THE FRONT ROW WITH JASON ELLIOTT: Dec. 27, 2014

By now, most local fans know a little more about what kind of team they've got in either boys or girls basketball this season.

Now, it's time to see how the other half is.

Three tournaments running Monday through Wednesday in Coeur d'Alene.

Almost makes those jingling bells seem a pleasant change from the whistles and horns.

THE HOST Lake City boys basketball team opens its third annual invitational on Monday at 7 p.m., facing Kentridge High of Kent, Wash..

Kentridge returns one starter from last year's team that finished 25-3.

"We really enjoyed the hospitality and getting away from western Washington for a few days," Kentridge coach David Jamison said.

Bryce Schroeder, a 6-foot-2 guard for Vallivue of Caldwell, has verbally committed to the Coast Guard Academy. Vallivue opens against Lakeland (6-1), the top-ranked team in the most recent state 4A prep boys basketball media poll.

"We decided to come up to the tournament this year because we wanted to expose our guys to competition out of the Treasure Valley," Vallivue coach Scott Moore said. "This is the first time our schedule has allowed us to participate in any outside tournaments and we jumped on the opportunity to do so."

Vallivue enters the tournament 0-5.

"It's a great chance to play three good teams in three days, which is a great preparation for what the state tournament entails in March," Moore said. "I know Lake City does a great job of running this tournament and we're excited to be a part of it. We're hoping to simulate what it takes to compete on a high level for three consecutive days and give our guys the opportunity to see what that feels like."

Tahoma of Covington, Wash., faces Rocky Mountain of Meridian at 2 p.m., followed by Sandpoint taking on Columbia River of Vancouver, Wash., in the other opening round game at 3:30.

Semifinals are scheduled for 5:15 and 7 on Tuesday, with the championship game at 6 on Wednesday.

MEANWHILE NEAR the beach at North Idaho College, the annual Coeur d'Alene Inn-vitational will be played out at Christianson Gym.

Mountain View High of Meridian, a 5A school, takes on 1A Division I program Lapwai in the tournament opener on Monday at noon. That game will be followed by Post Falls taking on Georges P. Vanier Secondary School of Courtenay, British Columbia, at 2 p.m.

Mountain View (3-3) returns one player from last season.

"We're a pretty inexperienced team," Mountain View coach Jon Nettleton said. "The idea of playing non-Boise valley teams was good. I wanted to take a trip with my young team to help them grow as a team."

Coeur d'Alene opens the tournament against Ridgeview High of Redmond, Ore., on Monday at 5:30 p.m.

Ridgeview, in its third year of existence, is 7-1 entering the tournament.

"This tournament offers a number of opportunities," said Ridgeview coach Nathan Colvill, who coached the Redmond High girls team in the Inn-vitational in 2011. "This three-day format provides state tourney conditions having to play three games in three days on the road and develop depth and solidify roles for a tough league schedule."

Ridgeview's point guard George Mendazona verbaled to play baseball at Oregon State as a junior and Garret Albrecht, a 6-foot-8 junior, is gaining interest from college basketball programs.

"He's a very recruitable kid," Colvill said. "He's under the radar and hasn't played in the AAU circuit, so nobody has seen him play."

The championship game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

FOR THE first time, the Coeur d'Alene High girls will host the Coeur d'Alene Winter Classic tournament starting on Monday, a tourney also featuring North Idaho teams Lake City, Sandpoint, Post Falls, Lapwai and Grangeville.

Making the trip north will be Mountain View of Meridian, which faces Post Falls in the opening round at 2 p.m., preceded by a third meeting this season between Lake City and Sandpoint, set for noon.

Mountain View boasts junior point guard Destiny Slocum, who is averaging 27.9 points per game, and has verbaled to play at Washington starting in 2016.

Rocky Mountain - which lost in last year's state 5A tournament championship game to Coeur d'Alene - opens against 1A Division I power Lapwai at 5, followed by Coeur d'Alene against 2A Grangeville to round out the opening round at 7.

The Classic championship game is Wednesday at 4 p.m.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d'Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at JEPressSports.