5A REGION 1 GIRLS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: Lakeland falls to Sandpoint, sees season end

SANDPOINT — The Lakeland Hawks came out determined Thursday night to extend their season at least a couple more days. 

The visiting Hawks jumped ahead of Sandpoint early, and led by as much as 12 in the second quarter in Game 2 of their best-of-3 series for the 5A Region 1 girls basketball title. 

But, leading by two points after three quarters, second-seeded Lakeland went cold in the fourth quarter, particularly from the free-throw line, and top-seeded Sandpoint outscored the Hawks 23-12 in the fourth quarter for a 59-50 to win the regional title at Les Rogers Court. 

Sandpoint (14-10), which won the series 2-0, advances to state Feb. 20-22 at Mountain View High in Meridian. 

Lakeland, which won both meetings from Sandpoint in Inland Empire League play, only to see the Bulldogs earn the No. 1 seed based on a better record in the combined 6A/5A IEL, finished 14-7.

Lakeland won last year’s regional title. 

Sandpoint rallied past the Hawks on Tuesday to win Game 1 44-42. 

With Thursday’s game tied at 41 with 5 ½ minutes left, Sandpoint went on an 8-0 run to take the lead for good. The Bulldogs went up 55-43 with 1:25 left. 

Landree Simon and Macy Bretveld hit 3-pointers to pull Lakeland to within 55-49 with 42 seconds left. But the Hawks could get no closer. 

Landree Simon, who recently signed a letter of intent to play basketball at the University of Providence, an NAIA school in Great Falls, Mont., had 23 points and 10 rebounds for Lakeland. 

Macy Bretveld had 11 points, Anabel Bowie eight rebounds, Karstyn Kiefer five assists and three steals. 

Sandpoint sophomore Jordyn Tomco scored a game-high 33 points — 16 in the fourth quarter — as the Bulldogs return to state for the first time since 2023. The Bulldogs played Thursday without standout sophomore Brecken Mire, who was injured in Tuesday’s game. 

Lakeland 17 11 10 12 — 50 

Sandpoint 8 17 11 23 — 59 

LAKELAND — Simon 23, Bretveld 11, Kiefer 7, Bowie 5, Bullington 2, L. McMurray 2.  

SANDPOINT — Tomco 33, Ch. Laybourne 9, D. Driggs 7, L. Driggs 7, M. Driggs 2, Ca. Laybourne 1.  

    JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY Landree Simon of Lakeland puts up a shot against Sandpoint during Game 2 of a best-of-3 series for the 5A Region 1 championship Thursday at Les Rogers Court in Sandpoint.