THE FRONT ROW with MARK NELKE: A sign of sportsmanship and respect, well after the whistle

You couldn't have blamed the Post Falls Trojans for quickly bolting for the locker room after losing to the Lake City Timberwolves in last week's 5A Region 1 boys basketball championship game.

After all, the Trojans had won the last three regional titles, and with a veteran squad, figured to be the favorite for another one this year, a logical step on the way to what Post Falls hoped would be its first state title since 2015.

And, no matter the expectations, many teams don't stick around to watch the other team celebrate — and nobody gives it a second thought.

BUT, AS Lake City was awarded the regional championship trophy, then rushed with it toward the T-Wolves' student section to celebrate with them, the Post Falls players and coaches remained at their bench — some standing, some seated — and watched.

Most stuck around as the Lake City players and coaches cut down the net. Two Trojan players — senior guards Cole Rutherford and Caden McLean — sat on the end of the team's bench until the net was cut down, then made their way to the locker room.

"This program is built on certain principles. And one of them is respecting our opponents," said Mike McLean, in his 14th season as Post Falls coach. "They earned a district championship; we are not going to run and come in here and make excuses and feel sorry for ourselves. This is 5A basketball. We’ve been on that end numerous times. Those guys earned it, and they’ve earned our program’s respect, and our players’ respect."

The respect was mutual, Lake City coach Jim Winger said.

"I’m super impressed with our guys, but also I have a lot of respect for Mike and Post Falls," Winger said. "To beat them in the district championship is a tough thing to do, and there’s a great deal of respect from myself to that program as well."

Winger recalled Lake City losing a regional title game at Post Falls several years ago, and kept his players on the floor to watch as the Trojans celebrated.

So when Post Falls returned the favor last week, Winger noticed.

"We played them, I don’t remember the year, and we did that," Winger said. "And they were appreciative. Mike’s a classy dude … it’s well appreciated and it was noticed, and we had our kids shake their kids’ hands."

That was noteworthy as well, because this season, because of COVID, teams were told to wave at each other after the game — a safe idea but an odd look — rather than do the traditional handshake line.

AS FOR the actions of Rutherford and Caden McLean, the coach's son, "they’ve been there before, they know what it’s like, and it shows how much this game means, especially to those guys," Mike McLean said. "We stood out there as a sign of respect; and I think it’s the right thing to do.

"When you can go as hard as you can, and go after one another, on the court … but after the game, we’re not a program, we’re not a team that’s not a bunch of disrespectful little punks.

"This is more than basketball; this is life; it’s supposed to hurt that much more out there watching. That’s what men do; you acknowledge the fact you got beat tonight."

TWO DAYS later, the Trojans' season came to an end with a loss in the regional second-place game at Lewiston.

It marked only the third time in 14 seasons under McLean that Post Falls did not qualify for state.

"What’s sad is, I’ll never get to coach them again," McLean said of the senior-heavy squad. "It’s not about the game tonight, it’s the fact their career’s over, that’s the sad part."

With three three-year starters back from from last year's state runner-up, much was expected of the Trojans this year.

"I think they’ve represented Post Falls High School pretty well," McLean said. "It’s going to hurt for a few days, but overall, I think we’re OK. This group, their legacy is not going to be tonight, or this season, it’s going to be the last three years. This group did a lot of good things on the court, and a lot of things they should be proud of."

Normally after a weeknight game in Lewiston, teams grab a quick bite to eat at a fast-food restaurant before heading home.

Not this night. Not these Trojans.

"We stopped and got pizza — these guys don’t want this night to end," McLean said via phone as the Post Falls bus made its way up the Lewiston hill.

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at mnelke@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter @CdAPressSports.