THE FRONT ROW WITH MARK NELKE: Feb. 20, 2014

Who knows how long this will go on, with the current team starting five seniors, and its coach at an age where retirement is a possibility each year?

While its main challengers have come and gone, the Coeur d'Alene High girls basketball team has put together a remarkably consistent run over the past decade.

Who would have guessed that the Vikings' fourth-place finish at state in 2005 - Dale Poffenroth's first season as coach - would be its lowest finish during this run?

Since then, Coeur d'Alene has played in seven of the last eight state 5A championship games - and could make it eight title game appearances in nine years with victories today and Friday.

The Vikings won state titles in 2008, '09 and 10, and were runners-up in 2006, '07, '11 and '13.

In 2012, Coeur d'Alene lost in the semis and eventually finished third.

In 5A, teams play exclusively at the Idaho Center, unless they lose once along the way, and end up playing for a third-place or consolation trophy. Out of a possible 27 games the Vikings could have played at the Idaho Center over the last nine years, Coeur d'Alene has played 25 - along with two others at nearby high school gyms.

This year's Viking team lacks depth, but has a talented starting five capable of playing three more games at what is now dubbed the Ford Idaho Center.

And, chances are, if the Vikings make it to the title game, their opponent will also be from the 5A Inland Empire League. A team from this league has won the state title each of the past eight years, and in four of them, the losing team was also from the 5A IEL.

And of the last seven state champs, all four 5A IEL teams have won at least one.

In 2005, while Coeur d'Alene beat Highland of Pocatello for the consolation title - Boise defeated Borah in the title game.

Boise was the District 3 runner-up this year, but Borah has fallen off the map at state in recent years. Twin Falls, which placed third, is now in 4A.

Centennial beat Coeur d'Alene for the 2006 state title. Centennial, coached these days by former Lake City High star Cassie Bro, didn't make it to state this year. Emery Roy, longtime Centennial coach, moved on to Rocky Mountain last year, and has his team again at state this year.

Lake City beat Coeur d'Alene for the 2007 state title. Lake City has been back to state just once in six years since then, but mostly because the Timberwolves haven't been able to get past Coeur d'Alene and Lewiston - and, last year, Post Falls.

Coeur d'Alene beat Vallivue for the 2008 state title. Vallivue hasn't been back to state since 2009.

Coeur d'Alene beat Centennial in the '09 title game.

When Coeur d'Alene beat Lewiston in the 2010 title game, it was Lewiston's first trip to state since 1989. Lewiston beat Coeur d'Alene in the 2011 title game, and beat Centennial for the 2012 crown. Post Falls beat Coeur d'Alene in last year's title game.

MEANWHILE, CLOSER to home, the 5A Region 1 boys basketball tournament tips off Friday, with No. 1 seed Coeur d'Alene (16-3) playing host to No. 4 Lewiston (5-14), and No. 2 seed Lake City (15-5) at home vs. No. 3 Post Falls (13-7).

Both are scheduled for 7 p.m.

The top two teams advance to state March 6-8 at the Idaho Center in Nampa.

One thing is for sure - one good team is going to be kept home.

Last year, Lake City won the 5A Inland Empire League and the Region 1 tournament. Post Falls, fourth in the four-team league, swooped in and grabbed the second berth to state, eliminating Coeur d'Alene, which tied for second, along the way.

No one expects Lewiston to do the same this year as Post Falls did last year, but it wouldn't be a surprise if any combination of two of the other three teams made it to state.

Coeur d'Alene and Lake City split their two league games, each winning on the other's court. Lake City edged Post Falls at home, then was routed at Post Falls. Coeur d'Alene beat Post Falls twice, by a total of seven points.

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.