Kootenai out to erase memory of last year's first-round loss
<p>Kootenai High's Jake Pfeiffer goes up for a shot during a 1A tournament game against Mullan High held Monday, Feb. 18.</p>
Making their fourth straight trip to state, the Kootenai Warriors draw a familiar foe when they open vs. the Carey Panthers (15-9) in the first round of the state 1A Division II boys basketball tournament Thursday at 12:15 p.m. PST at Caldwell High.
Kootenai fell to Carey 58-38 in last year's state opener. The Warriors then lost the next day and were eliminated.
"They handled us pretty good last year, and the returners, I'm sure they'll remember that," said Doug Napierala, in his first full season as Kootenai head coach. "The huge thing is going to be possessions and ball control."
Kootenai is led by the inside play of Jake Pfeiffer and Boone Benson, and the perimeter play of Ben Whipple.
Napierala said the Warriors have worked on improving their defense this season, as well as limiting turnovers.
"The biggest thing is, we have to put a complete game together -- we can't have those mental lapses in the middle of a game," Napierala said.
The Warriors have worked hard to develop an inside game featuring Pfeiffer, a 6-foot-3 junior.
"If we had to live and die on our 3-point shooting, we'd probably die," Napierala said. "Jake has learned how to finish well this year."
Kootenai last won a game at state in 2004.