PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL: Sandpoint holds off Lakeland to move one game closer to state bid
JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY Lakeland High junior Lila Kiefer goes up for a shot during Game 1 of a best-of-3 4A Region 1 championship series at Les Rogers Court. Sandpoint won the first game 57-54, with Game 2 scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. in Sandpoint.
SANDPOINT — Lakeland High sophomore Landree Simon scored 26 points for the Hawks, including eight in the fourth quarter, but top-seeded Sandpoint held off the Hawks 57-54 in Game 1 of the best-of-3 4A Region 1 championship series on Wednesday at Les Rogers Court.
“It was a battle,” Lakeland coach Tyrel Derrick said. “I was really proud of how the girls battled through some adversity and foul trouble. We got close, but Sandpoint did a good job of closing it out. That’s a good basketball team and they play hard. They don’t make a lot of mistakes.”
Sophomore Ziya Munyer scored 10 points for Lakeland (11-9), which fell 44-43 in its last matchup with the Bulldogs on Jan. 20 in the Battle for the Paddle spirit game in Sandpoint.
Aliya Strock scored 15 points for Sandpoint (16-5).
Game 2 is Friday at 7 p.m. in Sandpoint.
With a win, Sandpoint advances to the state 4A tournament starting next Thursday at Timberline High in Boise. If Lakeland wins, Game 3 will be Saturday in Sandpoint at 6 p.m.
Lakeland 15 15 9 15 — 54
Sandpoint 17 14 7 19 — 57
LAKELAND — L. Simon 26, K. Kiefer 2, Munyer 10, Gallis 0, Holte 0, K. Simon 4, L. Kiefer 8, Sterling 4.
SANDPOINT — K. Cessna 14, De. Driggs 1, Da. Driggs 7, P. Cessna 0, Richardson 6, Strock 15, Banks 12, Thaete 2.
Grangeville 52
Kellogg 35
GRANGEVILLE — The second-seeded Wildcats (9-13) fell to the top-seeded Bulldogs (15-8) in the 2A District 1-2 championship game at Grangeville High.
Kellogg will host Orofino in the district second-place game, with that winner advancing to a state play-in game on Saturday against Ambrose, the third seed from District 3 (Boise).
Grangeville advances to the state tournament starting next Thursday at Bishop Kelly High in Boise.
Orofino 44
St. Maries 33
OROFINO — The fourth-seeded Lumberjacks had their season come to an end at the hands of the third-seeded Maniacs in a loser-out game in the 2A District 1-2 tournament.
Senior Stacie Mitchell scored 14 points for St. Maries, which finishes 10-12.
Grace Beardin scored 26 points for Orofino (7-12), which plays at Kellogg in the district second-place game tonight at 6 p.m.
St. Maries 3 7 5 18 — 33
Orofino 8 10 16 10 — 44
ST. MARIES — McGreal 11, Sexton 2, Watkins 0, Mitchell 14, Sindt 6, Janssen 0, Linnemeyer 0, Lockridge 0.
OROFINO — McCarthy 4, R. Province 1, Deyo 0, Beardin 26, E. Province 2, Hanna 0, Johnson 4, Miller 7.