Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls to play for regional title
LEWISTON — In a span of seven days, the Coeur d’Alene Vikings performed quite the turnaround.
One week after losing by 23 points on their home floor to Lewiston, the Vikings traveled to Lewiston and whipped the Bengals 81-69 in the first round of the 5A Region 1 boys basketball tournament Friday night at Booth Hall.
How do you explain that?
“That’s a good question,” Coeur d’Alene coach Tony Hanna said. “We were up 18 with a couple minutes to go (Friday). I felt like we were in control most of the game. We played really bad last week, and they played really well.”
Coeur d’Alene (13-6) travels to top-seeded Post Falls (16-6) on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in the championship game for a berth at state. Post Falls swept Coeur d’Alene in 5A Inland Empire League play, but the Vikings led for parts of both games.
Lewiston (9-12) will play host to fourth-seeded Lake City (3-16) on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in a loser-out game.
Last week, Lewiston made 10 of 21 3-pointers in a 70-47 rout at Cd’A. On Friday night, the Bengals made just 5 of 19. Meanwhile, Coeur d’Alene made 8 of 18 from behind the arc.
“We had to change our gameplan,” Hanna said. “We just made sure we got out on their shooters. Our goal was to make everything that they took tonight contested.”
Senior guard Gavin Margo came off the bench and led Coeur d’Alene with 16 points. He hit 3 of 4 3-pointers for the Viks, who also won at Lewiston during league play.
“He’s been a real nice spark for us,” Hanna said. “He plays both ends of the floor well; he’s just solid.”
Mayson Blakeley-Whittaker hit two 3s and added 14 points for Coeur d’Alene. Drew Hostetter scored 13 points, Devon Johnson 11.
Donaven Santana scored 14 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter for Lewiston.
Coeur d’Alene 23 17 17 24 — 81
Lewiston 18 14 10 27 — 69
COEUR d’ALENE — Blakeley-Whittaker 14, Johnson 11, Friesz 8, King 9, Hostetter 13, Margo 16, Meade 0, Linehan 1, Edwards 9.
LEWISTON — McKarcher 0, Kokernak 0, Lang 10, Johnson 3, Mullikin 2, Spencer 10, Santana 28, Forsman 10, Van Boeyen 6.
Post Falls 49
Lake City 35
POST FALLS — Caden McLean hit three 3-pointers and scored 13 points, and Colby Gennett added nine points and 12 rebounds as the top-seeded Trojans defeated the fourth-seeded Timberwolves in the first round of the 5A Region 1 tournament at The Arena.
“We were fortunate tonight to get a win,” Post Falls coach Mike McLean said. “This was as sloppy a game as we’ve played since probably before Christmas. Give Lake City credit; we fell for what they wanted us to do.”
McLean said two of Caden McLean’s three 3s came in the third quarter, when Lake City was making a run. Also, Terrell Mitchell scored all seven of his points in the third quarter for the Trojans (16-6).
Josh Stellflug and Jack Kiesbuy each scored nine points for Lake City (3-16).
McLean said Post Falls will have to play much better when it plays host to Coeur d’Alene (13-6) on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in the regional championship.
“We cannot play like we did tonight,” McLean said.
Lake City travels to Lewiston (9-12) on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in a loser-out game.
Lake City 9 7 15 4 — 35
Post Falls 18 8 17 6 — 49
LAKE CITY — Stellflug 9, Janke 4, Kiesbuy 9, Spellman 0, Irvin 8, Hanson 3, Sundstrom 2, Brum 0.
POST FALLS — Gennett 9, McLean 13, Hauser 2, C. Rutherford 0, Ballew 0, Shields 2, Desjarlais 10, Horning 6, J. Rutherford 0, Mitchell 7.