Pfennigs shines as Post Falls finishes strong at Vegas tourney
LAS VEGAS — After four games in four days in a 16-team tournament featuring teams from all over the country — and playing in the toughest bracket of the tournament — coach Mike McLean and his Post Falls High boys basketball team were understandably tired Saturday night.
But it was a journey well worth it.
Post Falls routed Chino Hills (Calif.) 80-59 in its final game on Saturday at Bishop Gorman High, and finished 2-2 in the Platinum Division.
“It’s been a challenging four days,” McLean said. “I’ve been doing this for 11 years, and I’ve never seen a team grow more in a four-day stretch than these guys. As far as rising to the occasion, blasting through a glass ceiling or parameters people might place on a team from Idaho, it’s been very special to watch the growth of our guys.”
On Saturday, Jake Pfennigs totaled 33 points and 10 rebounds to lead Post Falls (4-3). Pfennigs was named to the all-tournament team.
“I’ve never seen Jake play any better,” McLean said. “I get asked a lot if he’s the best player we’ve ever had. I don’t know about that, but we haven’t had anybody better.”
McLean said Pfennigs held his own in the first game Wednesday against Isaiah Mobley of Rancho Christian (Calif.), a 6-9 junior getting looks from Pac-12 schools.
On Saturday, McLean said Pfennigs outplayed Onyeka Okongwu, a 6-9 junior also being heavily recruited.
“I’ve never seen a player in a Post Falls uniform have a better stretch,” he said.
Tanner McCliment-Call, whom McLean thought was deserving of all-tournament consideration, added 24 points, seven rebounds and four assists for Post Falls. Colby Gennett had 10 points and six assists.
Okongwu led Chino Hills with 23 points.
“Our kids represented our high school well, our program well,” McLean said. “They were no longer referred to as being from Iowa; they knew we were from Idaho.
“The question we were asked, over and over again from big-time AAU and college coaches, ‘Where do you get these kids?’” he said. “These are kids from Post Falls, Idaho. They were so impressed with our team defense, our teamwork, our passing. It’s a whole different thing down here — the speed, the athleticism, the ability to go from one end of the court to the other. It challenged us, and we adjusted. We came out 2-2 and I feel we are headed in the right direction.”
McLean said the games were contrasts in styles. The other teams played iso ball, with little regard for defense. Post Falls hung its hat on execution, screening, defense, rebounding.
“Being fundamentally sound — that wins,” he said.
McLean said the biggest adjustments his players faced were dealing with the athleticism of the other teams, and the physicality of the play.
“It was reffed like a big-time college game,” he said. “It’s reffed incredibly physical. They let ’em play. It forces you to be stronger with the ball.”
Post Falls returns to action with three games in three days at the Lake City Holiday Classic, starting Wednesday.
Chino Hills 21 38 — 59
Post Falls 32 48 — 80
CHINO HILLS —Pluma 5, Ball 9, Williams 2, Davis 5, Okongwu 23, Burke 0, Ujadughele 15.
POST FALLS — Gennett 10, Thompson 6, Buer 0, McCliment-Call 24, Walker 0, Bourgard 1, Ballew 0, Pfennigs 33, Morris 0, Desjarlais 6.
Lakeside vs.
Inchelium
WELLPINIT, Wash. — No report was received from the consolation game of the Wellpinit tournament.