STATE 5A BOYS BASKETBALL: A Kie 3 for Lake City

By MARK NELKE

Sports editor

NAMPA — With the game hanging in the balance, Jack Kiesbuy pulled the trigger with confidence, and the sophomore-laden but suddenly seasoned Lake City Timberwolves are on to the state semifinals for the first time since 2014.

Kiesbuy, a senior, drained a 3-pointer from the right baseline with 45 seconds left in a one-point game, and Lake City went on to beat Rocky Mountain of Meridian 65-57 in a state 5A boys basketball tournament first-round game Thursday at the Ford Idaho Center.

"I knew it was going in," the lefty shooting Kiesbuy said. "I’ve hit a lot of those shots in the corner, so this was one more."

Lake City (17-6) will play Boise (8-6) today at 3:30 p.m. PST in a semifinal game at the Ford Idaho Center. Boise defeated Rigby 50-47.

Lake City led by as much as 14 points in the second half on Thursday, only to see Rocky (15-4) pick up the pressure and pull within one point on a pair of free throws with 1:08 left by senior guard Blake Munk, who finished with 16 points.

On Lake City's next possession, Zach Johnson, who was to the right of the lane, passed into the corner to a wide-open Kiesbuy, who let it fly without hesitation.

Moments later, Lake City's Chris Irvin was fouled and hit two free throws, then after a steal by Blake Buchanan, Kolton Mitchell sank two free throws with 4.4 seconds left.

"I actually liked the way we finished," Lake City coach Jim Winger said. "I don’t like the fact we had some silly turnovers, but I like how we rose back, and of course Jack’s shot was a huge shot.

"I think the kids had to show some moxie to finish it out after they made their run. We did make a couple turnovers that weren’t us, but it’s first game of the state tournament; things do happen.

"That’s up there for one of the craziest shots I’ve ever made," Kiesbuy said. "Winger tells me to shoot, so I’ll shoot my shot."

"Since league play Jack has really been unbelievable," Winger said. "He’s been rock solid every league game, and he carried it right into the state tournament."

"That was such a big shot; I was scared when he shot that," Buchanan said. "I was standing underneath the basket and I saw it going in … that was a big shot."

Buchanan, who played in the state title game for Moscow in the Idaho Center last year as a freshman, finished with 19 points and eight rebounds for Lake City. Johnson, a sophomore, added 15 points and six boards, and sophomore Kolton Mitchell had 13 points.

Lake City, which went two-and-out last year with three freshman starters in the T-Wolves' first state appearance since '14, started strong Thursday.

Johnson's 3 on a kickout from Mitchell broke an 11-all tie and started an 8-0 run. Lake City held Rocky to five second-quarter points, and Buchanan's dunk putback in the waning seconds sent the T-Wolves into the locker room with a 33-20 lead.

"That was huge momentum for us, going into halftime," Kiesbuy said. "When we came down here last year we were a lot more hesitant, but this year we were more physical."

A 3 by Kiesbuy early in the third quarter hiked the Lake City lead to 36-22. Buchanan's layin off a no-look pass from Mitchell made it 46-32 late in the third. The T-Wolves then made enough plays to hold off the Grizzlies in the fourth.

"We’re a young team," Buchanan said. "That’s one of the best things about our team is how composed we stayed, how calm we stayed during the game."

Seniors Ben Janke and Nathan Spellman gave Lake City good minutes off the bench in the first half, particularly in the second quarter when the Timberwolves expanded their lead.

"I was really impressed with the first half; we were free and easy, kids were loose," Winger said. "You kinda figured Rocky would make a run … and we responded. We’re in the semifinals, and that’s where we wanted to be. I’m pretty proud of the kids."

Rocky returned no starters from last year's team that lost to Post Falls in the semifinals, but did land a couple of transfer senior guards from out of state. One of them, Cortez Graham, hit three 3-pointers and finished with 14 points. Drew Fielder, a 6-8 sophomore, had 16 points, eight rebounds and three assists.

"They were a really good team," Rocky Mountain coach Dane Roy said of Lake City. "We didn’t know what to expect, because we hadn’t seen them over the summer … they have some really skilled players that do a lot of really good things. I wish them the best of luck."

Rocky Mountain 15 5 23 14 — 57

Lake City 20 13 17 15 — 65

ROCKY MOUNTAIN — Munk 16, Graham 14, Warr 6, Melton 3, Nead 0, Williams 2, Fiedler 16, Moorhouse 0, Johnson 0, Fullmer 0. Totals 22-56 6-9 57.

LAKE CITY — Buchanan 19, Janke 2, Irvin 6, J. Kiesbuy 10, Spellman 0, Johnson 15, Mitchell 13, Meredith 0. Totals 22-50 17-22 65.