Post Falls, Coeur d'Alene to play for regional title
POST FALLS — One week after getting blown out by Post Falls by 30 points, the Lake City Timberwolves gave the Trojans all they could handle Friday night.
Post Falls jumped out to a 20-8 lead after one quarter, but Lake City made it a two-possession game in the fourth before the Trojans held on for a 61-52 victory in the first round of the 5A Region 1 boys basketball tournament at The Arena.
“Obviously we had a good start,” Post Falls coach Mike McLean said. “We were moving the ball well, we weren’t falling for traps, not taking quick shots or rushed shots.
“Lake City came out in the third quarter and were by far the more aggressive team. They knocked us back on our heels, but we were able to weather the storm. Lake City gave us all we could handle.”
Post Falls (17-5) will play host to Coeur d’Alene (12-9) in the regional championship game Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Coeur d’Alene defeated third-seeded Lewiston 55-37.
Lake City (11-11) will travel to Lewiston (9-12) on Tuesday in a loser-out game.
Tanner McCliment-Call hit three 3-pointers in the first quarter for Post Falls, and finished with 17 points. Colby Gennett hit 11 of 11 free throws, including 7 of 7 in the fourth quarter, and led the Trojans with 18 points. Jake Pfennigs had 11 points and 10 rebounds.
“Down the stretch, Colby Gennett played phenomenal,” McLean said. “And Casey Walker, in the third and fourth quarter, gave us great defensive energy.”
James Carlson led Lake City with 18 points.
Lake City 8 11 17 16 — 52
Post Falls 20 13 12 16 — 61
LAKE CITY — Schaffer 5, McCartin 11, Kolden 7, Sensel 0, Carlson 18, Manzardo 8, Kiesbuy 3, Pollow 0.
POST FALLS — Gennett 18, McCliment-Call 17, Walker 2, Bourgard 5, Fleming 4, Ballew 2, Pfennigs 11, Morris 2.
Coeur d’Alene 55
Lewiston 37
COEUR d’ALENE — Leading by just two points at halftime, the host Vikings outscored the Bengals 18-4 in the third quarter en route to the win in the first round of the 5A Region 1 tournament at Elmer Jordan Court.
No. 2 seed Coeur d’Alene (12-9) plays at No. 1 seed Post Falls (17-5) in the regional championship game Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
“That was really the challenge,” Coeur d’Alene coach Tony Hanna said of his halftime message. “Lets see if we can get some transition buckets by playing good, hard defense. I thought our defense in the second half was as good as it’s been all year.”
Drew Hostetter hit two 3-pointers in the third quarter for the Vikings, and Sam Matheson also scored six points in the third quarter.
Matheson finished with 14 points, Kale Edwards 13 for Coeur d’Alene.
Kyle VanBoeyen scored 11 points for Lewiston, which jumped out to a 16-12 lead after one quarter.
Lewiston (9-12) plays host to Lake City (11-11) on Tuesday in a loser-out game.
Lewiston 16 9 4 8 — 37
Coeur d’Alene 12 15 18 10 — 55
LEWISTON — McKenzie 3, Chapman 3, Wallace 0, Grainger 0, Ruddell 5, Spencer 5, Santana 6, Bradley 2, Forsman 2, VanBoeyen 11.
COEUR d’ALENE — Kile 0, Delbridge 0, Leifer 0, Whittaker 6, Matheson 14, Friesz 5, Beggerly 7, Hostetter 8, Johnson 2, Dunteman 0, Bloom 0, Edwards 13.