Bulldogs lose overtime thriller to Hawks

SANDPOINT — Lakeland senior Cody Moreland picked the most opportune time of the season to step out and hit his first 3-pointers of the season, dropping back-to-back daggers from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter to help propel Lakeland to a 55-51 overtime win over Sandpoint in the 4A Region 1 playoff opener Tuesday night at Les Rogers Court.

The 6-foot-7 Moreland scored a game-high 27 points to go with 16 rebounds, but it was the two 3-pointers that quickly erased a six point deficit midway through the fourth quarter that seemed to swing the game Lakeland’s way.

“The first two threes I’ve shot all year,” said Moreland after the game, adding his coach prefers him to play inside. “I was just feeling it. It got us back in the game and I didn’t shoot another one.”

Austin Black scored six of his 10 points in overtime, as the Hawks (7-12), who were behind for most of the game, out-scored the Bulldogs 10-6 in the extra period.

Stefan Buratto led Sandpoint (6-14) with 18 points, most coming on a nice variety of mid-range pull up jumpers and floaters. Tanner French stuffed the stat sheet to the tune of eight points, eight steals, seven rebounds and six assists in a nice all-around effort running the point.

It looked like Lakeland had the game won in regulation when John Novak grabbed a steal and ran down the court with 20 seconds left and his team leading 45-43, before slipping and losing control of the ball. French then passed up an open 3-pointer on the other end to find Spencer Swerin under the basket for an uncontested lay-in to tie the game with just one second left. Swerin finished with 14 points and eight rebounds.

Bulldogs head coach Tyler Haynes said the game came down to execution and turnovers, including five of the latter by his team in the final three minutes to let Lakeland hang around.

“I tip my hat to them (Lakeland). They won in OT on our floor by executing in the clutch,” said Haynes, who liked how his team played right up until the end. “I liked our press and the way we let the offense come through defense and rebounding.”

Lakeland now travels to Moscow on Thursday night, while Sandpoint waits to play the loser of that game on Saturday in the true double-elimination format.

Lakeland    8    13    11    13    10    —    55

Sandpoint    11    15    12    7    6    —    51

LAKELAND — English 4, Derrick 0, Arno 4, Moreland 27, Guerber 2, Novak 8, Black 10, Mobeck 0.

SANDPOINT — Olin 7, French 8, Lawrence 2, Cafferty 0, Siegel 0, Kuhl 0, Swerin 14, Shultz 2, Buratto 18.