Some teams just know how to win against familiar opponents.
For the past handful of years, the Sandpoint Bulldogs (19-5) have dominated the 4A IEL in girls’ basketball, a run that includes a 2023 state title. The defending state champs finished the 2023-24 regular season with a 4-0 record in league games.
After the Lakeland Hawks (13-9) defeated the Moscow Bears (7-12) in the district play-in game, they had an opportunity to test their luck against the Bulldogs again in the district championship series. The Hawks had lost four consecutive district championships to the Bulldogs leading up to yet another test against the 4A powerhouse.
The Bulldogs beat the Lakeland Hawks (13-9) twice in the regular season and easily locked up the top-seed and home-court advantage throughout districts. Though beating a team three times in a row in one season is extremely difficult, the familiarity between the two groups allowed the Bulldogs to take the opening game of the best-of-three series with a nailbiter win in overtime.
The Hawks fought hard to hold onto a lead they established in the first quarter. This game was up to standard for a Lakeland and Sandpoint rivalry matchup, with both teams fighting tirelessly to eke out a victory. Sandpoint had a high-scoring third quarter, leaving the game tied at 27 with eight minutes remaining.
The Hawks trailed by five points with 1:15 left on the clock when the team’s trio of seniors stepped up in a big way to help send the game into overtime. Lila Kiefer drove to the rim, drawing a help-side defender away from Kyla Holte in the post. Kiefer timed the play perfectly and dished a pass to Holte, who finished the assist and cut the lead to three.
They managed to get a stop, and on the ensuing possession, Payton Sterling passed to Simon in the corner, who drilled a three to send the game into overtime, tied at 39.
“I was just thinking about how we were in the same position last year,” Simon said. “I missed a three that could’ve sent game one to overtime, and I wasn’t going to miss it this year.”
The Bulldogs’ defense stepped up in overtime and shut out the Hawks 9-0, leading to a 48-39 win for Sandpoint. Simon led the Hawks with 15 points, and Kiefer added 12. Karlie Banks had an impressive performance, finishing with 24 points and a double-double.
At this point, Sandpoint had beaten Lakeland in all three meetings this season and was one game away from returning to state for the fifth consecutive season. After beating a team so many times, an upset is bound to occur at some point.
The Bulldogs had no expectations of wrapping up their season in early February, and the Hawks simply caught fire at the right time and snatched the opportunity to take over the league.
“This has been my goal for the past four years, and to finally go to state is a big deal. Both of the games we won, we had an early deficit that we had to erase,” Kiefer said. “There were definitely some clutch plays that we made to turn the tide of the game in our favor.”
Coming into the district series, the Hawks had won six consecutive games, which helped them stay on track. The Timberlake game, in particular, motivated the Hawks.
After the Hawks sent game one into an extra period of play, rather than backing down, they performed better than they had all season in the remainder of the series. With their backs against the wall, Lakeland won both the second and third games of the series, eliminating the top 4A team in Idaho and defying all odds to advance to state.
“I was so happy we finally beat Sandpoint in districts,” Kiefer said. “The past three years have all ended the exact same way in a close game against Sandpoint, where they advanced to state. I felt like this year’s team is much closer, and there was a different feeling heading into districts.”
In the second game of the series, the Hawks trailed 17-2 shortly after the second quarter began. Lakeland clawed back into the game, only trailing by one at halftime.
Lakeland outscored Sandpoint 35-13 in the second and third quarters of game two, leading to a 47-43 comeback victory to keep the season alive for head coach Tyrel Derrick’s team.
“Tyrel has pushed us every day by believing in us more than we did and demanding us to give our best,” Sterling said. “He has been a big part of our success.”
Simon finished with 20 points, and Kiefer scored 16 with eight rebounds. Simon rose to the occasion from beyond the arc all series long, including a buzzer-beater to finish the third quarter.
“Everyone contributing scoring-wise in the last couple games has been very beneficial,” Simon said.
Though Sandpoint trailed by only one point late in the fourth quarter, Kiefer iced the game with a pair of clutch free throws, leading the teams to meet once and for all in a win-or-go-home championship game on Saturday.
In the series finale, the Hawks were thirsty for a taste of the district title and didn’t hold back. The game was back and forth, but the Hawks claimed the advantage due to a lopsided third quarter. In the fourth quarter, the Hawks pulled away in the waning moments. Simon finished with 16 points.
The 43-35 upset victory was sealed by Payton Sterling, who hit the dagger three-pointer with a minute left, ending Sandpoint’s season on their home floor.
“Shooter’s shoot,” Sterling said.
Kiefer and Sterling have been varsity teammates since their freshman year, and after four years of putting in the work, the two teammates have finally earned a chance to go to state.
“Going into districts, I wanted to beat them so badly, but at the end of the day, I just wanted to be able to walk away knowing we did everything we could, which we obviously did,” Sterling said. “We just wanted to beat the boogie man so bad. We knew they were beatable, and we all knew it was time to go out and show that we are the better team.”
The Hawks will play Bishop Kelly in Boise on Thursday. Kiefer says Lakeland’s experience against Sandpoint will help the team win close games in state.
