Brennan, Tyler McCliment-Call lead Trojans at Tark tourney

LAS VEGAS — In their final game at the Tarkanian Classic, the Post Falls Trojans faced a challenge that could arise later in the season, in their quest for a state title — playing without their top player, Melody Kempton.

The Gonzaga-bound Kempton, coming off a 31-point, 14-rebound showing the previous night, came down sick on Saturday morning and sat out the first half of Post Falls’ game vs. Olinda of Brea, Calif.

She played much of the second half, and finished with four points.

But senior point guard Bayley Brennan and sophomore guard Tyler McCliment-Call stepped up to lead the Trojans to a 49-45 victory over the Wildcats at Durango High.

Post Falls (10-2) finished 3-1 in the 16-team Diamond division, the top division of the tourney. The Trojans’ only loss came by eight points to eventual champion Liberty of Henderson, Nev., in the quarterfinals.

“I don’t think we played our best basketball down here, but we learned about ourselves down here, things to work on,” Post Falls coach Marc Allert said. “We have to play closer attention to details, and we have to be stronger with the ball.”

Brennan scored a game-high 21 points, hitting 9 of 10 from the field.

“Offensively I thought she played well,” Allert said. “Even when she’s not scoring, she gets us into our stuff.”

McCliment-Call added 14 points and 11 rebounds.

“Tyler just did her usual thing, a little bit of everything,” Allert said. “She scores for us, she rebounds, she’s our backup point guard. She gives us that third scorer.”

Kempton, Brennan and McCliment-Call were all named to the all-tournament team.

“It was good for us to play without her (Kempton), Allert said. “All of the stuff we do runs through her — more defensively than offensively. The layups that they got when she wasn’t in there, when she was in there she blocked some shots. Us being able to not have to rely on her to get points and stops, that helped a lot.”

Stephanie Lee led Olinda (7-2) with 13 points.

“The kids are bigger and longer and quicker than we see a lot of times (in Idaho),” Allert said. “The game was more physical down here,” more physical than at state.

Liberty defeated Valor Christian of Highlands Ranch, Colo., 62-54 in the title game.

Post Falls plays host to Mt. Spokane on Friday.

Olinda 25 20 — 45

Post Falls 31 18 — 49

OLINDA — Johnson 2, Jarrett 2, Fust 11, Lee 13, Rachal 8, Price 9.

POST FALLS — Gleaves 0, Morris 4, Gardiner 0, Brennan 21, T. McCliment-Call 14, J. McCliment-Call 3, Kempton 4, Parks 3.

Inchelium 45

Lakeside 35

WELLPINIT, Wash. — The Knights dropped to 8-5 with the loss in the consolation game at the Wellpinit tournament.

Lakeside is scheduled to return to action Jan. 3 at home vs. Wallace.

No other information was available.