THE FRONT ROW WITH JASON ELLIOTT: New tests, both on and off the court

The goal for high school teams at this point in the season is to get better, whether that be on the basketball court or wrestling mats, right?

Sometimes, that requires beating up on themselves, with a handful of games played close to home.

Sure, area girls basketball teams are getting their fill of home cooking this week, but it comes at the expense of some teams that they normally won’t see until it matters the most.

IN CASE you’ve missed it, 5A Inland Empire League schools Coeur d’Alene, Lake City and Post Falls are playing host to 5A Southern Idaho Conference schools Meridian, Eagle and Rocky Mountain this weekend, with the games concluding today at 1 p.m.

For some, it could be a preview of a possible state tournament matchup, whether it be an opening-round game or a play-in scenario come February.

Post Falls stretched a 36-32 advantage into a 63-45 win over Meridian on Thursday night.

“It was two evenly matched teams,” Post Falls coach Marc Allert said. “They’re really physical, which is good for us to see. They brought that Southern Idaho physical play that we don’t normally see until the state tournament. It helped us get better, which is what these games are all about. We had a long time to practice, and now we’re having to make adjustments on the fly, much like we’ll have to do if we get to state. I really like that our girls were able to do that.”

Post Falls and Meridian haven’t played each other at state in the last two years.

“We knew next to nothing about them,” Allert said. “At this point in the season, we’re more about ourselves and how we’re going to play than them. Our kids made the adjustments they needed to and did a good job of that.”

Coeur d’Alene held off Rocky Mountain 58-54 in a game at Viking Court.

“When we scheduled these games, with a younger team, we wanted to try to avoid that shock and awe,” Coeur d’Alene coach Nicole Symons said. “We just tried to find some games and teams that will give us a good game.”

It seems to have worked out well for everyone involved.

WITH RESTRICTIONS picking up across the border again, some schools were faced with losing out on some nonleague games against Washington opponents due to COVID-19 restrictions, but games have been moved to Idaho so that things don’t get canceled.

Lake City's wrestling team, which opened its season at the Owen Invitational in Polson, Mont., on Friday, plans to compete at the West Valley Duals tournament next Friday and Saturday after the Timberwolves agreed to get tested for COVID-19 during weigh-ins next Friday morning.

“We were told our kids either need to be vaccinated or need a negative test to compete,” Lake City coach Corey Owen said. “That duals tournament has always been a great starting tournament for us, and if we lost it, we’d be super bummed.”

For Lakeside’s boys and girls basketball teams, those same restrictions will have them facing Garfield-Palouse twice each, but both games at Ron Miller Court in Plummer according to Lakeside girls basketball coach Chris Dohrman.

Lakeside also will not compete in the Wellpinit (Wash.) tournament, scheduled for Dec. 17-18, or a road game against Tekoa-Rosalia due to those same restrictions.

While it’s unfortunate that some events are on the verge of being cancelled again, remain thankful that area schools are finding ways to keep them going.

Even better that they’re a lot closer to home.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for The Press. He can be reached by telephone at 208-664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at jelliott@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter @JECdAPress.