RATHDRUM — Lakeland nearly overcame a little bit of youth and a little bit of lack of poise Tuesday night.

The Hawks suffered through a dreadful second quarter, and fell behind by 16 points early in the third quarter — but managed to come back and take a two-point lead over the Moscow Bears early in the fourth.

However, the Bears quickly responded with a 9-0 run to take the lead, and held on for a 71-66 victory at Hawk Court to clinch the 4A Inland Empire League boys basketball title.

“We kind of lost our cool in the first half,” Lakeland coach Dave Stockwell said. “We got in foul trouble — again. But I thought we made a great comeback; we didn’t quit.”

Junior guard Carson Seay scored 15 of his 20 points in the second half for Lakeland (13-3, 1-2 4A IEL), including a driving layin with 6:11 remaining that put the Hawks up 56-54 — their first lead since early in the second quarter.

But Moscow junior Benny Kitchel, who hit four 3-pointers and led all scorers with 24 points, hit a 3 to start a 9-0 run. The run was capped by a steal and dunk by Blake Buchanan, a 6-foot-7 freshman and son of Idaho volleyball coach and former St. Maries High volleyball star Debbie Buchanan.

Since Moscow (10-8, 3-0) beat Lakeland by 3 points at home last week, the Hawks needed to beat the Bears by 4 points or more in the rematch to own the tiebreaker.

Moscow will face either Lakeland or Sandpoint in a best-of-3 championship series for the region’s lone berth to state. If Moscow wins Saturday at Sandpoint (7-9, 0-2), the Bears will be able to host all three games of the championship series, if necessary, for finishing undefeated in league.

“This one was pretty big; I really didn’t feel comfortable we were going to win the tiebreaker against them,” fifth-year Moscow coach Josh Uhrig said. “Lakeland is a solid team; they can score points in a hurry. We gave up a 16-point lead pretty quick. They’re a dangerous team, and I’m happy with the way our guys controlled their emotions and kept their composure and made some big baskets. And thankfully we made a couple free throws late; I was a little nervous for a bit.”

Back to that second quarter.

With Moscow leading 22-20, a Lakeland player was whistled for a shooting foul — then slapped with a technical.

The Bears converted 2 of the 4 free throws. On the ensuing Moscow possession, Buchanan scored on an inbounds pass, and was fouled. He missed the free throw, but the Bears rebounded, and moments later Reed Diego scooped up a loose ball under the basket and scored for a 28-20 Moscow lead.

Kitchel’s running banker just before the buzzer made it 35-22 Bears at the half.

“We showed our age a little bit,” said Stockwell, who starts a sophomore and three juniors.

Kitchel hit a 3 to make it 38-22 to open the third quarter, before Lakeland extended its pressure, and chipped away. Seay’s 3 midway through the quarter pulled the Hawks within 40-36, and his 3 at the buzzer brought Lakeland within 49-47 after 3.

With Moscow leading 65-61, the Bears missed the front end of three straight one-and-ones. Seay drove the baseline for a layup to make it 65-63 with 30 seconds left.

But, with Moscow in the double bonus, Kitchel was fouled on the inbounds pass, and hit both free throws.

After two more free throws by Kitchel, Ben Zubaly, who finished with 15 points, rattled in a 3 with 8.3 seconds left to make it a 3-point game. But Brayden Decker sealed it for Moscow with two free throws with 4.8 ticks left.

Buchanan finished with 11 points for Moscow, which goes 6-6, 6-7, 6-4 across the front — and brings in another 6-4 player off the bench.

Senior Eric Saasen scored all seven of his points in the second half to help spark the Lakeland comeback. The Hawks have size as well — 6-3, 6-5, 6-5 across the front.

“Their size bothered our posts a little bit,” Uhrig said. “We didn’t finish around the rim as well as we should have. We were just trying to play to our strengths, get our guys in the right spots ... ”

Lakeland and Sandpoint will meet in a loser-out game on Feb. 24, with the winner facing Moscow in the best-of-3 title series.

“I’d rather play them (Lakeland) at our place than here, but it’s going to be a dogfight, no matter what,” Uhrig said.

With three regular-season games left, including one at home vs. Sandpoint on Feb. 13, Stockwell wasn’t thinking that far ahead.

“We’ve got to beat Sandpoint,” he said. “I don’t care about Moscow right now.”

Lakeland plays host to Timberlake on Saturday.

Moscow 8 27 14 22 — 71

Lakeland 11 11 25 19 — 66

MOSCOW — Diego 2, Decker 9, Abendroth 2, Simpson 9, Colter 8, Postell 6, Buchanan 11, Kitchel 24, Skinner 0.

LAKELAND — Zubaly 15, Seay 20, Henry 4, Ab. Munyer 4, Am. Munyer 7, Haaland 6, Roth 0, Waddington 3, Derrick 0, Saasen 7.