THE FRONT ROW WITH JASON ELLIOTT: Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Jordan Nilson's love of the game of basketball can be traced back to games in the driveway with his older brother.

And it's through that love that Nilson will be playing for a lot more than just his teammates when the state 1A Division II tournament tips off Thursday at Caldwell High.

NILSON, A 6-foot guard/forward, led the Lakeside High boys basketball team of Plummer/Worley back to the state tournament for the first time since the 2005-06 season, when the Knights finished sixth in a 16-team tournament.

On that team was his older brother, Tim Wolfe, who went on to play basketball at Salish Kootenai College and led the Bison to a national American Indian Higher Education Consortium championship in March of 2009.

Tim was shot and killed outside Mic-and-Mac's bar in Coeur d'Alene on May 9, 2009. He was 21 years old.

"He's one of my main motivations," Nilson said. "I remember each tip on basketball that he taught me. I wear his number (No. 30) in memory of him. Even at a young age, I can still remember him teaching me that stuff. He was kind of the main reason why I love the game of basketball, and love Lakeside. If he were here today, I'd think he'd say he was proud and wishes that me and him could play together again."

Lakeside (13-8), which returned two players with varsity experience - Nilson and Joseph Mitchell - advanced to the state 1A Division II tournament starting Thursday at 12:15 p.m. PST at Caldwell High, facing Dietrich (20-3) in the opening round.

"It's a great feeling," Nilson said of going to state. "Most people didn't think we'd do as good as we did this season. After our first game, it was a night and day thing with this team. It's crazy to think about."

"It's been quite the journey this year," said Lakeside coach Stacey Sonder, who also coached the team in its previous state appearance. "With only two kids back, how we got the rest of the team to buy in to everything was amazing. We had freshmen and sophomores that bought into the system and had three other seniors that just played JV. We've came so far with only a couple of role players that keep the momentum going for us."

TWO YEARS ago, athletics were in jeopardy of being cut at Lakeside, but thanks to the community raising funds, the school was able to keep its programs intact.

"It's been a little stressful with those cuts possible," Nilson said. "It's pretty crazy, but it just makes you work harder because I believe that sports may be cut someday. But it's a nice feeling they weren't."

Nilson admitted that he was considering transferring, but was glad that he stayed put.

"At a certain point, I didn't want to not play basketball because I love it with a passion," Nilson said. "I'm kind of glad that I didn't (transfer). I love Lakeside and thankful we've got other sports still to offer."

Nilson has also golfed for Lakeside, which started its program three years ago.

In his four years of high school basketball, Lakeside has had a different varsity head coach each year.

"Each coach had a different style," Nilson said. "They had a different look to the game and I think it helped me a lot. They fixed me to the player I am and the person I am today."

After dropping down from 1A Division I this year, Lakeland did not have to win a play-in game to get to state. This year, Lakeside advanced by beating Kootenai in the 1A Division II District 1 championship game.

"Coach Sonder doesn't quit on anything," Nilson said. "He's the type of guy that would fix a broken glass. He fixed a team that didn't think we'd be very good, and kept encouraging us to keep playing."

AS FAR as expectations for this week, Nilson just wants to take things one game at a time.

"I'd imagine that since we haven't been there in 10 years, I'd imagine that we'd be a little nervous," Nilson said. "We just need to play Lakeside basketball."

"Jordan just needs to be solid and be the person he is," Sonder said. "He just needs to keep doing what he's been doing to get us where we're going. He understands the game so well and knows how to get other people involved if things aren't working for him and gets others involved when things aren't working right. He's a phenomenal player and one of those athletes you don't get to coach often. He comes with talent and an ability to be an offensive or defensive general. If the kids are having a bad day on the court, he'll get them going."

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.