PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL: Lakeland, Sandpoint advance to 5A Region 1 title game

RATHDRUM — Sometimes, it's just as easy to turn to a fresh face. 

Lakeland freshman Jaeli Hoffman scored 20 of her 33 points in the first half to lead the top-seeded Lakeland Hawks past the fourth-seeded Lewiston Bengals 56-43 in an opening round game in the 5A Region 1 tournament at Hawk Court on Saturday. 

“We found a way tonight, and Jaeli really led the charge offensively,” Lakeland coach Caelyn Caufield said. “Give Lewiston a ton of credit — they came out hard with great energy. This is a tough conference, and if you’re not firing on all cylinders, any night can turn into a battle.” 

Lakeland (17-4) will host second-seeded Sandpoint (17-4) in the regional championship game on Tuesday. Sandpoint beat third-seeded Moscow 37-33 in the other opening round game at Les Rogers Court in Sandpoint. 

Junior Darta Serdane scored 13 points for Lewiston (7-14). 

Lewiston    7    14    9    13    —    43 

Lakeland    14    11    14    17    —    56 

LEWISTON — Balmer 4, Bruce 0, Cahill 0, Fisher 4, Mellinger 4, Lathen 4, Samuels 0, Schnell 2, Serdane 13, Hemphill 2. 

LAKELAND — Kar. Kiefer 4, Forsman 4, Bowie 3, Hoffman 33, Kap. Kiefer 0, Fagan 0, Bretveld 6, Bullington 6. 

Kellogg 59 

Orofino 27 

OROFINO — The Wildcats ran past the Maniacs in the Central Idaho League finale for both at Orofino High, clinching the second seed to next week’s 2A District 1-2 tournament. 

Further information was not available. 

Kellogg (11-9, 6-2 CIL) will host Orofino (6-13, 4-4) in an opening-round game at Andrews Gymnasium on Monday at 6 p.m. 

Pullman Christian 43 

N.I. Christian 38 

SPOKANE VALLEY — Junior Belle Jordan scored 15 points to the Royals of Hayden in a loss to the Eagles in the championship game of the Mountain Christian League Tournament at The Oaks Academy. 

Senior Chelsey Cate had 12 points, 11 rebounds and six blocked shots for North Idaho Christian, which finished 12-11. Coach Jerry Bittner, who guided the program to 13 championships and four second-place finishes, announced his retirement after 20 seasons following the game. 

It was the first conference tournament title for Pullman Christian. 

N.I. Christian        8    13    13    4    —    38 

Pullman Christian    12    15    8    8    —    43 

NORTH IDAHO CHRISTIAN — Ellis 0, Cate 12, Salaiz 9, Collins 0, Owens 0, Jordan 15, Smith 2. 

PULLMAN CHRISTIAN — Olson 9, Carrier 3, C. Anderson 0, Menocal 0, H. Anderson 4, Fitzgerald 8, Cofer 9, Hoops 4, Rajasekaran 6.