NAMPA - That slow, heads-down walk off the Idaho Center court on a Friday afternoon was not the finish the Lake City Timberwolves envisioned when they headed confidently south for the state 5A boys basketball tournament.

But, in a loser-out game vs. Capital of Boise, Lake City gave a much-improved effort over Thursday, but still couldn't hit shots and bowed out with a 54-46 loss at the Idaho Center.

"It was definitely disappointing," said Lake City junior post Kyle Guice, who scored 13 points and grabbed 16 rebounds. "We worked hard all year, had a great season, did everything we wanted, but when we got down to state we didn't play like we wanted to.

"I think the first game was all nerves, because none of us had ever played here before. And the second game, we just didn't shoot very well. Six for 23 in the paint - that's not going to cut it at state."

Lake City (17-7) out-rebounded Capital 39-28, and seemed to get to more of the loose balls. But the Timberwolves shot just 12 of 45 (26.7 percent) from the field for the game, and finished 24 of 89 from the floor for the tournament.

"At least we competed and came out and played hard, like we have all year," Lake City coach Jim Winger said. "We were so insecure offensively. We shoot 6 for 22, darn near all around the paint, and couldn't make a basket. I thought we worked well defensively, they definitely had their heads there today, and offensively, we just couldn't score. I thought we had great looks. I think it's a team we should have beat, without a doubt, and we didn't get it done."

Lake City’s aggressiveness was apparent early, though the game was tied at 20 at halftime.

As he did on Thursday, J.J. Winger opened the second half with a 3-pointer for Lake City — then proceeded to bury his next three 3s of the quarter. But Capital (15-10) kept pace, and led 38-37 after three.

But Lake City went cold from the field in the fourth quarter. Capital built a 46-39 lead with 3:07 left, and the Timberwolves didn’t make their first basket until Guice followed in his own miss with 1:46 remaining.

Winger banked in a 3 — his fifth of the game, in eight attempts — to pull Lake City within 49-44 with 52 seconds left. But Capital made enough free throws (7 of 10) in the final minute to close out the T-Wolves.

“J.J. really stepped up his game in the second half, to keep the game close,” Jim Winger said of his son. “He shot the ball really well, and hit some big shots.”

Derrick White, a 5-foot-11 sophomore point guard, scored a game-high 20 points to lead Capital, which plays Madison of Rexburg today for the consolation title. Junior guard Hunter Young added 12 points for the Eagles, who start just one senior.

Winger finished with 15 for Lake City, and Riley Moreen had seven rebounds and four assists.

“It’s been a disappointing couple of days,” Jim Winger said. “Now that the dust has settled, we got wrapped up in the moment, and never calmed down the first night (in a 61-33 loss to Rocky Mountain of Meridian). Today we were ready, we executed well, we got the looks we wanted, we just never put it in the basket. … we couldn’t hit the ocean from the end of the pier.”

Capital 12 8 18 16 — 54

Lake City 8 12 17 9 — 46

CAPITAL — Duncan 2, White 20, Littlejohn 2, Dow 2, Carlson 10, Pearson 3, Poulson 3, Young 12, Pinkney 0. Totals 16-44 14-23 54.

LAKE CITY — Adams 0, Pratt 2, Hocking 2, Guice 13, Louie-McGee 4, Moreen 5, Dahl 5, Winger 15. Totals 12-45 16-21 46.