 1A boys basketball: After moving up a division, Lakeside still has eyes on another state title

By MARK NELKE

Sports editor

1A DIVISION I

After watching his team romp to the 1A Division II state championship last season, winning the three games by an average of 20 points, Lakeside boys basketball coach James Twoteeth said the Knights should still be able to hold their own when they move up to Division I this season.

That still may be the case, though it will be a little more difficult when Lakeside begins play at state today.

Four starters returned from last year's 24-0 state champs, but one of them, 6-foot-8 senior forward Darren "Day Day" Higgins, is expected to miss the tournament after suffering a torn meniscus just days before the District 1 title game.

"We're not going to beat everybody by 20, but if they buy in, we can grind out some wins," said Twoteeth, in his fourth season as the Knights' coach. "I think we can hold our own."

Lakeside (14-4) opens vs. Oakley (19-3), the District 4 champ, today at 11 a.m. PST at Vallivue High in Caldwell.

Higgins was the MVP of the North Star League as a junior.

Senior guard Kenyon Spotted Horse, the 1A Division II Player of the Year last year, missed some playing time this year because of COVID-19, and is trying to round himself into shape. Higgins and senior guard Jasper Abuan were "direct contacts, so they had to quarantine," Twoteeth said.

"It's been a crazy season," he said. "There was a stretch in there where three of my starters weren’t there for like five games."

When Lakeside beat Wallace last Friday for the district title, it was the Knights' first game in 15 days.

The Knights still have steady senior guard JJ Hall, and flashy sophomore guard Vander Brown.

So Lakeland still has plenty of talent, and the play of senior Christopher Matt and freshman Brutis SiJohn could be key as well.

"I think we're going to be all right," Twoteeth said.

Perennial power Lapwai (17-4) is on the other side of the bracket. The Wildcats, who handed St. Maries its only loss and lost to Lakeland, is led by junior point guard Titus Yearout (23.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 3.2 steals per game). Lapwai average a state-best 76.9 points per game. ... Oakley was ranked second in the final state media poll. ... Prairie, whom Lakeside could meet in the semifinals, won the state title in 2019, but missed state last year with a young roster. The Pirates lost all three meetings with Lapwai.

1A DIVISION II

Clark Fork (4-12) is back at state for the first time since 2008, when the Wampus Cats lost to Wallace in the fourth-place game in a 16-team 1A bracket. The Wampus Cats' record is a result of mostly playing "up" — Clark Fork lost twice to 3A District 1 champ Priest River, and also played several larger-school JV teams. ... Cascade, which lost to Lakeside by 17 points in last year's title game, did not qualify this year. ... Garden Valley, second in 2019 and 95-69 losers to Lakeside in the first round last year, is the pre-tourney favorite. ... Timberline of Weippe, which upset Deary at districts, is making its second consecutive trip to state after a 48-year tournament drought.