Post Falls holds on in thriller over Highland
NAMPA — The way Hallie Gennett saw it — the second game of the state 5A girls basketball tournament was a chance at redemption for losing in that same game at University High of Spokane last year.
This time, Gennett and the rest of her teammates will get a shot at what eluded her previous team — a state title.
Dani Failor had 15 points and 16 rebounds — her second straight double-double of the tournament — as the top-ranked Trojans held off the third-ranked Highland Rams of Pocatello 42-41 on Friday night at the Idaho Center.
“I’m so excited,” Gennett said. “Last year, we lost the second game at state (with U-High). I told myself I needed my redemption and said to myself we need to get this. I’m so pumped.”
Gennett hadn’t scored in the first three quarters, but scored all eight of her points in the fourth quarter — including a 3-pointer to put the Trojans up 40-36 with 1:54 remaining. Following a jumper by Highland’s Dylan Gonzalez, Gennett made two free throws with 38 seconds remaining to make it 42-38. Highland’s Maren Herud hit a 3-pointer with six seconds remaining to pull the Rams within 42-41.
“I was just glad I started to make my shots,” said Gennett, who finished 2 of 11 from the field for the game. “Every time I shot I said it was going in and kept that in mind — but it might have also been the adrenaline.”
Highland fouled Post Falls senior guard Brooke Litalien, who missed the front end of a 1-and-1 and Gennett was called for a foul with 2.8 seconds trying to force a jump ball with Dylan Gonzalez.
“I was telling them don’t foul, don’t foul,” Post Falls coach Marc Allert said. “And she was trying to make a play on the ball.”
Gonzalez missed the front end of her 1-on-1 and neither team was able to corral the ball as the clock ran out.
“It’s nice for the girls,” Allert said. “It’s really sweet and they’ve earned it. They’ve been focused on getting here all year and worked hard. They’ve earned this shot and this is where we expected to be. Last summer, that’s what we talked about. We knew we had a shot to get here and they’ve done it — they got themselves here.”
Post Falls (23-1) will face Region 1 rival Coeur d’Alene (21-5) in the championship game tonight at 7 p.m. PST. Coeur d’Alene advanced by beating Capital of Boise 55-39. Post Falls advances to the state championship game for the first time since 2003 — when the school took home the second of back-to-back titles at the 4A level.
This will be the fourth meeting this year between Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene — with Post Falls winning two of the first three games.
Failor’s 16 rebounds moved her total for the tournament to 33.
“Coach Allert told us before the game started that they’re going to make a run,” Failor said. “They’re going to get some momentum started and we need to be ready for it. We were expecting that — and it got really close and stressful at the end, but it was exciting.”
Dakota Gonzalez scored 14 points and Dylan Gonzalez six points for Highland (20-3) — which faces Capital in the third-place game today at Columbia High in Nampa.
“I thought it was a great, well-played defensive game,” Highland coach Tony Green said. “Both teams played great defensively and they’re probably the best team we’ve played defensively all year — and I think that’s a result of good coaching and players buying into what they’re telling them.”
The Gonzalez twins have signed to play basketball at Kansas next season and helped Highland force 15 Post Falls turnovers.
“I thought we played great defensively on them tonight,” Allert said. “Those are two of the best players in the nation and we did a great job to hold them to a combined 20 points. Obviously, we need to take better care of the ball than we have the last two games.”
Highland 7 7 11 16 — 41
Post Falls 7 12 13 10 — 42
HIGHLAND — Dy. Gonzalez 6, Da. Gonzalez 14, Bauer 0, Van Sickle 11, Yizar 2, Denny 0, Hancock 2, Herrud 6. Totals 16-55 4-7 41.
POST FALLS — Allert 0, Gonzales 0, King 3, Meehan 0, Smith 3, Litalien 12, Gennett 8, Runkle 0, Failor 15. Totals 13-41 9-14 42.