Lakeland runs over, past helpless Declo

The Lakeland Hawks were both definitive and decisive Friday.

Lakeland erased the memory of yet another opening-round disappointment by scoring early, often and efficiently against Declo to post a 78-50 victory and move into the consolation championship game of the State 3A boys basketball tournament at Meridian High School.

"That's the way we can play," Lakeland coach Trent Derrick said after the Hawks shot 48.1 percent and got their transition game running so smooth that even Enzo Ferrari would have been envious.

"Today we played like the (Intermountain League) champions."

The Hawks (16-8) from Rathdrum wrap up the state tournament at 8:15 PST this morning in the consolation final against Shelley, which beat Wood River 47-40. Preston defeated Marsh Valley 58-40 and Middleton topped Fruitland 38-29 to set up today's championship game.

Declo, which had no answer for Lakeland's speed or accuracy, saw its season end.

And it was over early as Lakeland countered Declo's pressure defense with a lightning-quick transition game and pinpoint perimeter shooting.

"Declo's pressure was a non-factor in the game," Derrick said. "Ryan (Gallia) did a nice job of running the floor."

Gallia dished four assists and grabbed three steals to go with 12 points and a team-high five rebounds.

Senior guard Pat Dinneen, who finished with a career-high 23 points, caught fire with 14 points in the first 8 minutes. He didn't miss on his five shots in the opening quarter and was left alone in the left-hand corner to drain 3-pointers at will.

Dinneen opened the game with back-toback 3s, then scored eight consecutive points later in the quarter as the Hawks built a 23-10 lead.

"Pat hit some big 3s to start off the game, and we never looked back," Derrick said.

Dinneen and fellow senior guard Rickey Gallia led all scorers with 23 points apiece. Dinneen was 9 for 11 from the field, including 5 for 6 from beyond the 3-point arc.

Seemingly, Lakeland could do no wrong. The Hawks shot 57.7 percent from the floor in the first half (15 for 26) and hit 4 of 6 shots in the game's first 2 minutes.

"We came out and played with a lot of desire," Derrick said. "We weren't going to disappoint the people who drove 8 hours to see us play."

Undoubtedly, they didn't.

The Declo fans, though, probably couldn't say the same.

The Hornets opened the game 1 for 6 from the field, including four consecutive misses. Although Declo tried to run a patient halfcourt offense, there was an underlying panic. The shot selection the Hornets displayed allowed Lakeland to maintain the upper hand despite not forcing many turnovers. Declo had 11 miscues in the game and just four after halftime.

"It was the transition game and our start that got us going," Derrick said. "Today it was transition and not so much turnovers."

Declo committed seven turnovers in the first quarter then settled down. But Lakeland capitalized with a ferocious fast break, scoring 11 points off the first-half mistakes.

The Hawks built a lead as large as 25 points when Ryan Gallia sank two free throws for a 57-32 edge with 1 minute, 46 seconds left in the third quarter.

The Hornets' biggest threat came near the end of the first half when Bret Wardle and Drew Jones scored six straight points. Wardle's jumper with less than a minute left pulled Declo to within 11 points, 35-24.

But the Hornets' lack of marksmanship in the first half and Lakeland's precise aim was not the right combination for Declo. The Hornets shot 27.8 percent (10 for 36) in the first half as Jones missed 7 of 10 shots. Wardle scored 10 of his team's 24 points in the first 16 minutes. He capped his high school career with a 19-point game. Jones, a junior, added 10.

"I don't know if Declo came into the game flat, but we certainly didn't," said Derrick, who figured Thursday's postgame meal had something to do with Lakeland's play in the second round. "Maybe it was Sizzler that did it. We're going there again tonight."

Lakeland 78, Declo 50

Lakeland - Rickey Gallia 23, Dinneen 23, Ryan Gallia 12, Eby 6, Kifer 4, Viebrock 4, Kiefer 2, Meyer 2, Roth 2.

Declo -Wardle 19, Jones 10, Allred 8, Edgar 5, Christiansen 4, Stoker 3, Johnson 1.

Halftime-Lakeland 78, Declo 50.

Copyright 2004 Cowles Publishing Company
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