Idaho state contender Lake City girls basketball crashes 'Top of the Peak' party by winning tournament title

SNOHOMISH, Wash. - Shortly after David Pratt took the girls basketball coaching job at Lake City High School in Idaho last summer, his athletic director broke the bad news.

The previous coach had committed to playing in a holiday tournament somewhere in Washington - and if Pratt wanted to withdraw from that to go elsewhere, it was up to him.

Pratt asked what the event was.

The AD gave him the answer: "Top of the Peak."

Pratt broke out in cheer: "Wait, that is one the schedule? I could not wait to be there," he said.

And for good reason.

Although Pratt had made two previous trips to the best holiday tournament in western Washington with Mount Spokane High School, he had never made the finals - until Friday afternoon.

Lake City finished off a memorable three-game week by handing Washington Class 1A champion Nooksack Valley its first loss - 55-48 - in the tournament championship game at Glacier Peak High School.

The Timberwolves became the first out-of-state program in the event's eight-year history to win the title.

"What a championship game," said Pratt, grinning from ear to ear getting a title at one of his favorite in-season tournaments. "We both pushed each other. What a team over there - Nooksack Valley is good."

Nooksack Valley has senior guard Devin Coppinger, a Washington Huskies signee and in the discussion for top overall player in the state.

But Pratt had a counter - lengthy 6-foot-3 Montana signee Avery Waddington, who took on the assignment of guarding the Pioneers' all-state standout.

And while Coppinger led all scorers with 22 points, 14 came in during a hot stretch in the second quarter - and she went long stretches without scoring.

"(Coppinger) likes to do a crossover move to set up her (mid-range) jumper," Waddington said. "But I am fast, so I knew I could stay in front of her. And I am longer."

Nooksack Valley held a 32-27 lead on Tana Hoekema's three-point play at the 4:49 mark of the third quarter.

But Coppinger picked up two quick fouls to go to the bench, and Lake City ended the quarter on a 12-0 run, highlighted by back-to-back 3-pointers from Sadie Zimmerman and Macy Murphey, who led her team with 12 points.

That same duo opened the final quarter sinking back-to-back 3-pointers again, and the Timberwolves were up, 45-32, with 6:31 to go.

Nooksack Valley went more than seven minutes without scoring.

"They got hot from the 3-point line, and we struggled to find a rhythm," Nooksack Valley coach Shane Wichers said. "Their length had something to do with that. We were also a little hesitant."

Waddingon was a big two-way force, changing shots and then coming up big in the fourth quarter offensively (seven of her nine points).

"Having 6-3 (Waddington) is awesome," Pratt said. "She is just awesome."