5A IEL boys basketball race heats up

A couple of key matchups in 5A Inland Empire League boys basketball take place on Tuesday.

Second-place Lewiston (9-7, 2-1 5A IEL) travels to Coeur d’Alene (13-4, 2-2), and Lake City (5-11, 0-4) visits league-leading Post Falls (12-5, 3-0), both at 7 p.m.

In the first go-round, Lewiston beat Coeur d’Alene by 24 points at home, and Post Falls won by 14 at Lake City.

On Saturday, Post Falls travels to Coeur d’Alene, and Lake City is home vs. Lewiston. The first time around, Post Falls held off a Viking comeback in the second half for a one-point victory at home. Post Falls could wrap up the league title with a couple of victories this week.

On Thursday, Post Falls travels to Coeur d’Alene for a wrestling dual.

On Friday, the 5A Region 1 girls basketball tourney begins, with top-seeded Lake City (17-4) hosting No. 4 Coeur d’Alene (8-13), and No. 2 Post Falls (12-9) home vs. No. 3 Lewiston (14-6).

St. Maries and Coeur d’Alene Charter begin play Saturday at the 2A District 1-2 girls basketball tournament at Deary High.

On Saturday, the North Idaho College men’s and women’s basketball teams host rival College of Southern Idaho. The Cardinal men, ranked third in the NJCAA in the most recent poll, are closing in on a Scenic West Athletic Conference title, leading by three games with five to play.

The 4A Region 1 girls basketball tournament and the 3A District 1 girls tourney each start next Monday at North Idaho College.