Sleepy Saturdays, and trophies
On Saturday mornings this time of year, while most of us are still wiping the sleep from our eyes, the difference between bringing home a trophy and not is being determined in similarly sleepy gymnasiums scattered throughout southwestern Idaho.
District 1 had five teams in such games at the state high school girls basketball tournaments, where hardware went to the winners and a pat on the back went to the losers. Two of them came home with trophies — Post Falls (third in 5A) and Genesis Prep (third in 1A Division II).
Three did not — Lake City (lost in 5A consolation title game), Priest River (lost in 3A consolation title game) and St. Maries (lost in 2A third-place game).
It is one of the cruel realities of sports — one moment you can be on the verge of playing for a state title, and hours later, you could be on a long bus ride home, empty handed.
All told, eight District 1 teams qualified for state, and two of them — Sandpoint (4A) and Lakeside (1A Division II) went two and out.
If we were to join the trend of “way too early” preseason polls for the following year, Post Falls, with everyone returning next year, would likely be the preseason No. 1 pick in 5A.
The lone area team that entered Saturday guaranteed of a trophy was Timberlake, which destroyed its first two foes at the state 3A tourney. The top-ranked Tigers bludgeoned second-ranked Teton by 51 points and punished Parma by 37 in a semifinal game that wasn’t that close.
All that was left was the coronation — though it came much tougher than many anticipated, in a 60-57 victory over Sugar-Salem.
But, years from now, all that will be remembered is that in 2017, Timberlake repeated as state champs.
MUCH WAS expected of Lewiston’s boys basketball team, coming off a 5A Region 1 title last year, a trip to state for the first time since 2009, and most of its key players back.
But injuries, etc., slowed the Bengals during an 11-8 regular season this year.
Then, Lewiston showed on Friday what it can do when whole, rolling past a good Coeur d’Alene team 74-53 in the first round of the regional tournament.
Lewiston plays at third-ranked Post Falls on Tuesday for the regional title and a berth to state.
Post Falls swept the Bengals in 5A Inland Empire League play, winning by two in Lewiston and by 14 at home.
Post Falls boys basketball coach Mike McLean — erroneously listed as the Trojans’ girls coach in the state basketball program — isn’t taking anything for granted. He was unhappy with his team’s defense for three of the quarters of its 63-48 win over Lake City in the first round, and said that will be addressed prior to Tuesday.
“Lewiston is one of the beat teams in the state, regardless of record,” McLean said. “They have every piece you need to get to Saturday night (at state).”
Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter@CdAPressSports.