Trojans best Eagle in consolation game
NAMPA - It was an odd feeling inside the locker room of the Post Falls High boys basketball team after the Trojans beat Eagle 50-47 to claim the consolation (fourth-place) trophy at the state 5A tournament Saturday morning at Columbia High.
"It's hard; we just won our 21st game of the season and our kids feel disappointed," Post Falls coach Mike McLean said. "That's where the kids the last few years have set it (the bar). When 21 wins feels like a disappointment ... I don't feel that way, but that's the feeling our kids have right now."
Well, when you're the defending state champions, and you come down with a team good enough to repeat, and except for a 6.7-second dash for the game-tying hoop by a Borah freshman in a first-round loss, that's why.
"I told our kids after the game that the two happiest teams in the state are Centennial and Mountain View," McLean said. "Not because they're in the state championship game, but because they didn't have to play us. Even though we got the consolation trophy, there is not one team in the state that I would even blink my eye to go after."
Junior point guard Marcus Colbert had 11 points and six assists for Post Falls (21-5), which shot just 25.8 percent from the field and trailed 19-17 after a sluggish first half. The Trojans went to a 1-2-2 press in the third quarter and sped up the pace in the second half.
Colbert's two free throws put Post Falls up 47-41 with 32.9 seconds left. But Michael Johnson and Connor Kent hit 3-pointers for Eagle, and the Trojans' lead was down to 48-47 with 10.6 seconds left.
Colbert made two more free throws with 9.8 seconds left, and Eagle fumbled its final chance out of bounds with 4.5 seconds left.
"It was less than what we wanted; we wanted another ring," Colbert said. "But I'm glad we finished with a win."
Connor Hill, second on Post Falls' all-time scoring list, hit one 3 and scored 11 points in the final game of his Trojan career.
"It's still a trophy; it's a lot better than not having a trophy," he said.
Braiden Shaw, a 6-foot-8 sophomore post, had 17 points, seven rebounds and four blocked shots for Eagle (15-12). The second half got a little chippy between the teams which met in last year's state title game.
"It was intense for a consolation game," Colbert said.
Junior Michael Hillman had 11 points and five steals for Post Falls.
Post Falls loses four seniors - starters Hill and post Matt Lickfold, and reserves Damon Gonzales and Kyle English.
"I'm so proud of my seniors," McLean said. "They set a precedent so high. I'm proud of their leadership. I thought their leadership was exceptional, especially after that first loss."
Post Falls 9 8 13 20 - 50
Eagle 8 11 7 21 - 47
POST FALLS - English 2, Gonzales 4, Hill 11, Anderson 0, Valente 0, Thoreson 3, Colbert 11, Hillman 11, Lickfold 8. Totals 19-51 10-13 50.
EAGLE - Johnson 8, Kent 4, Mangum 0, Glazier 0, Van Dyk 9, Lugeiyamu 0, Shaw 17, Dean 0, Gillmor 6, Patton 3. Totals 17-42 10-16 47.