Viks take aim at 4th title in five years

They've got experience with three starters and five reserves back from last year's state 5A runner-up team.

They just won their first regional title since 2008 and they've only got two seniors on the roster.

But for the Coeur d'Alene Vikings to win a fourth state 5A championship in five years, they'll need contributions from a rotation of four sophomores and two juniors to get it done.

"We've got just as good a chance as anybody to win," Coeur d'Alene coach Dale Poffenroth said. "We just can't get any illnesses, injuries and we should be OK. It's a three-day tournament, so whoever gets hot will have the best chance to win."

Championship games in all classifications will be played at the Idaho Center in Nampa on Saturday, culminating with the 5A championship at 7 p.m. (PST).

5A: Coeur d'Alene (18-2) opens the state 5A tournament today against Meridian (15-8) at 5:15 p.m. at the Idaho Center in Nampa.

Inland Empire League rival and defending 5A champion Lewiston (19-4) advanced to state following a 58-48 win over Post Falls last Friday in Lewiston. They will face Vallivue (16-7) in the opening game at 12:15.

Meridian qualified for state last year and owns four state titles, all under current Centennial coach Emery Roy, the last one coming in 1983.

Coeur d'Alene has played in the last six championship games, winning in 2008, '09 and '10.

"They should be a pretty good ball club," said Poffenroth of Meridian. "We'll get on the floor and see what happens. "They've got two kids that are 5-foot-4 and two that are 5-10. They missed a bunch of free throws in the end of a regional game, or they could have won their tournament also."

Coeur d'Alene beat Lewiston in the state championship game two seasons ago, but lost to the Bengals in last year's final.

“This team plays as a group,” Poffenroth said. “It doesn’t matter who scores for us. We don’t have a player that scores in double figures. When they buy into our defense — it works.”

“It’s so fun to be a part of a team like this,” Coeur d’Alene junior Caelyn Orlandi said. “Every game is a different player stepping up. That’s what makes us a great team.”

4A: Moscow (11-10) earned the region’s lone berth by beating Lakeland twice and faces Skyview (17-6) in the opening round at Timberline High in Boise. Middleton (23-0) is the defending champion.

3A: Timberlake, which finished second to Sugar-Salem last year, returns as the runner-up from District 1 and faces Salmon (13-8) in the opening round at Middleton High today.

Timberlake lost three-fifths of its starting five from last year’s tournament, with only Kara Wenstrom and Sydnie Malloy back.

“We’ve got so many people taking on new roles this year,” Timberlake coach Matt Miller said. “I knew we had some potential, but they’ve surpassed my expectations. At the beginning of the season, I was worried about scoring points — that’s why I stressed defense and we could get our offense from our defense.”

Wenstrom is averaging 14 points, 4.5 rebounds, three assists and three steals a game for Timberlake. Kelly Madsen is averaging 11 points, five rebounds, two assists and three steals. Madsen, who played as a freshman and sophomore, sat out last year.

Five other returners played in the championship game last year.

“I don’t think there’s a lot of pressure on us down there,” Miller said. “This year, we should be able to go down and have fun and play hard, because I don’t think anyone, including us, expected us to get this far.”

Priest River (16-5) opens against Fruitland (16-7). Priest River beat Fruitland in the consolation championship game last year.

“The first game is the most important game,” Priest River coach Gary Stewart said. “All our scouting and focus is on Game 1. Three days of playing is a marathon at state and the most talented does not always make it to Saturday — we know that from the last two years. I’ve never thought we were the most talented, but better prepared the last two years. We will emphasize each possession is no less important than another. First quarter free throws matter just as much as fourth quarter ones. Momentum, confidence, enthusiasm and a little luck all go into making it to Saturday.”

Last year’s champion Sugar-Salem was eliminated in district competition.

2A: Defending champion Grangeville failed to advance, losing to Kamiah (19-3) in the District 1-2 championship game.

1A Division I: Lapwai (14-9) is the defending champion and opens against Liberty Charter (22-0) at Columbia High.

1A Division II: Clark Fork (12-7) defeated Kootenai in the District 1 championship game and faces Dietrich (21-0) in the late game tonight at Nampa High.

IdahoSports.com will be video webcasting all games in all six divisions at the state girls basketball tournament. In past years, some of the smaller-school games were webcast in audio only.

Beginning today, the Press will be tweeting updates from the state girls basketball tournament. Follow us on Twitter at CdAPressSports.

Times PST

At the Idaho Center, Nampa

Thursday

Game 1 — Vallivue (16-7) vs. Lewiston (19-4), 12:15 p.m.

Game 2 — Highland (21-1) vs. Eagle (13-9), 2

Game 3 — Coeur d’Alene (18-2) vs. Meridian (15-8), 5:15

Game 4 — Centennial (18-5) vs. Rocky Mountain (16-9), 7

At Timberline High, Boise

Thursday

Game 1 — Wood River (13-9) vs. Century (11-13), 12:15 p.m.

Game 2 — Middleton (23-0) vs. Madison (15-11), 2

Game 3 — Moscow (11-10) vs. Skyview (17-6), 5:15

Game 4 — Rigby (20-4) vs. Bishop Kelly (20-4), 7

At Middleton High

Thursday

Game 1 — Salmon (13-8) vs. Timberlake (13-10), 12:15 p.m.

Game 2 — Weiser (18-4) vs. Snake River (17-5), 2

Game 3 — Filer (15-7) vs. Marsh Valley (22-0), 5:15

Game 4 — Priest River (16-5) vs. Fruitland (16-7), 7

At Kuna High, Kuna

Thursday

Game 1 — Melba (10-11) vs. North Fremont (19-6), 12:15 p.m.

Game 2 — Kamiah (19-3) vs. Malad (19-4), 2

Game 3 — Soda Springs (15-7) vs. Butte County (20-3), 5:15

Game 4 — Declo (20-5) vs. Nampa Christian (14-7), 7

1A Division I

At Columbia High, Nampa

Thursday

Game 1 — Liberty Charter (22-0) vs. Lapwai (14-9), 12:15 p.m.

Game 2 — Grace (14-7) vs. Troy (19-5), 2

Game 3 — Prairie (18-4) vs. Glenns Ferry (15-10), 5:15

Game 4 — Hagerman (18-7) vs. Notus (20-2), 7

1A Division II

At Nampa High

Thursday

Game 1 — Tri-Valley (14-6) vs. Carey (15-7), 12:15 p.m.

Game 2 — Summit Academy (17-6) vs. North Gem (9-14), 2

Game 3 — Mackay (13-7) vs. Richfield (17-7), 5:15

Game 4 — Clark Fork (12-7) vs. Dietrich (21-0), 7