PREP BASKETBALL: Sandpoint girls pull off last-minute comeback to defeat Lakeland

Sandpoint 53, Lakeland 50

SANDPOINT — Sandpoint, who trailed by as much as seven points late in the fourth quarter, scored 10 unanswered to take down the Hawks in a 4A IEL league match at Les Rogers Court on Friday.

Lakeland took their first lead of the game early in the fourth, 40-38, and continued to build on it. The Hawks eventually found themselves ahead by seven with about two minutes remaining in the contest. Sandpoint needed to turn things around … junior reserve Aubrey Knowles delivered. Down 50-45, Brecken Mire poked the ball free from a Lakeland guard and it landed in the hands of Knowles. Knowles dribbled down the court and converted an and-one layup and made the free throw. It was the loudest Les Rogers Court has been all season.

“Her teammates almost jumped through the roof with excitement,” head coach Will Love said. “She has been a part of this team all three years, and I’m sure she was disappointed to have to start the season on junior varsity, but she never held her head, worked hard, and opportunities have risen throughout the season. She has been really solid off the bench; she doesn’t commit turnovers and rebounds well. She does lots of things that go unnoticed. I’m excited for Aubrey to be recognized for this hustle play.”

Down just two, the Bulldogs continued to put pressure on the Hawks and did not allow a point for the rest of the contest. Lily Richardson and Mire hit the majority of their free throws down the stretch to seal the deal, 53-50, Bulldogs win.

Karlie Banks led the Bulldogs with 17 points and six rebounds. Mire added 15 points and a team-high four steals. Richardson scored a season-high seven points on the night.

Lakeland’s Landree Simon paced the Hawks with a game-high 21 points, eight rebounds, and four steals.

“These are the fun parts of the game,” Love said. “Credit to both teams for playing hard. Lakeland is well-coached and they came prepared tonight, and really executed against us early in that fourth quarter. Credit to our girls for believing that we could win this game, and then making it happen.”

Sandpoint (13-3, 4-0) will host Bonners Ferry on Wednesday.

Lakeland 9 10 13 18 – 50

Sandpoint 13 12 13 15 – 53

PTS: SPT – Banks 17, Mire 15, Tomco 8, Richardson 7, Knowles 3, D. Driggs 2, Laybourne 1. LAK – Simon 21, Sterling 12, Bretveld 6, Holte 5, K. Kiefer 4, Vopat 2.

REB: SPT – Laybourne 6, D. Driggs 6, Banks 6, Tomco 5, B. Mire 3, Richardson 2. LAK – Simon 8, Bretveld 4, Sterling 3, Holte 3, K. Kiefer 3, Vopat 2, McMurray 1.

AST: SPT – Laybourne 2, Tomco 2, Richardson 2, B. Mire 1, D. Driggs 1. LAK – McMurray 3, K. Kiefer 2, Simon 2, L. Kiefer 2, Bretveld 1, Sterling 1, Holte 1.

STL: SPT – B. Mire 4, D. Driggs 2, Knowles 1, Richardson 1, Tomco 1, Laybourne 1. LAK – Simon 4, Holte 1, K. Kiefer 1, Bretveld 1, Sterling 1. 

BLK: SPT – B. Mire 1, Tomco 1, D. Driggs 1. LAK – None.