Young Lake City squad worked over by Bolt, Borah in first state appearance since 2014

NAMPA — The Lake City Timberwolves, with three freshman starters and a program that hadn’t been to state since 2014, figured to learn a few things at the state 5A tournament this weekend.

On Thursday night, the lesson was taught by someone who is being regarded as a possible NFL player someday.

Austin Bolt, who has signed to play football at Boise State, totaled 20 points and 15 rebounds, and manhandled the still-maturing Timberwolves inside in a 58-38 victory in the first round at the Ford Idaho Center.

“Bolt is an absolute freak,” said Jim Winger, in his 21st season as Lake City coach, and 23rd season as a high school basketball coach. “It was not the best of matchups. Their strengths are not our best attributes. It’s one thing to watch his video, but his passion, and sheer will and physicalness, and raw talent out there, he’s just pretty special. A lot of people around here say he’s going to play football on Sundays; that might be true. But for a high school basketball player, for his size, underneath the basket, he’s probably the best I’ve seen.”

Lake City (16-9) will play Rigby (23-2) in a loser-out game today at 2 p.m. PST at the Ford Idaho Center. Rigby, the District 5-6 champion, was upset by Eagle (16-8), the fourth seed from District 3, 51-43.

Jack Kiesbuy of Lake City hit a 3-pointer for the game’s first points, but Borah soon went on a 14-0 run and never looked back. Bolt had 10 points and 11 boards in the first half.

“It was tough. I don’t think we played our best,” said Kiesbuy, a junior and three-year varsity member. “We could have played a lot more physical, and with a lot more energy that game.

“I think we had to experience it and get something under our belt. I think we’ll play a lot harder tomorrow.”

The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Bolt, sought by the Broncos to play tight end/slot receiver, is averaging a double-double (19.7 points, 12.7 rebounds) for the third straight year, and the word is he’s just going to get his. Lake City focused on Borah’s second-leading scorer, and held guard Isaac Dewberry (14.2 ppg) to six points.

But Luke Hoetker doubled his average with 14 points, including four 3-pointers in the first half when he scored all his points for Borah, the defending state champions and this year’s second-place team from District 3.

“With Bolt, and a couple of kids having career nights shooting the ball, it was a tough road to hoe,” Winger said. “You have to pick who you’re going to try to take away. I told “em, use it as a learning lesson, put in a good showing tomorrow, and show ‘em what you got.”

Freshmen Zach Johnson and Kolton Mitchell added 10 and 9 points, respectively, for Lake City, the Region 1 runners-up, which shot 13 of 46 (28.3 percent) from the field.

Borah out-rebounded Lake City 48-24.

Borah 22 16 14 6 — 58

Lake City 10 8 10 10 — 38

BORAH — Naing 0, Garey 6, Hoetker 14, Pruitt 2, Dewberry 6, Bergersen 5, Niederer 1, Sanford 2, Willoughby 0, Ellis 0, Au. Bolt 20, Nett 2, A. Bolt 0, Boseiger 0. Totals 22-54 8-11 58.

LAKE CITY — Jake 3, Irvin 2, Kiesbuy 11, Spellman 1, Johnson 10, Hanson 2, Mitchell 9, Sundstrom 0, Meredith 0. Totals 13-46 6-11 38.