STATE 4A GIRLS BASKETBALL: Lakeland advances to semis after first win at state since 2009

4A

BOISE — In the run-up to Lakeland’s first-round game at the state 4A basketball tournament, Hawks coach Tyrel Derrick said he never once mentioned to his team that a win would put them in the big arena for the next round.

“Superstitious,” the second-year coach and former Lakeland standout said.

But that’s indeed where the fourth-seeded Hawks are headed today, after holding off fifth-seeded Bishop Kelly 48-45 on Thursday at Timberline High.

The 4As get to play their semifinals at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa these days, and Lakeland (14-9) will take on top-seeded Shelley (23-0) today at 11 a.m. PST.

The last time a Lakeland team played in the Idaho Center was in 2002, when the Hawk girls won their second straight state 3A title.

“They've got no clue what’s in store for them; they've never been there,” Derrick said of this team, which turned in another gutsy late-season effort.

Junior Landree Simon had 15 points and nine rebounds for Lakeland, which used a 10-0 run in the fourth quarter to build a 44-34 lead, then held on down the stretch as the Knights (18-5) pulled within two and had a chance to tie or take the lead late.

Lakeland is now 9-1 in its last 10 games, only two of those games in their own gym.

“This group just continues to amaze me,” Derrick said. “They just find a way to come together and win these games.”

Junior Lila Kiefer added nine points and eight rebounds for the Hawks, and her cousin, sophomore Karstyn Kiefer, had nine points.

Karstyn Kiefer started that tiebreaking run in the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer, then scored off a turnover. Senior Kyla Holte sank a free throw, Simon scored on the fast break and Lila Kiefer scored inside to make it 44-34 with 5 minutes left.

The Hawks won despite committing 30 turnovers (Bishop Kelly had 28), and Lakeland gave the Knights an opening late by hitting just 5 of 12 free throws in the fourth quarter.

Lakeland, at state for the first time since 2019, won a game at state for the first time since 2009.

Mary Behrend had 15 points for Bishop Kelly, and point guard Keira Lizama added 11.

Addy Laible, BK’s post presence, was in foul trouble much of the game and finished with 10 points. 

“Macy (Bretveld) and Kyla did a great job containing her,” Derrick said.

Lakeland shot 27 free throws for the game, hitting 15, as BK got into foul trouble early, and eventually had two players disqualified.

Shelley, which lost to Sandpoint in last year’s title game, routed Columbia of Nampa 71-33 on Thursday as Brinley Cannon, a BYU signee, scored 21 points in just 17 minutes of playing time.

“We have to score against them; it’s not going to be a game in the 40s,” said Derrick, who likened the matchup to Villanova vs. Georgetown for the 1985 NCAA title. “I think we might need a game like that.”

Bishop Kelly    9    11    10    15    —    45

Lakeland    12    8    14    14    —    48

BISHOP KELLY — Lizama 11, Heffner 0, Baerlocher 0, Carnell 7, Hutchinson 2, Behrend 15, Swan 0, Fettic 0, Liable 10, Henry 0. Totlas 19-56 7-13 45.

LAKELAND — Simon 15, K. Kiefer 9, H. McMurray 0, Holte 8, L. Kiefer 9, Bretveld 1, Sterling 6. Totals 14-50 15-27 48.