THE FRONT ROW WITH MARK NELKE: April 13, 2014

The coaches and the players say they enjoyed the combined 4A and 3A boys and girls state-qualifying basketball tournaments held in February at North Idaho College.

The administrators?

Loved it, too.

"The feedback I got from NIC is, we absolutely want to do this again - it's mutually beneficial," said Sandpoint High athletic director Kris Knowles, who played a big role in developing the idea.

THE IDEA was hatched one year ago, at an ADs meeting following last year's district and regional tournaments. Knowles suggested a neutral-site tournament to his fellow 4A Inland Empire League ADs, which included Lakeland's Trent Derrick.

"I looked at the revenue (from previous tournaments), and said, 'Let's look at something to generate some revenue and excitement,'" Knowles said. "Those guys (ADs) were in support, the coaches were in support, and I ran with it from there."

Knowles landed a title sponsor, Mountain West Bank, which donated the fee the leagues had to pay to rent NIC for the boys and girls tourneys. And though the 3As had their own tournament managers, Knowles essentially oversaw both tourneys.

"To me, it went back to when I was a player, and when I was coaching," said Knowles, who played at Coeur d'Alene High, and later coached at Lake City. "I always felt the north was at a disadvantage (at state), because we had no tournament atmosphere (at regionals)."

The 3A teams were already playing at a neutral site, so talking them into NIC was "a pretty easy sell," Knowles said.

"And frankly, for everybody, it helped attendance," he said. "We only charged $5 for all three games (in a night) - we didn't gouge the public. A lot of people watched all three games."

Adding the 5A teams was also discussed.

But, with the size of some of the crowds they draw for their regional title games, they need a bigger gym than NIC (though a few years ago, when Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene moved their boys regional title game to NIC because of a leaky roof at Coeur d'Alene High, that was one of the most festive atmospheres I've ever seen for a non-Fight for the Fish or non-Prairie Pig basketball game).

MOVING THE 3A and 4A tourney games to NIC proved to be a financial benefit for the leagues.

"I wouldn't call it a massive windfall, but we were on the plus side," Knowles said. "Just with limited games, we made more money."

While the 3As were still able to play a double-elimination tournament, the 4As had to switch from double-elimination to single-elimination.

"That was the tradeoff to play at NIC," Knowles said.

Right now, the 4As and 3As are looking at this format as a two-year arrangement. Knowles said the ADs from the 4A IEL and the (3A) Intermountain League will likely meet soon to discuss next year's tourneys.

The schools liked it because the games created a tournament atmosphere. NIC liked it because the event brought students, their parents, and fans on campus.

Sounds like a good thing to keep going.

"To me, the credit is to the kids, for creating a tournament environment," Knowles said.

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at mnelke@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter at CdAPressSports.