COEUR d’ALENE — Down one scoring weapon, another one stepped up on Tuesday night for the Coeur d’Alene Vikings.

Junior guard Sam Matheson poured in 23 points and sparked a pair of runs as the Vikings defeated the visiting Lake City Timberwolves 64-51 in the 5A Inland Empire League opener for both teams at Elmer Jordan Court.

After Lake City (7-2) jumped out to a 15-7 lead in the first quarter, Matheson sank a 3-pointer from the left baseline right before the buzzer. That started Coeur d’Alene on a 13-1 run.

In the second half, with the score tied at 41, Matheson scored seven point in a 15-0 run that broke the game open for the Vikings.

“We have a lot of weapons,” Coeur d’Alene coach Tony Hanna said. “It’s hard to guard one guy. Sam gives us another threat, and when he gets going, he’s pretty tough.”

Matheson hit 3 of 5 from 3-point range for the Vikings (4-4), who became more the aggressor following a slow start.

“We changed our mindset,” Matheson said. “We went to defense, which led to transition, which led to point production. We just tired them out throughout the game.”

An MRI on Coeur d’Alene senior point guard Brody Lundblad revealed a stress fracture in his left foot. Hanna said Lundblad may be able to return in a week or two.

Colson Yankoff added 14 points, Joey Naccarato 12 for Coeur d’Alene, which controlled the offensive boards. Yankoff got most of his points on putbacks.

Kenny Louie-McGee led Lake City with 18 points, six in the first quarter as the T-Wolves started strong. James Carlson added 14.

“I’m pretty pleased with my guys,” Lake City coach Jim Winger said. “Underneath ... the rebounding. The zone (in the third quarter) slowed ’em down a little bit, but they got three or four cracks at it, and we made a couple of poor decisions on offense and boom — on the road, it just goes from we’re up one, or tie game, to down 10 in the blink of an eye. I was real impressed with Colson and Joey underneath — they’re just big bodies to handle.

“Sometimes on the road, in league, you walk out ticked off with how you played and what you did, but I’m walking out of here feeling pretty good about our effort.”

Lake City plays host to Moscow on Friday.

Coeur d’Alene travels to Hellgate of Missoula on Saturday.

Lake City 15 9 17 10 — 51

Coeur d’Alene 10 20 19 15 — 64

LAKE CITY — Louie-McGee 18, Kolden 6, Womelduff 1, Butler 4, McCartin 2, Manzardo 6, Carlson 12, Schaffer 12, Neville 0.

COEUR d’ALENE — Delbridge 2, Kofmehl 0, Matheson 23, Yankoff 14, Bronson 0, Beggerly 7, Naccarato 12, I. Edwards 4, K. Edwards 2.