Russell, Springfield overpower Vikings

BEAVERTON, Ore. - Mercedes Russell scored 32 points to lead defending Oregon state 5A champion Springfield past the Coeur d'Alene Vikings 75-44 in the semifinals of the girls Nike Northwest Invitational on Friday at Southridge High.

"Mercedes had coaches from Louisville and North Carolina there watching her tonight, and we joined them," Coeur d'Alene coach Dale Poffenroth said. "We tried to match up with her and she'd kick it out to the guards and they'd hit 3-pointers. Their guards are really underrated."

Springfield shot 8 of 10 from beyond the 3-point line.

"It wasn't just Russell, it was the entire team," Poffenroth said. "We didn't shoot well from the free throw line or the floor. We picked a really bad night to shoot like that because we played a really good team, but the kids learned a lesson tonight."

Erin Legel scored 16 points for Coeur d'Alene (4-2), which faces tournament host Southridge today in the third-place game at 5:30 p.m.

Kendalyn Brainard had eight rebounds and two steals for Coeur d'Alene.

Coeur d'Alene 8 14 15 7 - 44

Springfield 21 18 23 13 - 75

COEUR d'ALENE - S. Parker 2, Orlandi 4, C. Williams 1, K. Parker 7, Tackett 2, Legel 16, Brainard 5, S. Williams 7, Chalich 0, Sumner 0, Higbie 0, Wellstandt 0.

SPRINGFIELD - Richey 10, Hinton 8, Lang 3, Reissner 11, Bradbiaw 6, Russell 32, Duncan 3, Dallendach 2.

Post Falls 51

Mt. Spokane 31

POST FALLS — Rai Franklin and Brooke Litalien scored 10 points apiece as the Trojans beat the Wildcats in a nonleague game at The Arena.

“Neither team shot really well in the first half, but we started making some shots in the second half,” Post Falls coach Marc Allert said. “We just started running our offense better, but we were playing really well defensively.”

Dani Failor had eight rebounds and five points for Post Falls (4-2), which travels to University today at 1 p.m.

Mt. Spokane 2 8 9 12 — 31

Post Falls 7 13 10 21 — 51

MT. SPOKANE — Ulias 3, Reilly 4, Pedersen 10, Lloyd 2, Smith 3, Hereford 4, Vigil 5, Harsin 0, Flager 0.

POST FALLS — Waller 0, Gonzales 6, King 6, Franklin 10, Hedge 6, Smith 2, Litalien 10, Runkle 2, Failor 5, Perrin 4.

Lake City 52

North Central 38

COEUR d’ALENE — Jasmyn Smith hit four 3-pointers and scored 13 points to lead four Timberwolves in double figures in a nonleague win over the Indians.

“We were pretty balanced tonight,” Lake City coach Royce Johnston said. “We played really solid. Kassie Torres energized us defensively and played really well.”

Jansen Butler scored 12 points, Amber Hawkes had 11 points and five rebounds and Maggie Heidenreich added 10 points for Lake City (3-2), which hosts Clarkston on Tuesday.

North Central 8 11 10 9 — 38

Lake City 10 20 7 15 — 52

NORTH CENTRAL — B. Smith 4, Stewart 2, Via 10, A. Smith 6, Markham-Patti 4, Szastisalee 0, King 10, Rypien 2.

LAKE CITY — Jackson 2, Butler 12, Smith 13, Wheelock 2, Torres 0, Gay 2, Hawkes 11, Heidenreich 10.