THE FRONT ROW with MARK NELKE: A long day at the gym ends with a smile
Mark Nelke.
A long day at the gym ends with a smile
It wasn’t like two weeks ago, when my friend Jason Elliott covered local teams in back-to-back-to-back state girls basketball championship games — Timberlake (3A), then Sandpoint (4A) and Coeur d’Alene (5A) at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa.
On Saturday, I also covered three local boys basketball teams in their state title games, but at least they were spread out a bit — Lakeside (1A Division I), Bonners Ferry (3A) and Lake City (5A).
Here’s kind of how it all unfolded — from late morning, to late in the evening, as the Idaho Center slowly filled up, and got louder and louder.
Sorry for some gaps in the timeline; we had computer issues (or internet issues).
(All times Mountain):
10:10 a.m.
Settling in at the big arena, as Kendrick and Richfield are starting the second half of their 1A Division II title game.
10:45
Kendrick holds off Richfield 59-57. First title of the day for the north.
They don’t let the teams cut down the nets after they win — but this year, perhaps they should. These nets tend to wrap around the rim on a swish, which momentarily stops play. Lake City had all sorts of issues with its net getting all tangled up in the hooks before its semifinal game Friday vs. Madison. Finally, 6-foot-6 senior Nathan Hocking jumped up, like he was doing a chin-up on the rim (like we all can do that!) and untangled the net — temporarily. It got tangled up again.
Instead of spending its final few minutes of warmups on the court, shooting baskets, the T-Wolves sat on the bench as a worker climbed a ladder and replaced the net.
11:06 a.m.
Lakeside takes the floor to warm up for its 1A Division I title game vs. Lapwai. Vander Brown, a senior, is the lone Lakeside player to play in the Idaho Center before — he was a freshman when Lakeside won the state 1A Division II title in 2000.
Moments after Lakeside takes the floor, Lapwai follows.
12:05
Lakeside absolutely took it to Lapwai in the first half — driving past them, shooting over them, knocking the ball away from them for runouts. Meanwhile, Lapwai, which lives by the jump shot, is dying by the jump shot (6 for 24) at the half.
The second half takes forever as Lapwai slowly battles back, but Lakeside holds on to win in overtime and snap Lapwai’s 62-game win streak.
3:20
Bear Lake, which beat Kellogg by five points in the semis, defeats previously undefeated, and defending state 2A champion Melba, 55-44 in the title game. Melba had won 40 in a row, including a semifinal victory over St. Maries on Friday night.
And to think we were a few minutes from an all-Central Idaho League title game.
3:59
Bonners Ferry tips off in its first state title game, vs. Sugar-Salem.
For the record, the Badgers’ first points in a state title game are scored by senior Braeden Blackmore, on a fast-break feed from junior Trey Bateman, with 5:11 left in the first quarter.
5:22
The buzzer sounds, ending the Badgers’ 55-44 loss.
7:16
Three District 1 officials — Paul Manzardo, Todd Bitterman and Neal Pedersen — are working the state 4A championship game between Pocatello and Hillcrest. Expect an entertaining photo gallery on them courtesy of Jason Duchow Photography, who did the same thing during the state girls tourney.
7:31
Hillcrest finishes off a 62-58 victory over Pocatello, which means one more game is next …
7:47
Lake City takes the floor in their home whites. Sometimes the T-Wolves wear their grays at home.
Either way, a near-capacity crowd will watch them take on Meridian in the state 5A title game for the second time in three years.
There are a few empty seats off in the distance, but only because they are either restricted view, or at the other end of the building. The court is not in the center of the arena; it is closer to one end than the other.
8:12
“Let’s get ready to rumble … “ as Lake City and Meridian tip off.
8:44
After Meridian took it to Lake City early, the Timberwolves battled back. Kolton Mitchell drives and kicks to Deacon Kiesbuy, who drills a 3 at the buzzer — giving him 10 points at the half — and Lake City, which trailed by as much as eight points in the first half, heads to the locker room with a 37-33 lead.
8:56
The 1980 state champion Fruitland boys basketball team is honored as a “Legends of the Game” at halftime. As they leave the floor, the kids in the Meridian student section give them a nice round of applause as they walk past them.
Nice touch.
9:32
Even Jim Winger smiled.
Mark Nelke is the sports editor of The Press. He can be reached by telephone at 208-664-8176, Ext. 2019 or via email at mnelke@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter @CdAPressSports.