RATHDRUM - Lakeland High junior guard Tyrel Derrick answered the bell in a 57-52 victory over Sandpoint on Friday, in front of a raucous Hawk Court crowd.

Derrick hit a go-ahead jumper from the left of the key near the free-throw line with 1:17 left in a 4A Inland Empire League boys basketball battle, to put his team up for good, 53-52.

Even though the game wouldn't have changed the matchups for the upcoming 4A Region 1 tournament, the win was a nice boost of momentum for Lakeland (13-7, 2-2 4A IEL), which clinched the No. 2 seed in the three-team regional tournament. Sandpoint (8-11, 0-4) will be the No. 3 seed.

At 8 p.m. on Feb. 24 at North Idaho College, the two teams will meet again in the regional opener at Rolly Williams Court. The winner of that game will play No. 1 seed Moscow at 8 p.m. on Feb. 26 at NIC in the championship game. The winner of that game will advance to the state tournament March 6-8 at Borah High in Boise.

"All tonight did was decide what color of uniform we wear (on Feb. 24)," Lakeland coach Dave Stockwell said. "To come out on senior night and to fight back from a (16-4) hole, I was pleased with our composure, we stuck to what we do and boy, Sandpoint played really well and came out with a lot of energy and it took everything we had to beat them. Jake Plunkett (who had nine rebounds) had a monster of a couple of rebounds down the stretch and he went up against some big guys. I thought Derek Bayley (who had eight rebounds) did a nice job on the defensive boards tonight; he's so smart."

Plunkett also scored 12 points off the bench.

Derrick's shot, which put Lakeland in front 53-52, started a 6-0 Hawk run to finish the game.

Sandpoint came down and missed three shots on its next possession. Plunkett rebounded the final miss and passed to Derrick, who was fouled with 15 seconds remaining.

Derrick made both free throws in the double bonus for a 55-52 lead. With 7.1 seconds left, he made two more free throws to put the game on ice.

"You can't really simulate that kind of pressure," said Derrick, who scored 13 second half points. "We were trying to keep calm. You've just got to come out and shoot with confidence, that was the biggest thing."

Derrick finished with 17 points and seven assists, shooting 4 for 8 from the field in the second half, after going 0 for 7 from the field in the first half.

"That's the shot I've practiced my entire basketball career," the 6-foot Derrick said of the key jump shot. "Thank goodness the coaches and my teammates had my back, they just let me shoot it. That's what we looked for on our team and I'm so glad I got the opportunity. I'm so blessed to be a part of this entire program."

Sandpoint junior post Cooper Spalding made an easy lay-in to put the Bulldogs up 52-51 with less than 1:30 left, before Derrick hit his jumper.

"I think we didn't execute as well as we needed to in the clutch there," Bulldogs coach Tyler Haynes said. "We had some forced shots and it was a big difference. We can't be happy at all, we came here to win, we played hard, but we've got to wait until districts until we play them again. We have to execute down the stretch (in regionals) and get good possessions and that's the big factor. I thought they (Lakeland) played well."

Sandpoint's Jeremiah Gagnon, who has signed a letter of intent to play soccer at Northwest College in Powell, Wyo., hit seven 3-pointers and scored 23 points to lead all scorers.

"In the second half, we weren't as patient on our offense," said Gagnon, who may also try to play basketball at Northwest. "We weren't getting what we wanted. In the second half, they were getting up on me (on defense), so I had to move the ball. The other guys really stepped up and we'll see them at districts. I think we need to be aware where they (their shooters) are ... I think the main thing for the whole entire game was we just needed to box out and rebound. In the second half, they got a bunch of offensive rebounds."

Lakeland fought back from the 16-4 early deficit and pulled within 29-23 at halftime. The Bulldogs led just 42-41 after the third quarter, then with 5:12 left in the game, 6-foot-1 wing Jake Ram sank a free throw, part of his 13 points, to give the Hawks, who shot 19 for 56 from the field, their first lead of the game.

"The best team will win (on Feb. 24) in regionals," Stockwell said. "Then we'll go ahead and play Moscow and hopefully the best team wins there again and I hope they're wearing green and white."

Sandpoint 19 10 13 10 - 52

Lakeland 10 13 18 16 - 57

SANDPOINT - Gagnon 23, Rodriguez 8, Schwartz 5, Edwards 1, Burgstahler 3, Collado 4, Spalding 4, Kuzmich 4.

LAKELAND - Derrick 17, Bayley 9, Ram 13, Nosworthy 0, Henry 2, Plunkett 12, Cooper 2, Dove 0, Ray 2.