The Front Row with JASON ELLIOTT Feb. 27, 2010

Judging by the outcome of area basketball games this week, it's safe to say that the North teams have represented themselves more than well in the recent days.

However, the work isn't done yet and things can only get better next week when the postseason ramps up again in southern Idaho and eastern Utah.

IT HAD been a long time since I've seen anything like the atmosphere around Tuesday's 5A Region 1 boys championship game between Post Falls and Lake City at The Arena in Post Falls.

The game itself was one thing, but the fan participation is what made the conclusion of that game one to remember.

Both teams brought a huge fan base to The Arena, which had to pull out all the stops, including opening the second-level bleachers to accommodate the crowd on the west side of the gym.

After they tipped the game off, both teams displayed high energy, with their fans remaining loud the entire game until Lake City earned a berth to the state tournament.

Should the Timberwolves bring the same energy and enthusiasm next week, they'll be a tough team to beat at the Idaho Center. Post Falls, which defeated Coeur d'Alene in Friday's second-place game, can only look to last week's 5A girls title game to see how a second seed can do in the tournament.

WHEN THE Kellogg Wildcats and Priest River tipped off their state 3A championship game, some fans were probably a little road weary after making a late drive to Nampa.

Once those fans made it down there, most of them weren't disappointed with what happened after they'd returned home on Sunday afternoon.

Again, considering that nobody had either school in their 3A bracket pool going to the finals, I'd say it was a trip worth making for anyone involved with either school.

ATHLETES at North Idaho College returned home from a six-game road trip to play some huge games within the Scenic West Athletic Conference on Thursday night.

The crowd came out in bunches to welcome them back, and both teams responded with big wins over Eastern Utah, with the men clinching the top seed and first-round bye in the Region 18 tournament.

North Idaho's women can clinch a bye in the first round with a win today against Colorado Northwestern and Southern Idaho loss.

Regardless of how things end up today, both teams will need to bring their "A" game next week to earn a bid to nationals over their Scenic West Athletic Conference rivals.

With fans like these, forward is the only way to go.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d'Alene Press. He can be reached at 664-0239 or via e-mail at jelliott@cdapress.com.