Wampus Cats end season with loss to No. 3 Knights
ABOVE: Lily Simko, pictured earlier in the season, is part of a strong group of underclassmen that make for a bright future for the Wampus Cats. RIGHT: Ali Sutton, launching a shot in earlier season action, and the Wampus Cats saw their season come to an end on Tuesday night. (Photos by ERIC PLUMMER)
RATHDRUM — Sophomore Brooke Stevens had a big night with 14 points and seven steals, but not much else when right for the No. 4 seed Wampus Cats, who saw their season come to end with a 45-20 loss to No. 1 seed Lakeside in the loser-out game of the 1A Division II District 1 tournament Tuesday night at Lakeland High School.
The Wampus Cats (3-14) trailed just 17-12 at halftime, before the Knights (14-1) blew things open in the second half behind three 3-pointers from Corin Peone and a game-high 16 points from Lillian Rhea.
“They’re just physical inside and took over the second half,” said Wampus Cats head coach Mark Stevens. “We’re young. A little more off-season ball will help us. It seems all of the teams we play are doing it, and we need to step that up.”
Freshman Ellie Kiebert led the Cats in rebounding for the second straight game with eight, but scoring was simply too tough to come by all night.
Even in defeat, Stevens showed why she’ll be one of the top players in the North Star League in the next couple of years.
“She kept stealing the ball on top and getting layins on the other end,” praised Mark Stevens. “She did a good defensively.”
Lakeside, currently ranked No. 3 in the state, advances to the championship game on Thursday, looking to punch their ticket to state.
Clark Fork 4 8 4 4 — 20
Lakeside 9 7 16 13 — 45
CLARK FORK — Stevens 14, Lambert 2, Hathaway 2, Crumpton 0, A. Sutton 0, Young 0, Simko 2, Kiebert 0, T. Sutton 0, Holderman 0.
LAKESIDE — Peone 10, Arthur 6, Damon 8, Lillian Rhea 16, Lambert 2, Pakootas 3.