5A IEL BOYS BASKETBALL: Big win in rematch for Vikings

COEUR d’ALENE — In a rematch of a game where the Lewiston Bengals’ bigs prevailed a little over a week ago, it was Joey Naccarato of the Coeur d’Alene Vikings that came up huge with 31 points Tuesday night.

And there were a few others who came up big in the second half as the Vikings took over control of the game in the third quarter and went on to beat the Bengals 60-56 in 5A Inland Empire League play at Elmer Jordan Court.

“For the most part, the boys started defending and rebounding,” Coeur d’Alene assistant coach John Naccarato said of the pivotal third quarter. “We got some key stops, and that really changed the momentum. We got some transition buckets and we attacked the rim hard. But it really came down to the defense and rebounding.”

Lewiston (9-8, 2-2 5A IEL) opened up a 36-28 lead midway through the third quarter before everything started to go the way of Coeur d’Alene (14-4, 3-2).

Naccarato scored five points in a 6-0 run.

Colton Richardson of Lewiston was called for an offensive foul, then whistled for a technical foul. Jakob Lynn sank the two technical free throws and Naccarato scored on the ensuing possession to complete the 10-0 run.

Lewiston responded with a 3-pointer in the final seconds by Riley Way (the Bengals finished each of the first three quarters with 3s in the waning seconds) for a 39-38 lead after three.

But back-to-back 3s by Brody Lundblad and Justin Kofmehl to open the fourth quarter shot Coeur d’Alene ahead 44-39, and the Vikings were never headed.

Defense did the trick.

“Justin Kofmehl played a great game defensively,” Naccarato said. “Jakob Lynn had a great defensive game — I could go on. Colson Yankoff gave us great minutes, Brody hit a great shot ... we just had different guys step up (in the second half). But I thought the play of JK and Jakob Lynn, the pressure they put on their guards, really made it difficult for Lewiston to get the ball down to their post players.”

Lundblad scored nine of his 11 points in the second half.

Braeden Wilson, a 6-5 sophomore, scored 17 points, and Trystan Bradley, a 6-7 junior, added 16 in the last meeting, but Naccarato was the big man on Tuesday night.

The 6-4 junior scored 17 of Coeur d’Alene’s 21 points in the first half, and continually challenged the Lewiston bigs on the drive.

Coeur d’Alene coach Kurt Lundblad was back on the bench after sitting out the last two games, after picking up three technical fouls in a loss at Lewiston on Jan. 22. He deferred postgame comments to his assistant coach.

“Joe’s Joe. He works just as hard in practice as he does in those games,” John Naccarato said of his son. “I’m proud of him, but you just come to expect it after a while.”

Way, a junior guard, led Lewiston with 19 points, and Wilson added 14.

Coeur d’Alene plays host to Post Falls on Saturday at 3 p.m.

Lewiston 15 10 14 17 — 56

Coeur d’Alene 14 7 17 22 — 60

LEWISTON — Stamper 2, Driskill 6, Ahlers 0, Wilson 14, Way 19, Clarke 7, Bradley 4, Richardson 4.

COEUR d’ALENE — Lee 0, Lundblad 11, Lynn 7, Matheson 2, Yankoff 3, Bronson 2, McElver 0, Naccarato 31, Kofmehl 4, Edwards 0.