The Front Row with MARK NELKE May 31, 2012

I was thinking back to the year it was in local high school and North Idaho College sports.

We had teams that were "supposed" to win not win, and teams that not as much was expected of exceed those expectations. Mind you, this is not an all-inclusive list, just a few that came immediately to mind on a recent overcast morning.

COMING OFF its first state title in 25 years in 2010, the Coeur d'Alene High football team was a good pick to repeat last fall. The Vikings ended up rolling through a 12-0 season that was so ridiculously easy at times, it was hard to tell exactly how good they were. And they were really good.

They pretty much pummelled everybody on their schedule, and even the games that appeared close were hardly in doubt.

But sometimes the best team doesn't win. Only one play can make the difference between a state title and not.

What if, in 2010, the Vikings don't block that punt late in the state semifinal against Capital, and the Eagles hang on to win at Bronco Stadium in Boise?

What if, in last fall's first-round playoff victory over Mountain View of Meridian, a long run for a touchdown by the Mavericks is not called back by a holding penalty? The TD would have put Mountain up 14-0, and who knows how the Vikings react to that?

It just goes to show that when you win, those things go your way, whether you create the break, or are merely the recipient of one.

IN VOLLEYBALL, since the large-school classification split into 5A and 4A, no North Idaho team has won a state title in 5A. That nearly changed last fall, when Post Falls and Lake City both reached the semifinals.

Post Falls won its semi, while Lake City lost a heartbreaker to Idaho Falls, which went on to beat Post Falls in the championship match. Lake City came back to grab third place, giving the North an impressive 2-3 finish in 5A volleyball.

Under the old double-elimination format, which returns next fall after a two-year hiatus, who knows if Post Falls or Lake City could have avenged those losses later in the tournament, if given the chance.

LAST WINTER, Coeur d'Alene's girls emerged as the favorite to win the state 5A basketball title. Lewiston was the defending champ, but was missing a key player to illness.

But a potential rematch in the state title game was sidetracked when a Centennial player hit a go-ahead 3-pointer against the Vikings in the final minute. That left Coeur d'Alene fans probably punching up Mapquest on their smart phones, trying to figure out how to get to the site of their third-place game.

After all, for six straight years, Coeur d’Alene had played every single state tournament game at the Idaho Center in Nampa — perhaps an even more impressive feat than the Viks’ three state titles during that stretch.

If the Centennial shot clanks off the rim and the Vikings rebound and hold on, who knows what happens the next night vs. Lewiston?

POST FALLS hoped to bring home the first state wrestling title in school history, but came up a little short, finishing second to Lewiston in 5A.

Still, the Trojans had a lot to be proud of, putting eight wrestlers in the finals and watching four of them win state titles.

The North Idaho College women’s basketball team lost nearly its entire roster from its NJCAA championship team of 2011. But the Cardinals won the Scenic West Athletic Conference this year, and had their eyes set on a return trip to nationals before stumbling in a semifinal loss to Salt Lake Community College in the Region 18 tournament.

IN THE spring, Lake City’s softball team was the closest thing to a “sure thing” to repeat as state 5A champs, with most of their key players back from an undefeated season.

The Timberwolves had beaten Coeur d’Alene 10 straight times when the city rivals met for the state title. But the Vikings upset Lake City in the title game, handing the T-Wolves only their second loss of the season.

Coeur d’Alene’s baseball team emerged as a state title contender, heading into state on a 22-game winning streak after dropping its first two games to Boise-area power Rocky Mountain of Meridian. But the Vikings were beaten in the first round at state by Mountain View for the second straight year. However, Coeur d’Alene bounced back to win the consolation (fourth-place) title, bringing home a trophy from state for the third straight year — no small feat in itself.

So cherish the victories and the state titles, because they are certainly not a given — no matter how much a team “deserves” to win them.

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.