The Front Row with JASON ELLIOTT Feb. 1, 2012
Win or go home.
For a lot of different teams in prep basketball, that's exactly how the next month will go.
Thankfully for most fans, they won't even have to travel to see it.
DURING THE first two years of covering prep basketball for The Press, that first weekend of the 5A Region 1 girls tournament involved traveling to Lewiston High for the opening round.
That won't happen this year as the tournament will be held at Coeur d'Alene High starting Friday when Post Falls takes on Lewiston, followed by Lake City and Coeur d'Alene at Elmer Jordan Court.
In the past two seasons, the two 5A Region 1 teams that have qualified for the state tournament have also advanced to the championship game, with Coeur d'Alene winning in 2010 and Lewiston last year.
Both have been ranked at the top of the state media polls the entire season, with Highland of Pocatello sandwiched in between the two schools the last two weeks at No. 2.
The boys basketball race in the 5A Inland Empire League has been even more compelling, with the seeding of the top three teams (Coeur d'Alene, Lake City and Post Falls) not likely to be determined until next Wednesday's game with Coeur d'Alene at Post Falls.
Earlier this year, Lake City lost to Coeur d'Alene in the "Fish" game, before rallying to beat the Vikings on Friday by two points. The Timberwolves also earned an early 39-36 win at Lake City, with the rematch on Tuesday night.
Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls close out their league schedule next Wednesday at The Arena.
It might be hard to replicate the overtime thriller they played on Jan. 13 - but with a possible league title on the line, expect only the best when the time comes.
BUT THE league isn't the only one that appears to be on the way to a hotly contested postseason tournament.
When you think of teams scoring 90, 89 and 82 points in a game, you’d often think that those teams were in that higher 5A classification.
Those boys teams involved include Kellogg, St. Maries and Timberlake of the 3A Intermountain League.
The last time the Wildcats and Lumberjacks faced off, the ’Jacks won a 90-89 game in overtime. Timberlake, which has struggled in recent years, has beaten both of these teams in games this season, with the Tigers beating St. Maries 82-80 in St. Maries last Thursday.
Priest River, which won a state title two years ago, along with Bonners Ferry, are still in the mix for the two state berths from their district tournament.
AS TOURNAMENTS wind to a close in the coming weeks, chances are that some really good teams will be staying home from the state tournaments.
Pretty soon, teams will have to either win or go home.
No true fan should opt to stay home either.
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].