STATE 5A GIRLS: Cold shooting dooms Coeur d’Alene in loser-out game

Cold shooting dooms Coeur d’Alene in loss to Boise; Vikings finish 0-2 at state in first trip since 2014

NAMPA — In building something, you’ve got to have a strong base to start with.

Coeur d’Alene has that in its girls basketball team, graduating only one senior from this year’s team.

“We talked to them about building that foundation and this being the cornerstone and understanding that they took a losing program and completely turned it around,” first-year Coeur d’Alene coach Nicole Symons said. “That’s a huge jump that most teams don’t make in a year. They’ve got to understand from here how much further we’ve got to go to be at the level of these teams down here. It was a good experience and I think they’ve learned a lot about each other.”

As for Friday’s result, Peyton McFarland, a 6-foot-4 post who has signed with Utah, scored 15 of her team-high 16 points in the first half as the Boise Brave eliminated Coeur d’Alene 63-41 in a state 5A tournament game at the Ford Idaho Center.

Boise shot 20 of 45 from the field, while Coeur d’Alene went 10 of 48.

“Boise shot the ball well,” Symons said. “As a coach, I probably should have looked at things and went to the zone a little earlier. I was expecting Madi (Symons) as a freshman to defend that senior post and she had 15 points at the half, so we went to the zone, but they shot the ball well. But they’re well-coached, and she does a good job with them. You can tell they’ve played in that system for a while, and that’s our goal.”

Madi Symons, the coach’s daughter, scored 21 points, going 11 of 19 from the free-throw line for Coeur d’Alene.

“I’ve played in big games and big stages before,” Madi Symons said. “But this is totally different. It’s better and bigger competition, and I’ve never played against D-1 athletes that are more physical. It was a good experience because it showed that I’ve got to get in the gym and work harder and be more physical.”

Madi Symons also had six rebounds and got to the foul line 12 times in the second half.

“I just tried to stay aggressive and be the player I am, no matter what the platform is,” she said.

“She plays a lot older than she is,” said Nicole of Madi. “She works hard, has goals and looks to the future. But you really can’t coach competitive spirit and I think she has that, and that has helped other girls in the program. It doesn’t matter who we’re playing, we should be able to compete. She does not want to lose, and we kind of needed that personality, and she’s been that piece to learn how that is.”

Coeur d’Alene finished 18-6 after not appearing at state since 2014.

“We acknowledged everything we’ve accomplished this year and patted ourselves on the back for that,” Nicole Symons said. “Now we’ve got to understand what we need to do to get back and compete at this level.”

It is the first time since 2002 the Vikings failed to win a game at state. This is the Vikings’ 11th trip to state since then.

“I told them I don’t ever want them to forget this feeling,” Nicole Symons said. “Because this will fuel you in the offseason. Be proud of yourself, but don’t forget this because you don’t ever want to feel like this again.”

Boise 16 20 12 15 — 63

Coeur d’Alene 6 13 9 13 — 41

BOISE — Ross 0, Shimatsu 0, Oakland 6, Cadwell 6, Arriola 2, Dyer 0, Williams 11, Nelson 4, Dingel 11, Banks 2, Gutierrez 3, Hallam 2, McFarland 16. Totals 20-45 21-27 63.

COEUR d’ALENE — Shebala 2, Matheson 2, Brainard 1, Whiteman 0, Symons 21, Younker 3, Chavez 0, Froehlich 3, Phenicie 0, Zanetti 1, Burke 8. Totals 10-48 18-33 41.