THE FRONT ROW WITH MARK NELKE: Thursday, March 26, 2015

Over the past seven seasons, only one other 5A team can match the success at state of the Post Falls High boys basketball team.

The Trojans just qualified for state for the seventh straight season. Over that span, Post Falls has won two state titles (2010 and '15), was runner-up once (2012), and brought home four trophies (for top-four finishes) from those seven trips.

Borah of Boise also played in the last seven state tourneys, also won two state titles (2012 and '13), was runner-up once (2014), and won four trophies.

Highland of Pocatello has made four trips to state over this seven-year span, all in the last four seasons, and earned trophies each time - including a runner-up finish to Post Falls earlier this month.

Rocky Mountain of Meridian has three trophies in four trips to state over the last six seasons.

In any event, Post Falls has been the most successful team from the 5A Inland Empire League at state over this seven-year span.

Lake City has been to state three times during this span, going two and out twice and placing third in 2014. Coeur d'Alene has made two trips over this span, with a best finish of third in 2011 (the Vikings were runners-up in 2008, the year before this seven-year stretch in question).

And Lewiston hasn't been back to state since winning the state title in 2009.

HOW HAVE the Trojans done it?

We asked Post Falls coach and alum Mike McLean, who just completed his eighth season, and guided the Trojans to state each of the past seven seasons.

What follows is a condensed version of his responses.

* On having a consistent rotation of 10-11 players, in an era where many coaches play no more than seven or eight:

"I thought I could play 10-11 guys after we concluded our summer schedule this past summer," McLean said.

"They are all 5A varsity quality basketball players," McLean continued. "We really work hard to develop all of our players within our program so that they all are the kind of players who will have the ability to be successful on the court when they reach the varsity level. Since I have taken over this program here at Post Falls, I would bet we do not have a winning record at the freshman level and maybe have a .500 winning percentage at the JV level.

"All of our players are expected to be able to defend their man full court for the entire game. I do not believe in players being limited to a position. I never want just a point guard, shooting guard, forward or center, etc. ... I want basketball players who can and will fulfill any role they are given.

"The final aspect that all of our varsity players must have is what I would call the Trojan mentality. The Trojan mentality is a player who is willing to sacrifice everything to help the program be successful. Effort is not rewarded, it is expected. They all must rebound, set screens, run the floor (even if they are tired), make the extra pass and, most importantly, never make excuses. We own everything we do. It is never anyone else's fault."

* On a perceived "us against the world" mentality in the program:

"In our program we believe and that you are either with us or against us," McLean said. "For whatever reason, being associated with Post Falls basketball makes you (players and coaches) a very polarizing person. Over the years, we have gained some very strong supporters who travel to our games and strongly support us each time we take the court. We are and will be very loyal to our group of supporters.

"But during the same time we have people who would never like to see Post Falls win. I completely understand that in sports people love rooting on the underdog and at the same time hope to see the favorite lose. As far as "no one respects us" goes, the only respect we are concerned about is if our actions on the court cause any disrespect for our program, school and the Post Falls community."

* On sickness running through the team at state, and not making any excuses for it:

"It all started Friday morning (before the semifinals)," McLean said. "We had three players throwing up and diarrhea was making a run through some of the guys. In fact, Friday, we had one starter come out late to warmups because of the combination of issues that were running through our team. On Saturday, we had a key contributor off our bench come to the arena late because he was very ill all day and could not make it to shootaround, and we wanted him to sleep as long as possible before the game.

"At the same time, we had four other guys who were battling some nasty sinus congestion/coughing issues on the trip down to state (on Wednesday) and through the tournament. I discussed the issue about us as a team not being at full strength in our last film session at the hotel Friday afternoon and in the locker room on Friday night before the game. I told our guys that I will coach as if we are all 100 percent, because we never make excuses. I also told them we will not talk about it again this week. If someone was unable to go, then the next guy would step in and we would be OK. This mentality all goes back to what this program demands - no excuses, and compete all of the time."

* As for McLean's other passion, raising and showing cattle - and missing the calving of some of his cows back in Post Falls because he was at state:

"My family (parents and sister) run cattle together," McLean said. "Usually we start calving the week after the state tournament, but because of a family wedding last summer out of town, our cows were bred a week earlier. I really enjoy teaching and coaching, but raising and showing cattle are my greatest passion.

"During the fall, spring and summer my wife and I and our three boys are either at a youth sporting event or on the road showing cattle with the boys. It is something we can do as a family and get the spend time together. I guess as a family we love to compete and test ourselves against quality competition (on the athletic field or in the show barn). My experience growing up on a farm and working with cattle has really helped me as a high school basketball coach."

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@CdAPressSports.