Still showing that drive
<p>Kendalyn Brainard drives past a Boise defender in the third quarter Thursday during state basketball action in Nampa.</p>
<p>Coeur d'Alene High's Heather Baughman (2) knocks the ball loose from a Boise's Aleah Lowber Thursday during the first round of girls state 5A basketball at the Idaho Center in Nampa.</p>
NAMPA - New faces, same result for the blue and white of Coeur d'Alene High when it comes to playing on the floor at the Idaho Center.
Coeur d'Alene, which entered the state 5A tournament as the No. 2-ranked team in the state, defeated the No. 1-ranked Boise Braves 47-37 in its opening round game Thursday at the Idaho Center.
Coeur d'Alene led most of the way, building a 9-2 lead early in the first quarter. The Vikings held the Braves to a 23.1 percent shooting from the floor in the first half, building a 25-13 halftime lead as the Braves were held to three field goals in the first half.
"We knew we had to start much like we did last Friday night against Lake City," Coeur d'Alene coach Dale Poffenroth said. "Our hands were the most active on the defensive side of the ball I've seen since the Fish game."
Coeur d'Alene will face Highland (21-3) of Pocatello today at 5:15 p.m. PST in one semifinal game. Highland beat Eagle 45-40 in overtime.
Coeur d'Alene (20-4) had seven steals in the first half to only two for Boise, despite Viking guard Heather Baughman and post Carli Rosenthal on the bench with foul trouble most of the first half.
"Caelyn (Orlandi) stepped up and had a nice game," Poffenroth said. "She stopped (Jordin) Juker tonight. Both her and Kendalyn (Brainard) had great games. For two freshman, they sure didn't play like it tonight."
Brainard had 13 points and 12 rebounds for the Vikings, with seven points coming in the first half.
"With the foul trouble, I knew I had to play smarter," Brainard said. "I knew I had to make good decisions. Defense was something we do in practice all the time. We go after each other like it's a real game."
Of her first appearance on the Idaho Center floor, Brainard added that she wasn't nervous when it came time to tip off Thursday.
"I love it," Brainard said. "It took a lot to make it to varsity. I worked my butt off to get here - this is my favorite sport."
Juker finished with 13 points for Boise (22-2), which will face Eagle (16-8) in a loser-out game today at the Idaho Center.
Amanda Buttrey added 13 points for the Vikings in 31 minutes.
"I was pretty confident," said Buttrey, who shot 3 of 6 from the 3-point line. "We played well as a team. We did what we had to do as a team. It's exciting. It keeps your adrenaline going and gave me some confidence in myself."
Coeur d'Alene 16 9 10 12 - 47
Boise 5 8 17 7 - 37
COEUR d'ALENE - Baughman 0, Buttrey 13, Drager 7, Orlandi 2, Parker 4, Legel 0, Petit 0, Rosenthal 8, Brainard 13. Totals 14-38 16-21 47.
BOISE - Butler 0, Foster 4, Haroian 0, Hone 0, Lowber 7, Juker 13, Seyfried 2, Luna-Castro 7, Blaugher 2, McGourty 2. Totals 10-34 17-25 37.