Boys’ team
Fall sports at Lakeland High School are sadly coming to a close, but that also permits the beginning of winter sports. Sports that take place during the cold months of winter include wrestling and basketball.
Currently, the boys’ basketball players are preparing themselves for tryouts, which will be held on Friday, Nov. 10, and Saturday, Nov. 11. Around 50 athletes will partake in these tryouts, and only 34 individuals will make up the three teams, making it highly competitive. These two days will provide each player with an opportunity to present their skills and abilities to the coaches in hopes they make varsity. For those who are returning players, tryouts are much less intimidating but equally as serious.
“It is mostly conditioning to see who actually wants to be there and who can handle it, and fundamental drills to see who can play and who can’t. I think I’ll be pretty tired, but it’ll go good,” junior Mason Hensley said.
The Lakeland Hawks finished the 2022-2023 season with a record of 6-18 overall and 1-8 in the 4A Inland Empire league, a record that did not satisfy the team. They began the season with four losses in a row, which heavily impacted the team’s motivation. Despite various losses, the team made a trip down to state, which resulted in losing their first game versus Hillcrest 78-38. On the second day, Twins Falls defeated the Hawks by only two points. Following an early state exit, all players have high hopes for an increased amount of wins this year.
From a player perspective, Hensley believes the Hawks will win some games before districts, while last year was rough before that point. Lakeland has several returning players who are willing to work extremely hard to better the team’s chances.
“I believe that we have a good chance to win the district again this year and compete at the state tournament if we are able to stay motivated and work hard every day to achieve our goals. It is a long season, and team chemistry is key to success at the end of the year,” Hawks head coach Tony Hanna said.
The Hawks are aware that, as a whole team, they will need to work much harder than last year, which will only be possible with practice and determination. Aside from this, individuals will need to step up and perform to the best of their abilities separately to ensure the best outcome.
“I’ll have to play my role, improve every day, and do what the team needs,” Hensley said.
The first game of the season is set to be held away against Kellogg on Tuesday, Nov. 28, at 7 p.m.
Lakeland is approving of their initial game being Kellogg but, at the same time, is aware they can never overlook a team.
“We can never look past any opponent, but I expect us to get off to a good start this year with a couple of wins. Both teams beat us last year, so this should be a bit of redemption for us,” Coach Hanna said. Although Kellogg is a smaller school, they are coming off of a season where they placed third in their state tournament.
The Hawks will then face East Valley for their second game on Friday, Dec. 1, at 7 p.m. in Rathdrum, ID.
“I think it will be a good game, and hopefully we come out with a home-opener win,” Hensley said.
Young players are looking forward to having a bigger role on the team than they may have had last year, and everyone is thrilled at the idea of making another state run if the opportunity presents itself.
“This is a great group of young men with a lot of potential. I use the word ‘potential’ a lot because it is only as good as what you do with it,” Hanna said. “This team has the pieces to be special and do things that this school and community has not seen before. We are going to play a fast-paced game that is fun to watch. If we can live up to our potential, it could be a great season for Lakeland basketball.”
With the basketball season being quite long, the team desperately needs to develop their chemistry to play their best. They need to learn from last year but not bring the results into this season to avoid bringing themselves down. The current plan is to take every practice and game one day at a time.
Hensley believes the Hawk’s toughest competition will be Lake City due to its depth and undeniable talent. The Timberwolves went 26-0 last season and were able to win the 5A state championship.
This being said, the Hawks are not stressing over this idea because a game against 5A Lake City will not decide the team’s fate. 4A matchups will be the biggest worry for the team moving forward with the season, but with it being so early, they have plenty of time to prepare.
Lastly, Hanna wanted to add that a shot clock has finally been put in place at the varsity level. This will be a new aspect that has been needed in Idaho for some time.
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Girls’ team
Lurking just around the corner is a season that holds great promise. The Lakeland Hawks approach the 2023-2024 basketball season with high hopes. The Hawks finished last season with a record of (11-10,3-5).
The Hawks’ regular season schedule begins on Nov. 14. The coaching staff must push the Hawks to mentally and physically prepare quickly since the team was formed.
The Hawks are a close group of girls who know each other well. Some freshmen joined the team, but most of the team played together last year. This allows the team to grow and learn each other’s strengths and weaknesses, strengthening the group. Senior Kyla Holte talks about playing together previously and says, “Yes, I think it does help.”
“I’m looking forward to playing with my team again,” senior Payton Sterling said. “I think we are a very strong group, as many of us played with each other last year and have good chemistry.”
Being able to read and interpret what teammates are doing on the court can help a team when it comes to offense. Last-minute plays and shots may be more easily seen when the teammates know each other’s playing styles. Complimenting each other with different skills completes the Hawks’ basketball team.
Regardless of the Hawks’ ability to adapt well to each teammate’s playing style, challenges will still arise throughout the season. Some teams on the upcoming schedule will pose significant threats to LHS head coach Tyrel Derrick’s team.
“Personally, I am excited to play Sandpoint,” Sterling said. “I think it will be a great teller for us to see how far we have come from games last year to this year. Holte agrees and says she’s looking forward to, “Battle for the Paddle” where they play Sandpoint.
The Hawks’ greatest league challenge will be Sandpoint, Lakeland’s rival school. Sandpoint beat Lakeland in all four games last season, including a controversial 44-43 finish in the Battle for the Paddle game. Sandpoint went on to win the 4A Idaho state championship.
Fast-paced gameplay requires all players on any basketball team to endure extreme conditioning. In the three weeks of practice prior to the season opener, the team works relentlessly on strengthening their endurance.
“I think our team’s strength is how athletic we are. I think we will outrun teams just based on our athleticism,” Sterling said. Holte says their strength is, “I think we work together really well and just push the ball up the court.”
Basketball may be one of the most running-based sports, so the most athletic players are definitely of high value in the eyes of coaches at tryouts. Having such athletic players will allow the Hawks to beat opponents who may not be as conditioned and may even take the team to state.
The majority of Lakeland’s opponents in the regular season will be throughout the North Idaho region, but the team has a significant chance to earn an appearance in the state tournament in South Idaho.
For now, the team practices diligently to hone their skills and prepare for the intense games that await them.
“It’s been definitely very difficult. We have done a lot of running due to the fact that our offense requires it,” Sterling said.
As the season approaches rapidly, the girls will be constantly preparing for the first game on the court. The Hawks’ season kicks off on Nov. 14 on the road against the Kellogg Wildcats.
