One down, a couple more worth seeing

Now that the state soccer tournament is done and over, it’s on to the end of the road for volleyball and cross country this weekend.

We’ll get to that eventually.

A FEW teams left the Boise area with a sour taste in their mouths after coming up short in the final matches of the season.

Then again, if you’re not the one winning the late games, chances are you’re not satisfied with how things finished anyway.

In the case of Coeur d’Alene, which finished 0-2 in the tournament after an opening round loss to eventual 5A boys champion Borah, it might have been considered another step toward building toward next year.

“We’ll lose six seniors, but have 12 back that’s the main core of the team,” said Coeur d’Alene coach Jeff Lake, whose team played in the state title game last year. “We’re going to have to replace (senior goalkeeper) Shawn McKeeken, which will be a big task. But we’re really looking forward to next year. We’re going to keep developing and be one of the top teams in North Idaho again, no doubt.”

It’s hard to argue with that kind of logic when Post Falls — a team that missed the tournament altogether in 2016 — fought back to finish second last weekend.

Lake City went 1-2 at the 5A girls tournament, coming up short to eventual champion Centennial.

All three of its matches were played on artificial turf, something that sped up the pace of play, compared to matches on natural grass played up here.

“It definitely benefited a player for Centennial,” Lake City coach Matt Ruchti said, referring to Makayla Christensen, who scored two goals in a 4-1 Patriot victory in the semifinals. “She had a hand in three different moments during the match and was a handful today.”

No excuses though, as everyone played on that same surface, with the same ball and same conditions. Really makes you wonder if they had some turf fields in this area just how the 2016 tournaments might have turned out after fighting through the rain and mud puddles, doesn’t it?

Chances are, these teams will be back at state in 2018, because that’s what good programs do.

THE GOOD thing about this weekend’s state volleyball tournaments could be that if you’re a fan, you won’t have to travel all that far.

Two tournaments, the 5A at Coeur d’Alene High and 3A at Lake City High, will be played right here in town. The 4A tournament will be played at Post Falls High and 2A will be played at Lakeland High in Rathdrum.

For those 1A Division I and 1A Division II teams, you’ll have to jump in the car and travel to Lewiston.

Which isn’t so bad if you’re heading that way.

I’ve seen it work out really good in the past.

Just don’t ask them to cut the nets down after the match.

They’re not going to let them do that.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at (208) 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @JECdAPress.