Top local sports stories of 2017

In a year filled with great moments, here’s a selection of the best of the best from around the area.

Timberlake girls win second straight 3A title

Allison Kirby hit plenty of big shots in her stellar four-year basketball career at Timberlake High.

None, however, was bigger than the 3-pointer late in the state 3A championship game to help propel the Tigers past Sugar-Salem of Sugar City in February for a second straight state title.

“I didn’t even know what the score was,” Kirby said. “I just knew we were down a little bit, but when I looked up, I just said — ‘Oh, that put us up a little bit.’”

Kirby’s 3-pointer with 1:58 remaining gave the Tigers a 58-56 lead, one they didn’t surrender in a 60-57 win over Sugar-Salem in the title game at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa.

“I just took the shot because I was open,” Kirby said. “We’ve been taught to make the reads and take the shot if you’re open. And the play was for me to shoot it, so I did.”

Kirby, who has signed with Idaho, finished with a game-high 27 points, and also grabbed four steals.

“I didn’t really look at the stats, but a win is a win,” Kirby said.

“She’s a heck of a player,” Sugar-Salem coach Crystal Dayley said. “I’ve watched her for the last three days, and I’ve seen her do things that a high school girl can’t do. She’s a phenomenal basketball player and hurt us big time.”

Timberlake (23-2), which advanced to the title game for the fourth straight year and sixth time in seven years, beat Sugar-Salem for the first time in the championship game after losing the previous two matchups in 2011 and ’15.

“It’s a different team that we played two years ago, but we still wanted to go out and do what we do,” Kirby said. “If we do what we do, we knew we could get the job done.”

“We definitely didn’t want to lose,” said Timberlake senior Keelie Lawler, who has signed with NCAA Division II Western State Colorado. “We know what it’s like, and it’s not fun, so we wanted to go out with a bang. It’s been a great run, with great coaches, great teammates and a great community. I’ve been really blessed to be a part of this team.”

“I was really happy with how they battled through the adversity,” said Timberlake coach Matt Miller, who took over the Tigers program in the 2005-06 season. “We haven’t had anything close to this the entire state trip. Everything had been pretty easy and ran really well on both sides of the ball. It seemed like nothing went well tonight, but we stayed close enough, chipped away, and executed once we got the lead.

“We’re super excited, whether we win by three or 20,” Miller added. “I’m really happy with the result. Either way, I would have been really happy with the kids. They’ve put in so much time and effort for years and years. They had a great season, regardless of how that final two minutes goes.”

Genesis Prep boys win state 1A Division II title

It took just two years for the Genesis Prep Jaguars to reach the mountaintop in their division of high school boys basketball in Idaho.

The rest of the 1A Division II classification might as well get used to it.

Jonny Hillman scored 29 points and Stephane Manzi added 16 points and 14 rebounds as Genesis Prep toppled defending champion Dietrich 68-62 in the state title game in March at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa.

“It’s a dream come true,” said Hillman, a sophomore and a two-year starter. “We kept our heads focused; it was a three-step plan. We didn’t get ahead of ourselves; we focused on the game that was in front of us.”

Genesis Prep, a private Christian school in Post Falls which opened in 2006, played in the Mountain Christian League for years until joining the North Star League in 2015. The Jaguar boys are in their second season as an Idaho High School Activities Association-sanctioned program.

Genesis Prep (21-4) became the first North Star League team in 20 years to win a state title; Lakeside last did it in 1997.

“When everybody’s on the same page and you have love for one another, this is the result,” Genesis Prep coach Marsell Colbert said.

Hillman finished 10 of 16 from the field, including 4 of 7 from 3-point range.

“Jonny was huge this morning,” Colbert said. “He’s been waiting for this his whole life. His three older brothers (Zach, Matt and Michael, who all played at Post Falls) played in this arena, and he’s been here all three times, watching them play, and he wanted his opportunity. I’m not surprised he played the way he played today.”

When Hillman wasn’t affecting the game, the 6-foot-9 Manzi, from Rwanda, was. He was credited with two blocked shots but may have had a couple of more. Plus, there’s no line on the stat sheet for shots affected (SA). That total was at least a dozen as Dietrich shot 18 for 55 from the field, many of them improvised shots as Manzi was ready to reject them.

You’ve heard of the Discount Double Check. This was the Dietrich Double Clutch.

“I have to show my presence, especially protect the rim,” said Manzi, the team’s lone senior. “That’s what my teammates expect from me, to protect the rim and get rebounds.”

“Looks like they’ll be there for a while,” Dietrich (24-2) coach Wayne Dill said of Genesis Prep.

Coeur d’Alene High’s high-octane offense held in check by Highland in state 5A football title game

Coeur d’Alene had little trouble scoring in most of its games this season.

And when Coeur d’Alene High marched down the field with the second-half kickoff and scored to finally get on the board, it looked like just the spark the Viking offense needed.

But it wasn’t to be — not against this stingy Highland defense.

Coeur d’Alene turned the ball over four times, and stalled on several other drives, in a 14-8 loss to the Rams of Pocatello in the state 5A football championship game in November at Holt Arena in Pocatello.

“Offensively we had opportunities; I just don’t think we executed,” Coeur d’Alene senior tight end/linebacker Cole Ramseyer said. “Their defensive line caused us a lot of trouble. I don’t think we had our best offensive game, but that was one of the best defensive teams we played.”

Coeur d’Alene, which came in averaging 44.9 points per game and 500.4 yards of total offense, was held to 305 yards and its lowest point total in two years.

“We just knew we had to get a pass rush going,” said Tommy Togiai, Highland’s 6-foot-3, 300-pound U.S. Army All-American beast of a defensive tackle, who last week signed a letter of intent with Ohio State. “Our DBs did a helluva job tonight.”

Coeur d’Alene, in its first title game appearance since 2013, was seeking its fourth title in eight years, and sixth overall.

Highland, in its 18th trip to the state title game, won its state-record 11th state championship, and first since 2014.

Coeur d’Alene’s defense wasn’t too shabby either, holding Highland to 260 total yards — including only 75 yards in the second half, and four first downs.

But the Vikings couldn’t take advantage offensively, particularly against Highland’s pressure up front.

“It was the game we envisioned,” Coeur d’Alene coach Shawn Amos said. “What a display of two very good defenses. It was a complete slugfest. Very proud of our kids; kept battling, kept battling. Down 14 at the half, cut it to 6. There was no quit; that’s all you can ask for.”

Lake City softball settles for

second in 5A

No, the Lake City High softball team wasn’t thrilled with finishing second in the state 5A softball tournament, but the Timberwolves were satisfied.

After falling 9-4 in a semifinal game to Eagle on Sunday at Coeur d’Alene High, the Timberwolves fought back in the championship game against Eagle before coming up short in a 4-3 loss.

“I could not be more proud of the way these girls represented Lake City High,” third-year Lake City coach Jesse Lenz said. “They battled their tails off. I think we gave them (the Mustangs) all they wanted and a little more in that title game.”

The title was the third straight for Eagle (29-2), and eighth overall. Lake City (23-4) was bidding for its fourth state title, in its first title-game appearance since 2013.

Sophomore Ashley Kaufman struck out six in the title game for Lake City.

After Saturday’s schedule was rained out, the final four teams returned Sunday to finish up on a sunny, 78-degree day.

Lake City had its trip to state cut short by weather last year after going 1-1 on the first day, then seeing the losers bracket canceled. After Saturday’s games were washed out, the tournament was extended to a third day for second straight year.

“It’s seven innings, but it’s one pitch at a time,” Lenz said. “We learned last year, they had that burning feeling from last year. They felt that 14-hour bus ride that we had going 1-1. There was no closure for us last year. We got closure this year, but it’s not what we wanted to be. But dang, I couldn’t be more proud of these kids.”

Post Falls wrestlers come up short in bid for three-peat in 5A

Post Falls, aiming for its third straight team title, came up short to Columbia of Nampa 276.5-218 in the title race in February at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa.

“I think it’s a real testament to our program,” Post Falls coach Pete Reardon said. “All of us are disappointed that we didn’t get first. We’re still very proud of our kids, love our kids and have a lot of respect for the hard work they put into this. We’ll get back at it next year.”

Sophomore Ridge Lovett capped an unbeaten season with a 15-1 win over Derek Ramos of Hillcrest in the 113-pound final. Lovett beat Ramos by pin in the 98-pound final in 2016.

Lovett finished the season 34-0, but was quick to turn the focus to his team following the tournament.

“It’s a little bittersweet,” Lovett said. “We wrestled solid and things didn’t go our way as a team. We didn’t get the team title like we wanted. It’s nice to have an individual title, but I’d rather have the team title.”

Matt McLeod, who won at 120 in last year’s state tournament, added a second straight title, this time at 126.

Braxton Mason (fifth at 98 pounds), Brelane Huber (sixth at 98), Jordan Grimm (third at 113), A.J. De La Rosa (second at 120), Mathias De La Rosa (third at 132), Tyler Morris (sixth at 145), Micah McLeod (fourth at 160) and Brad Noesen (third at 220) round out the placers for Post Falls.

“It’s an honor to have so much success and be able to compete at this level,” Reardon said. “Each year, people outside of the program think once you get here, you can put it on cruise control. I was just as nervous this year as last year. Every year, it’s a grind and challenge to see just how good we can be. It’s an honor to be part of a program that can do that year in and year out.”

Casey Randles (182) of Coeur d’Alene won his third state title, and Alex Marshall (220) also won a state title for the Vikings.

Randles won two titles at the 4A level at Sandpoint before transferring to Coeur d’Alene just prior to his senior year.

After the match, Randles hugged his father — Coeur d’Alene principal Mike, who coached him at Sandpoint — after his final high school match before continuing his career at Wyoming next year.

Lake City senior Rusty Dan won a state title at 195. He was the first Timberwolf to win a state title in wrestling since 2002, and only the second in school history.

Lake City volleyball second at

state in 5A

They dug and they blocked and they dove and they swung, until they just couldn’t do it anymore.

In the end, playing three high-intensity matches pretty much back-to-back-to-back — along with a talented, young-but-seasoned opponent — eventually took its toll on the Lake City Timberwolves.

The defending state champion Bonneville Bees of Idaho Falls beat Lake City 25-17, 25-22, 25-17 in the semifinal in the morning, then came back a couple of hours later to defeat the Timberwolves 25-23, 23-25, 25-22, 25-14 in the championship match of the state 5A volleyball tournament at Coeur d’Alene High.

“I’m so tired,” said Lake City senior libero Ashley Reyes, who totaled 61 digs in three matches on Saturday — 29 in the title match alone. “It’s bittersweet, because we all wanted first place, but we’re still happy that we got the top two.”

Still, the runner-up showing marked the best finish ever at state for Lake City (31-3), which placed as high as third in 2003 and ’11. After entering state last year with high hopes and going out on the first day after three matches, the Timberwolves, with most of those players back, were determined to make up for it this year. The result was the program’s first appearance in the championship match.

Arlaina Stephenson finished with 41 kills on the day, Kaufman 38 for Lake City. Junior setter Klaire Mitchell totaled 112 assists, as well as numerous kills on dumps and second-ball hits. She also had 32 digs in the last two matches. senior Chloe Knudson had 36 digs in the last two matches.

“It’s not precisely how they saw it ending,” first-year Lake City coach Mike Summers said. “But second place, especially against a team like Bonneville, they can’t hold their heads low on that. They made ’em battle, they had to earn a lot of their points, and they really pushed them — at least the first couple of sets. The last one, we ran out of gas, based on the play schedule that we put ourselves in.”

Genesis Prep dealt setback by IHSAA

Genesis Prep Academy stated its case to the Idaho High School Activities Association in September to continue to allow F-1 (international) students to play on its teams during the postseason as well as the regular season.

The IHSAA’s response: Sorry, but no.

By a vote of 11-3, the IHSAA Board of Directors decided at a meeting at The Coeur d’Alene Resort that F1 students could play on high school teams during the regular season, but would not be allowed to play at the district and state tournaments.

The ruling is effective starting with the 2018-19 school year.

Genesis Prep, whose programs have become IHSAA sanctioned for only a few years, has had a handful of F-1 players on its teams in recent years. During the 2016-17 school year, its second year of being sanctioned in basketball, Genesis Prep won the state title in boys basketball, and placed third at state in girls basketball — both with at least one F1 player on the varsity.

“Genesis is very disappointed in today’s decision,” Genesis Prep principal Chris Finch said. “The IHSAA went on record today to exclude dozens of Idaho students from full participation in extracurricular activities. If the IHSAA was a bus, today we were told we could still ride that bus, but we would have to sit in the back. Right is right, wrong is wrong. Today’s decision was just wrong.”

Genesis Prep fields teams in volleyball, boys and girls basketball, and golf.

F-1 athletes differ from exchange students in that F-1s can play anywhere from 1-4 years at a high school, while exchange students are there for just one year.

Finch said kids from 17 countries have attended Genesis Prep over the last 5-6 years.

IHSAA board member Tim Perrigot admitted the current proposal was not the best solution, but it does allow F-1 athletes to play.

“I don’t think there’s a person in this room that doesn’t think it (using international students) creates an unfair advantage, because it does,” he said.

Conrad Underdahl, athletic director at Genesis Prep, said “it is an unfair advantage” using the international students, and proposed the IHSAA allow Genesis Prep to move up from 1A Division II, the smallest of the state’s six classifications, to 3A, the third-largest classification. Genesis Prep, with an enrollment of roughly 80 students in grades 9-12, would be in a division where the other schools’ enrollment is between 320 and 640 students.

“I think that more than (negates) the advantage of having some international students,” Underdahl said.

The IHSAA turned down that request.

Local golfers shine again

Among them:

Russell Grove, men’s and women’s golf coach at North Idaho College and former assistant pro, was named Player of the Year by the Pacific Northwest PGA. Grove won the Oregon Open Invitational and the PNW PGA Professional Championship. He also won the Inland Empire Chapter Championship. He was also the Inland Empire PGA Player of the Year.

Reid Hatley of Hayden Lake was named Men’s Mid-Amateur Player of the Year by the Pacific Northwest PGA for the third straight year. Among this year’s highlights was making it to the Round of 16 in the PNGA Men’s Amateur, playing against college players. He was the medalist for the U.S. Amateur qualifier, and had top-5 finishes in the Oregon Open Invitational, Pacific Northwest Men’s Mid-Amateur, Washington State Men’s Mid-Amateur and the Royal Oaks Invitational. Hatley was also selected as the Washington State Golf Association Men’s Mid-Amateur Player of the Year.

Derek Bayley, the former Lakeland High standout and now a senior at Washington State, was named amateur men’s Player of the Year by the Washington State Golf Association. Bayley had runner-up finishes in two of the region’s premier amateur championships. In the Washington State Amateur, he finished second for the second year in a row, and in the Pacific Northwest Men’s Amateur he made it to the final match before falling.

Local stars Litalien, Orlandi, Tackett, Stangel shine in college

Led by senior Caelyn Orlandi and junior Brittany Tackett of Coeur d’Alene High, and senior Brooke Litalien of Post Falls, the Lewis-Clark State women’s basketball scored its highest finish ever at the NAIA tournament.

The Warriors (35-1) finished second in the nation, losing to Oklahoma City in the championship game in Billings, Mont.

Orlandi, who set a school single-season assists record, graduated as the school’s all-team leader in assists. She was named an NAIA first-team All-American.

Casey Stangel, a senior softball standout at Washington, helped the Huskies qualify for the College World Series.

Stangel, a former Lake City High standout, and the Huskies went 2-2 at the College World Series, finishing the season 50-14. She led the team in walks with 41, finishing her career with 102, good for seventh all-time at Washington in career walks. She hit 11 home runs in her senior season.

After the season, Stangel participated in a summer internship through Major League Baseball at the Office of the Commissioner in New York City.

Then in the fall, Stangel studied in Vanderbilt University’s prestigious graduate school, where she’ll also be a graduate assistant for the Nashville school’s baseball program.

Cd’A Charter wins state girls soccer title, drops boys and girls basketball

Freshman Sarah Hines scored the game’s only goal in the 62nd minute, and Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy won its second straight state 3A girls soccer title, and third in four years, beating Shelley 1-0 in October at Middleton High.

“It was full-out effort and determination,” second-year Charter coach Stacy Smith said. “In each of the last two games, at least two or three players were committed to her (Hines). At halftime (Saturday) we pushed a few other players up in midfield to alleviate some of the pressure on her.”

Charter graduated eight senior starters from last year. Three freshmen started this year, and the other five new starters got minutes last year.

Coeur d’Alene Charter, which began its girls soccer program in 2012, has now made it to state five straight years. The Panthers were consolation champions in 2013, and have been in the state title game ever since.

Last spring, Coeur d’Alene Charter opted, for financial reasons, as well as competitive and other reasons, made the decision last spring to drop its boys and girls basketball programs.

“For years, we had difficulty fielding teams, being competitive, and paying the gym rental,” Coeur d’Alene Charter principal Dan Nicklay said. “We have no intentions of bringing basketball back.”

Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy started a boys basketball program in the 2003-04 season. In its fourth season, coach Brian Childs guided the Panthers to a 22-4 record and a third-place finish at the state 1A tournament.

That’s the only time the Charter boys ever went to state. In seven seasons under Childs, the Panthers posted records of .500 or better five times — and four of those years came after they moved up to the 2A Central Idaho League.

But since the start of the 2012-13 season, Charter had four coaches over the next five years. The Panthers opted to play as a junior varsity team in the 2014-15 season. The other three years, Charter was a combined 8-52, including a 4-14 showing last year, its first in the 3A Intermountain League.

Coeur d’Alene Charter started a girls basketball program in 2008-09, playing as a junior varsity program. They went varsity the following year, and fared much better, posting three winning seasons, but never qualified for state.