Lapwai leaps to state title game, will face Grace in the chipper

Exactly one year ago, it was the Oakley Hornets who sent the Lapwai girls’ basketball team down to the third-place game of the Idaho Class 1A Division I state tournament. On Friday, the Wildcats returned the favor.

Samara Powaukee poured in 15 points, the Lapwai defense stifled the Hornets all game long and the Wildcats went on to win 44-32 in the 1A DI state semifinals at Columbia High School in Nampa.

Lapwai (20-5) will try to win its second state crown in three years and its third in five when it faces Grace (21-3) at 10:30 a.m. Pacific today at the Idaho Center in Nampa.

“We didn’t even talk about last year and the way that panned out last year,” Lapwai coach Josh Leighton said. “Kind of different coaching staff, different mentality. Nothing last year we focused on; (it was about) who we are and the makeup of our team defensively.”

Here’s how the Wildcats stymied the Hornets’ sting:

Defensive discipline

Oakley (18-6) is known for a strong defense that limits its opponents to just 34 points per game.

But Lapwai’s defense isn’t too shabby either.

Lapwai led 8-4 after Powaukee executed a nasty crossover and sank a long-range 3-pointer at the first-quarter buzzer.

The lead stretched to double figures on a Madden Bisbee 3 from “way outside” that made it 17-7 midway through the second quarter.

Lapwai forced 10 turnovers in the first half alone and led 20-10 going into halftime.

“Just our ability to communicate, and switch and rotate when we needed to, rebound, keep them from getting to the free-throw line,” Leighton said of his team’s defense. “Our ability to keep them off the free-throw line and just move our feet and communicate was really (good) today.”

Oakley cut the lead to 30-23 going into the fourth quarter, but the seven-point deficit was as close as it got the rest of the way.

Stars of the game

Powaukee did a bit of everything for Lapwai.

The senior guard tallied eight rebounds, two assists and a block and a steal at the end of the third frame. Her game-high point total came on a variety of shots like long 3-pointers and a spinning layup.

“She’s our senior leader, (our) point guard,” Leighton said. “She runs our team basically. ... She’s a secondary coach out there on the floor.”

Oakley’s high scorer was Dakota Wadsworth with six points.

Bisbee, a sophomore, added 10 points and five assists for the Wildcats. Senior post Jayden Leighton had six points and 10 rebounds, and fellow senior starter Qubilah Mitchell recorded eight points.

But it was the team’s depth Josh Leighton said he was most pleased with in helping the group get to the title game.

“The ability for our bench to come in and not have a big drop off — our bench is playing well,” Leighton said. “For us to win the title, we’re going to need everyone this weekend for three days in a row. Not many teams can play (just) five players and win a state championship. Our bench is giving us something.”

All the marbles

Top-seeded Grace and third-seeded Lapwai are the only teams at the 1A DI level to reach 20 wins this season, and now they’ll face off for the chance to be crowned state champs.

Leighton said the Grizzlies, who have been ranked No. 1 in the classification for the latter half of the season, mostly play a zone defense the Wildcats should be prepared for.

Now, it’s all about executing after the tip off.

“I’m pretty happy for the girls. They put a lot of time into what we’re doing,” Leighton said of getting to the championship. “They’re healthy, we have everybody and they understand that defense is going to win you a championship and offense will win you a game. (We’re) really excited.”

LAPWAI (20-5)

Skylin Picard 0 0-0 0, Amasone George 0 0-0 0, Samara Powaukee 5 3-8 15, Andraeana Domebo 0 1-2 1, Jayden Leighton 2 2-6 6, Taya Yearout 0 2-2 2, Qubilah Mitchell 4 0-2 8, Madden Bisbee 4 1-3 10, Lois Oatman 1 0-0 2. Totals 16 9-25 44.

OAKLEY (18-6)

Livee Berliguet 2 1-2 5, Jentry Hawker 1 2-6 4, Chloe Berlin 0 1-2 1, Bailey Winters 1 0-0 3, Taylin Beck 2 0-1 5, Makaye Cranney 2 0-2 4, Dakota Wadsworth 1 4-6 6, Kaymbri Beck 2 0-2 4, Chloee Larson 0 0-0 0, Adelyn Maseda 0 0-0 0. Totals 11 8-21 32.

Wiebe may be contacted at (208) 848-2260, swiebe@lmtribune.com or on Twitter @StephanSports.