The Front Row with JASON ELLIOTT Feb. 2, 2011

Rivalries make sports great.

Whether at the junior college level or high school basketball, there's something about facing a bitter enemy that brings out the best in most players.

THAT WAS the case on Saturday when Southern Idaho paid a visit to North Idaho College for a Scenic West Athletic Conference basketball doubleheader.

Playing in front of a packed crowd, there wasn't much needed to get either team fired up for the game as both teams continue to battle for one of the first-round Region 18 tournament byes in early March.

The game also marked the only time that CSI of Twin Falls traveled to Rolly Williams Court this year.

Meanwhile, NIC travels to Twin Falls three times between regular season and postseason tournament games.

After a sluggish start to the first half, the NIC women got it going in the second half to get a 76-49 win. The NIC men had a battle on their hands, falling behind early and fighting back late in the second half.

They were unable to fight all the way back, losing for the first time in 38 home games by a 86-73 score.

While a slow start contributed to the NIC loss, having to battle back from down 16 points at one point was a victory in itself - even if it didn't count in the SWAC standings.

IT HAD been a while since I'd seen a basketball game at Wallace Jr./Sr. High School, but when the Miner girls were playing a rare Monday night game, I figured there was no better time then now.

Over the past two weeks, basketball hasn't been on the minds of many of those in attendance.

While the shock of the death of Wallace girls basketball coach Kirby Krulitz from a heart attack is still on the minds of their fans, the team has begun to play some of its best games of the season, in honor and in memory of its coach.

Meanwhile, Mullan, which was the opponent on Monday night, started and finished the game with only five players due to injuries.

While both remain rivals on the playing field, you couldn’t tell on Monday night.

Players from both the Mullan and Wallace boys basketball teams sat in the same cheering section, both teams congratulated each other following the game — and appeared to mean it.

WHILE TEAMS from Wallace and Mullan won’t have to face off again this season in postseason play — Wallace is in 1A Division I, Mullan in 1A Division II — teams from NIC and CSI will see each other at least once, if not more on the road to nationals.

Saturday’s games were just the second in a three-round battle for positioning in the Region 18 tournament.

However things end up, NIC will eventually need to win in Twin Falls to advance to nationals — the thing any rival wants to do on their opponent’s home court.

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 e-mail at [email protected].