The Lakeland girls (5-7, 0-1) and boys (6-5, 0-2) basketball teams competed against rival school Sandpoint girls (13-3, 1-0) and boys (6-6). The Hawks’ boys’ team lost the game 63-56, and the girls’ lost their game 53-50. The players gave their best in both games.
The girl’s team battled the Bulldogs with astonishing determination and well-coached persistence and held the lead until the last two minutes of the game, when Sandpoint was able to score and stall until the time ran out. Similarly, in the boys’ game, the Hawks had the lead until the last minutes, when Sandpoint scored and stalled to run the clock and hold their lead. Junior Landree Simon had 21 points and eight rebounds, and Payton Sterling also had 12 points.
The Hawks put their strength and logic together to try to beat their rival. Yet, in the end, it dwindled down to agility and strategy. The Hawks combatted the Bulldogs’ plays and defense seamlessly until the final minutes when Sandpoint stole a win from the Hawks, reminiscent of last year’s Battle for the Paddle loss.
“We’ve been practicing our defense and doing ball pressure stuff,” sophomore Karstyn Kiefer said.
In the boy’s game, junior Ben Roth had 16 points, with four rebounds and four assists for the Hawks. Junior Mason Hensley scored nine points as well.
“I think at the end of the game, we started playing too passively and with not enough energy,” said senior Ben Ryan.
Gabe Harris also had six points and eleven rebounds for Lakeland.
Losing these games raises a deep concern amongst the Hawk’s teams as the Hawks get closer and closer to playing the Bulldogs in games at the annual Battle for the Paddle. The Battle for the Paddle games are huge amongst Lakeland’s student body and sports teams, especially in basketball. Most players on the Hawks basketball team say that they most look forward to Battle for the Paddle because it is high-intensity and competitive.
Adding the recent loss against Sandpoint on top of the already high amount of pressure, the Hawks are now taking their time at practices to reflect on what could have made the difference in the outcome during their recent games against Sandpoint. A fifth consecutive Battle for the Paddle title is on the line.
“Mainly just working on our defense,” said sophomore Peyton Hillman.
Both teams are working on strengthening their defensive attack. Considering the teams hold the Battle for the Paddle game to such a high standard, practices will focus on improving endurance and reactions to Sandpoint’s offensive choices.
“Communication on defense and staying active within our offense,” Ryan said, will be the main focus to prepare for their upcoming games.
The Hawks girls’ team will host Moscow on Jan. 12, and the boys’ team will travel to Timberlake on Jan. 9. The highly anticipated Battle for the Paddle games are on Jan. 19 at Lakeland High School.
