Learning continues for Post Falls in Vegas
LAS VEGAS — So far, the education of the Post Falls High girls basketball team in the highest division of a high-level tournament this week consists of a narrow win, a close loss and a little blood, among other things.
On Thursday, Post Falls led briefly in the second half before losing to Liberty of Henderson, Nev., 49-41, in the quarterfinals in the Diamond bracket of the Tarkanian Classic at Durango High.
“It wasn’t one of our better games; I thought we made silly mistakes,” Post Falls coach Marc Allert said. “I thought in first half we played scared, intimidated. In the second half we played better. But that’s why we’re here, to play better competition and learn from that.”
Senior point guard Bayley Brennan of Post Falls (8-2) was injured on the opening tip — diving for a loose ball, she hit her head on the floor and suffered a cut above one of her eyes. She missed about half the first half, and Liberty led 24-13 at the break.
Post Falls switched to a zone defense and made a run, going up 31-29 in the second half.
“Then we had maybe five straight bad possessions, where we turned it over or took bad shots, and they took advantage of it; they went up 7,” Allert said.
Brennan scored all 14 of her points in the second half.
Melody Kempton was held to two points, but also had nine rebounds, five assists and four steals.
“They did a good job of not letting her get the ball,” Allert said. “But we didn’t do a good job of getting her the ball either.”
Guard London Pavlica led Liberty (7-0) with 19 points. Dre’una Edwards, a 6-2 post who turned down SEC schools to sign with Utah, added 14 points and “might be the best post I’ve seen play,” Allert said. Rae Burrell, a 6-2 guard headed to Tennessee, scored 11.
Post Falls plays tonight at 8 in the consolation bracket.
Late Wednesday, Post Falls trailed Maryknoll of Honolulu by one point with about 1 1/2 minutes left, when a foul was called on the Hawaii team. Its fans got into it with the officials, and when it was over, three fans were ejected and Maryknoll was assessed a technical foul.
Post Falls took the lead from the line. Maryknoll tied it late, then in the closing seconds, Brennan drove the ball up the floor and hit Kempton for a layup at the buzzer for a 49-47 win.
Brennan led Post Falls with 18 points. Kempton had 16 points and nine rebounds.
Post Falls 13 28 — 41
Liberty 24 25 — 49
POST FALLS — Gleaves 0, Morris 7, Gardiner 0, Brennan 14, T. McCliment-Call 8, J. McCliment-Call 6, Kempton 2, Parks 4.
LIBERTY — Burrell 11, Pavlica 19, Childress 2, Vasquez 1, Edwards 14.
LATE WEDNESDAY
Post Falls 21 21 7 — 49
Maryknoll 22 20 5 — 47
POST FALLS — Gleaves 0, Morris 1, Gardiner 3, Brennan 18, T. McCliment-Call 9, J. McCliment-Call 2, Kempton 16, Parks 0.
MARYKNOLL — Kamakaiwinio 16, Omori 10, Steitzel 4, Viena 2, Cravens 2, Notoa 6, Gilliand 4, Halleman 3.
Davis 45
Coeur d’Alene 27
YAKIMA, Wash. — Emily Minerath scored 10 points for the shorthanded Vikings in a loss to the Pirates.
Coeur d’Alene was without junior guard Halle Kane, who will miss the remainder of the season due to a torn ACL suffered in Tuesday’s loss at Northwest Christian, as well as another starter who was out of town for the holiday break.
“Most of the game today we had four freshmen and a junior on the court,” Coeur d’Alene assistant coach Nicole Symons said. “We’re young and going to take some hits right now, and our guards are seeing some pressure that they’re not used to at this level. They’re battling and working hard, but turning the ball over too much to be competitive. We’re just going to have to work with them each game.”
Coeur d’Alene (2-6) returns to action on Wednesday at the Jerry Callen Memorial Tournament in Jerome.
Drew Billups scored 11 points for Davis (4-5).
Coeur d’Alene 6 9 7 6 — 27
Davis 10 7 12 16 — 45
COEUR d’ALENE — Minerath 10, Brainard-Adams 7, Brennan 0, Chavez 6, Whiteman 0, Younker 2, Louden 2, Shanley 0, Breen 0.
DAVIS — Garcia 0, Bueno 6, Billups 11, Berman 6, Brown 7, Chavez 0, Alvarado 8, Rojas 4, Hoberg 3.
Timberlake 84
Priest River 16
SPIRIT LAKE — Brooke Jessen scored all 17 of her points in the first quarter as the Tigers rolled past the Spartans in the Intermountain League opener for both schools.
Kaylee Jezek also scored 17 points for Timberlake (8-2), which faces Cashmere (Wash.) in the West Valley tournament on Dec. 29 in Spokane.
Priest River is 1-8.
Priest River 4 0 5 7 — 16
Timberlake 27 25 20 12 — 84
PRIEST RIVER — Rusho 4, Brown 0, Fink 2, Fitzmorris 2, Archer 0, Jo. Martin 0, Minish 2, Ja. Martin 6.
TIMBERLAKE — Tonkin 9, Starr 10, Kelley 10, Kronenberg 5, Soumas 6, Bronson 0, Jessen 17, Bremer 2, Allen 2, Linehan 2, Jezek 17, Willis 4.