The Front Row with JASON ELLIOTT Dec. 31, 2011
If three days of play at the Coeur d’Alene Inn-vitational were supposed to be any indication of just how good 2012 will be for some local teams, things are about to get interesting at a high school gym near you.
WITH CHAMPIONSHIPS from the Post Falls boys and Coeur d’Alene girls, both in different fashions, the crowds were amazing throughout the final night of the tournament.
Post Falls, which improved its record to 12-0 in the holiday tournament, had to win close games against Lake City in the semifinals and Davis of Yakima in the championship game.
While the Trojans had their chances to put the game away on the free-throw line, Davis missed a couple shots late that could have given them the win.
Meanwhile Coeur d’Alene, which beat Federal Way 70-69 in the 2010 championship game, rolled over the Eagles 80-36 in a game that was over a lot sooner this year.
Coeur d’Alene will host Lewiston on Tuesday night, with an inside track to the 5A Inland Empire League championship and hosting the regional tournament on the line.
And with wins by the Coeur d’Alene boys and Lake City girls in the third-place games, don’t sleep on either of those teams in the new year.
In the boys third-place game, Coeur d’Alene edged Lake City in the final five seconds, eventually getting a 48-46 win.
Jasmyn Smith hitting nine 3-pointers in a 72-40 win over Davis helped propel Lake City to third in the girls tournament.
After losing on the opening day of the tournament to eventual runner-up Federal Way, the Post Falls girls won the final two days to finish fifth in the eight-team tournament.
BUT IT wasn’t even just the games they played against teams from outside the area — a few had to see each other a little earlier than expected.
As the crowd filed into Rolly Williams Court on Wednesday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. for a semifinal game between Post Falls and Lake City, it seemed more fitting for a regional playoff game.
When they see each other again Jan. 10 at Lake City High, I’d expect a lot more of the same.
In a girls semifinal, Coeur d’Alene and Lake City had a good battle through the first half before the Vikings held the T-Wolves to seven points in the second half.
Between that and the boys matchup the next day, it was a good preview of things to come when the two schools meet again Friday in the annual Fish game at Coeur d’Alene High.
After watching these teams take the court three times in as many days, all seem pretty battle tested for what awaits them starting next week.
And no matter what happens between now and regionals — it will be a fun ride.
Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at [email protected].