The Front Row with JASON ELLIOTT Jan. 11, 2012

Late last week, a college basketball coach was fired after it was discovered that the opposing team had six players on the court in the final moments of a loss.

And had that been the craziest thing I saw on a basketball court in the last five days, then I'd wonder how that could happen.

Then it just got nuttier from there.

ON FRIDAY night at Coeur d'Alene High, I had the chance for the first time to witness the annual "Fight for the Fish" between Lake City and Coeur d'Alene.

At first, I wasn't sure what to expect.

Two weeks ago, both boys and girls teams had faced off in the Coeur d'Alene Inn-vitational, with the Vikings winning both matchups, but this time was a little different.

Both boys and girls games were within the 5A Inland Empire League, and with only six per year, they become important since the league champion gets to host throughout the regional tournament.

Throw in about 1,800 fans screaming and jumping up and down, and you've got a good idea of how the game was about to be played.

Very carefully.

Players couldn't hear their coaches and a lot of the time, officials couldn't whistle a foul because the noise was so loud, you couldn't hear the person next to you at times.

To be fair, this was a spirit competition, with both crowds competing for a wooden fish - not your ordinary basketball game.

Coeur d'Alene won the basketball games, while Lake City won the Fish for the ninth time in 14 games.

When the Timberwolves had been announced as the winners of the Fish, they stormed the court - much like fans do in the college game when their school upsets a top-ranked team.

They'll meet again on Jan. 27 at Lake City in what could have a bigger impact on the IEL and regional standings.

AFTER FALLING behind early to rival Salt Lake Community College on Saturday afternoon, it didn’t appear that the 12th-ranked North Idaho Cardinal women’s basketball team had enough to get back into the game.

They did eventually, but it took a furious rally in which the Cardinals outscored the Bruins 38-25 in the second half and needing to steal the lead back three times in the final five minutes.

Free throws gave NIC the lead, before a technical foul on the Cardinals for the P.A. man playing music during live action swung momentum back to Salt Lake, which built a four-point lead. NIC rallied again and eventually took the lead on a 3-pointer with 40 seconds remaining.

With a chance to tie the game, a Salt Lake layup got stuck between the rim and the backboard, the possession arrow giving the ball back to NIC, which hit another free throw to close out the 62-59 win.

CHANCES ARE that this week won’t have the crazed fans screaming or the unintentional technical fouls, but who knows.

NIC hosts Southern Idaho on Saturday night — and anything can happen when those teams face off.

Especially at Rolly Williams Court.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at [email protected].