Prairie Pig, Phay's return highlight week

The annual Battle for the Prairie Pig spirit competition between Post Falls and Lakeland, an event which seemingly takes place earlier and earlier this year, is scheduled for Friday at Lakeland High’s Hawk Court in Rathdrum.

The girls game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., followed by the boys game around 7:30. Interspersed throughout are some of the finest spirit skits and pig calls you’ll ever see and hear.

The event, in its 20th year, has been largely dominated on the court by Post Falls.

The Trojan boys have won the last 14 Pig games, and the Trojan girls have won the last 10.

Spirit-wise, Lakeland has had the upper hand, winning the Pig 12 times to Post Falls’ seven. Post Falls won the Pig last December, after Lakeland had won the previous three in a row.

Also on Friday, Coeur d’Alene travels to St. Maries for a spirit competition of sorts. The inaugural “Pack the Gym” night, which includes a girls basketball game at 4 p.m., followed by a wrestling match and capped by a boys basketball game.

Former North Idaho College men’s basketball coach Jared Phay, now in his second season as head coach at rival College of Southern Idaho, returns to Coeur d’Alene on Saturday when CSI plays NIC in the Scenic West Athletic Conference opener at 7:30 p.m. Last year, in his first trip back to NIC, Phay guided CSI to an 80-72 victory over the Cardinals.

The NIC and CSI women square off at 5:30.

Earlier Saturday, NIC’s wrestling team plays host to Southwestern Oregon at noon and Clackamas at 1:30 p.m.

The night before, NIC wrestles Northwest College of Powell, Wyo., in the first of two meetings this year as part of the Battle for the Moose.

In prep wrestling, Coeur d’Alene and Lake City wrestle East Valley and Bonners Ferry tonight at 6 at Coeur d’Alene High.

Defending state 5A wrestling champion Post Falls makes its home debut Thursday vs. Lakeland.