The Front Row with MARK NELKE March 8, 2012
The really, really early favorite in next year's 5A Inland Empire League boys basketball race is the Lake City Timberwolves.
That's due in part because Lake City will return four starters from this year's 14-9 squad, and will lose just two seniors from its 11-man roster.
Also, Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene, the two teams that qualified for the state tournament in Nampa last weekend, both graduate all five starters.
Post Falls had seven seniors total on this year's 21-4 team that finished second at state, losing to Borah of Boise in the title game.
Coeur d'Alene loses six seniors from its 16-8 squad that had visions of joining Post Falls in the title game, but went two and out at state.
"I'm so proud of my seniors, they've left this program in better shape than they found it," a teary-eyed Post Falls coach Mike McLean said moments after his team's loss in the state title game. "I have no idea how we're going to replace this senior class."
THE CLASS included starters Marcus Colbert, Michael Hillman, Luke Thoreson, Seth Anderson and Taylor Valente, and reserves Scott Benner and Tyler Shelton. Most of them have been on the varsity the past two seasons. Last year, Post Falls was 21-5 and placed fourth at state.
"We're proud of our legacy; we wish it could have ended here on a win, but ... " Thoreson said after the title game. "This group of seniors is always going to be tight. We're always going to be teammates; we'll always be there for each other."
Colbert, who has signed to play at Montana State, has been on varsity all four years. He helped Post Falls to a 22-4 record and a state title two years ago. As a freshman, the Trojans finished 18-7 and took fifth at state.
McLean took over the Post Falls program in 2007, and in his five seasons at the helm, guided the Trojans to state the last four seasons.
ASKED WHAT he’ll remember most about his time at Post Falls, Thoreson replied, “the bond that I made with the guys, and especially the bond that I made with McLean. McLean’s been great; he’s had my back, no matter what it was. He’s pushed me. McLean’s been everything for the program. The reason why the program is where it’s at is because of McLean.
“We’re where we’re at because he develops his ballplayers, and every player on the team can play, and that’s his doing.”
Coeur d’Alene also loses all five starters, two of which, Deon Watson and Chad Chalich, were on varsity since their freshman seasons.
The other departing seniors are starters Joe Roletto, Ty Higbie and Devon Loy, and reserve Travis Tackett.
“We’ll be in the same boat like Post Falls,” ninth-year Coeur d’Alene coach Kent Leiss said. “Both teams will have five new starters. We’ll be very green. We do have a very good freshman class. It might be asking a lot for them to be a team that comes down to the state tournament, because we’ll probably have five or six sophomores on the team next year. ... But after that, I think we’ll be back to being pretty good.”
Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at CdAPressSports.