5A REGION 1 GIRLS BASKETBALL: Just like the last five years ... Coeur d'Alene, Lake City girls to meet in regional title game for sixth straight year

By JASON ELLIOTT

Sports writer

Coeur d’Alene wants to repeat what it did last year.

Lake City just wants the opportunity.

On Tuesday, the teams that have been at or near the top of the state 5A rankings will have the chance to take a giant step forward toward that goal.

Top-seeded and top-ranked Lake City beat fourth-seeded Lewiston 62-34, and second-seeded and fifth-ranked Coeur d'Alene downed third seed Post Falls 68-37 on Friday in the first round of the 5A Region 1 girls basketball tournament.

On Tuesday, Coeur d’Alene (16-5) will visit Lake City (21-1) in the Region 1 championship game, with the winner advancing to state starting on Feb. 15 at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa. Post Falls (7-14) hosts Lewiston (7-15) in a loser-out game. Both games are at 6:30 p.m.

Lake City beat Coeur d'Alene in both regular season matchups, with the Timberwolves winning 54-45 on Jan. 12 at home, then again 59-47 at Coeur d’Alene on Jan. 22.

“We just want another shot at them,” Coeur d’Alene coach Nicole Symons said. “We’re finally healthy. We didn’t have Taicia Lopez because she’s pretty sick and at home, but we’ll have her on Tuesday. We’ll have our full team finally, so we’re looking forward to it. It should be a good game. Both teams are good and prepared and playing at a high level and would have a great showing at state.”

“They’ll be at full strength so it should be a great matchup,” first-year Lake City coach David Pratt said. “Our girls are excited to play for a district championship. They’re going to come at us and we’re going to come at them. It’s going to be a good one.”

The city rivals will meet for the regional title for the sixth straight year. Coeur d’Alene won last year en route to the state 5A championship. Lake City has won twice in that span, the last coming in 2022 at Viking Court. Lake City did not qualify for state last year, losing a state play-in game.

Coeur d’Alene 68, Post Falls 37: Junior Kelsey Carroll had 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Vikings, including 11 points in the third quarter.

“With our injuries, it just made us stronger throughout our lineup,” Symons said. “I think it was frustrating at the time when we were in it, but it’s going to pay off in the long run. They’re trusting each other and passing up shots to get great shots. And they’re excited for each others success, which is what it’s all about.”

Senior point guard Teagan Colvin, who signed with UNLV in November, had 15 points for Coeur d’Alene in her third game back following a broken right hand suffered in the Tarkanian Classic in December at Las Vegas.

“Maddie Mitchell has played great and consistent all year long, as well as Kendall (Holecek) and Kelsey,” Symons said. “Brookeslee and Teagan getting hurt and in and out has been a struggle, but Teagan has blended in nicely after coming back. They’ve done a good job of working through some ups and downs and we’re ready to play our best ball on Tuesday.”

Senior Brooklynn Brennan had 13 points and four rebounds, senior Katie Berg six rebounds, two steals and two assists for Post Falls, which trailed 20-13 after the first quarter before getting outscored 20-4 in the second.

“There was kind of a lid on the basket for us tonight,” second-year Post Falls coach Brian Hall said. “We couldn’t get anything going offensively and we were pretty stale and didn’t run what we usually run. Having Brooklynn back after missing a game (Tuesday at Lake City), we’ve got to get her back into the swing of things. She still had a decent night, but it’s got to be more than her. She just can’t carry it herself. Somebody has to step up if we want to move on.”

Post Falls    13    4    10    10    —    37

Coeur d’Alene    20    20    20    8    —    68

POST FALLS — McLean 0, Berg 6, Reese 0, Blodgett 0, Hollenbeck 3, Brennan 13, Nipp-Berger 1, Asper 4, Mitley 6, Walton 2, Felix 0, Allen 2.

COEUR d’ALENE — T. Colvin 15, Mitchell 0, Bridge 0, Wallis 9, B. Colvin 7, K. Holecek 9, Larson 4, Schafer 2, Carroll 20, S. Holecek 0.

Lake City 62, Lewiston 34: Senior Avery Waddington, who signed with Montana in November, scored 14 of her game-high 20 points in the first half for the Timberwolves, who led 45-20 at halftime.

“Avery just came out aggressive in the first quarter and really got us going tonight,” Pratt said. “We were able to get to the basket and make some shots and get into the paint and create some pressure for their defense.”

Senior Sophia Zufelt scored 12 points, making 8 of 8 from the free throw line and freshman Macy Murphey scored eight points for Lake City.

“We’re playing at a really high level and shooting the ball well right now,” said Pratt, whose team has won their last 16 games. “The kids are extremely motivated to get to state and are just playing well right now.”

Junior Reese DeGroot scored 15 points for Lewiston.

Lewiston    9    11    8    6    —    34

Lake City    22    23    12    5    —    62

LEWISTON — Delich 8, Van Trease 1, A. McKarcher 8, Lathen 2, DeGroot 15, Holman 0.

LAKE CITY — Murphey 8, Frazey 4, Pickford 4, Kolden 8, Zufelt 12, Waddington 20, Pearson 0, Fagan 0, Zimmerman 6, Hiltenbrand 0.

    JASON ELLIOTT/Press Coeur d'Alene junior Kelsey Carroll shoots as Post Falls senior Kinlee McLean defends during the third quarter of Friday's 5A Region 1 girls basketball tournament game at Viking Court.
  

    JASON ELLIOTT/Press Post Falls senior Letti Asper puts up a jumper during the second quarter of Friday's 5A Region 1 girls basketball tournament game at Viking Court.