Bulldogs fall to Hawks in double-overtime battle

RATHDRUM — Jackson Olin scored 16 points, and Trevor Litzell hit two clutch free throws to force the first overtime, but it simply wasn’t going to be the Bulldogs’ night.

Eric Cooper’s 3-point basket with 11 seconds left put Lakeland up by two points, and Tyrel Derrick’s steal in the closing seconds sealed the Hawks’ 52-50 double-overtime victory over the Sandpoint Bulldogs in 4A Inland Empire League play Thursday night at Hawk Court.

After Cooper’s basket, and a Sandpoint timeout, Bulldog Jackson Olin dribbled the length of the court. When he got just inside the foul line, he was surrounded by three Lakeland players, and Derrick reached in for the steal and dribbled out the final couple of seconds on the clock.

“I think it’s a really big win for us,” Lakeland assistant coach Bill Ryan said. “It’s a real boost for us. It’s nice to have some positive stuff to move forward.”

Cooper finished with 20 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals for Lakeland (3-7, 0-2 4A IEL).

Olin scored 11 of his team-high 16 points in the first half for Sandpoint (4-7, 0-1), and Matthew Burgstahler added eight points in defeat.

Lakeland trailed by eight points after three quarters, but outscored Sandpoint 15-7 in the fourth quarter. The Hawks led by two late, but Trevor Litzell’s two free throws with 12 seconds left forced overtime. The two teams went scoreless in the first overtime, a rare feat at any level of hoops.

Sandpoint is at the Bear Den in Moscow tonight for another key 4A North game. Tipoff is at 6 p.m.

Sandpoint 11  18  10  7  0  4 — 50

Lakeland   8   14   9  15 0  6 — 52

SANDPOINT — Gagnon 0, N. Schwartz 2, Burgstahler 8, Nitcy 3, R. Schwartz 2, Nelson 2, Olin 16, Howk 2, Couch 7, Litzell 4.

LAKELAND — Spencer 3, Carr 3, Derrick 4, Black 14, Bayley 2, Horne 6, Cooper 20, Simpson 0.