COEUR d'ALENE - Other than that third quarter, the difference between the Post Falls and Lake City high school girls basketball teams isn't too much.

But that third quarter, it was a good one for the visiting Trojans.

Senior Sam Runkle scored nine of her game-high 17 points in the third quarter and the Trojans outscored the Timberwolves 23-9 in the quarter for a 53-40 5A Inland Empire League victory Thursday at Lake City High.

"That's one of her best offensive games she's had," Post Falls coach Marc Allert said. "She did a good job of attacking the basket and made some good decisions. When they started taking that away, she made some good decisions off that and just played well."

Post Falls (12-4, 1-1 5A IEL) held Lake City (13-3, 1-1) to 25 points through the first three quarters.

"I was really, really happy with how we played defensively," Allert said. "Overall, the whole group played well and did a good job of helping each other. We got their posts under control and took away the 3-pointer. You can't ask for much more than that."

Olivia Maryon led Lake City with 10 points, hitting three 3-pointers.

"We couldn't make a shot," Lake City coach Bryan Kelly said. "It's tough in the game of basketball to win when you're not doing that. I thought we turned into jump shooters instead of attacking the basket, and that's something we haven't done lately."

Lake City, ranked third in this week's state 5A media poll, had won 12 of 13 games entering Thursday.

"We didn't attack the basket well," Kelly said. "And credit to Post Falls, they worked hard and Marc does a great job with those kids. They were ready to play. Our focus and intensity wasn't where it needs to be for a league game, and that's my fault and on me. I need to get them ready to play a league basketball game. The third quarter was key, and that's the game."

On Tuesday, Lake City hosts Lewiston, and Post Falls travels to Coeur d'Alene.

"They know they need to come ready to play, and this wasn't our best effort," Kelly said. "We need to get to work if we want to get where we need to be by the end of the season. We need to carry over what we do in practice to the games, and we didn't do that tonight."

Shayna Allert scored 11 points, Bailey Brennan nine and Melody Kempton had four blocks for Post Falls.

"All of our kids came in and contributed," Allert said. "Nobody did anything outstanding, but they came in and played their roles and well defensively. We were able to get into transition some in the third quarter and it got us some easy baskets. We were able to make some shots in the third quarter that we didn't make in the first half."

Clarissa Smith had nine points and seven rebounds and Natalie Wheelock had five points and five assists for Lake City.

Post Falls 9 7 23 14 - 53

Lake City 9 7 9 15 - 40

POST FALLS - Allert 11, O. Ellison 6, A. Ellison 4, Brennan 9, King 0, Anderson 2, Kempton 4, Runkle 17, Reynolds 0.

LAKE CITY - Eborall 3, Dvorak 0, Carlson 0, K. Maryon 0, Wheelock 5, Smith 9, O. Maryon 10, Rewers 2, Meier 5, Simpson 6.