THE FRONT ROW with JASON ELLIOTT: Anything but an ordinary night in Nampa

You have to love a good rivalry.

The games always deliver, no matter the records or what’s at stake.

In last Saturday’s state 5A girls basketball championship game, the latest chapter between Coeur d’Alene and Lake City’s programs didn’t disappoint.

That is, if you’re residing up north.

AFTER PLAYING to a 26-26 tie at halftime, Coeur d’Alene used a late run to pull away for a 57-49 win at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa, the Vikings’ second straight title.

Seniors Teagan Colvin (25 points) and Maddie Mitchell (10 points) led the way for Coeur d’Alene.

“I’ve been watching them play since they were in fourth grade,” said fifth-year Coeur d’Alene coach Nicole Symons, who has guided the Vikings’ to state in four of her five years. “Just to see them compete and win together, after the season we’ve had with all the ups and downs and the distractions, they were our solid pieces in all of it.”

And as Coeur d’Alene took a while to get going offensively in the state opener against Rocky Mountain, it was Mitchell that sparked her team in the second half with four 3-pointers in the third quarter.

“It was really a big growth in her leadership this year,” Symons said. “Her growth and focus and just her ability to score on the offensive end was huge. She really stepped up with Teagan being out. (Kendall) Holecek has been huge for us as a senior too. She just didn’t shoot well today, but she’s a great defender, awesome teammate and a great human being.”

Colvin, who finished with 30 points in Friday’s semifinal win over Boise, signed with UNLV in November.

“Going back-to-back is a different level for sure,” Colvin said. “It’s definitely sweet and to do it with this team means a lot. Back-to-back with anyone would be sweet, but with this group, it’s awesome.”

It was the first time the schools had met in the title game since 2007, when Lake City — in its last title game appearance until Saturday — upset Coeur d’Alene 46-40 for the program’s second title after winning in 1995, when Symons was a player for the Timberwolves.

And to think, both Coeur d’Alene and Lake City had to play another amazing 32 minutes in the semifinals, just to advance.

Coeur d’Alene, seeded fourth, beat the top-ranked Boise Brave 58-55 and Lake City held off third-seeded Rigby 54-53, just to get to Saturday’s showcase game.

Avery Howell, a USC-bound senior from Boise, had 35 points and 12 rebounds against Coeur d’Alene in the semifinals.

Kambree Barber, headed to BYU next year, had 16 points and 14 rebounds for Rigby against Lake City.

Lake City had some Division I products of its own, with Avery Waddington signed with Montana and Sophia Zufelt taking a visit to Division I Texas-Rio Grande Valley of Edinburg, Texas, which plays in the Western Athletic Conference. KaLiah Frazey, a senior forward, signed with NAIA Langston University in Oklahoma earlier this week.

Keep in mind, Coeur d'Alene freshman Brookeslee Colvin had more than a few Division I offers before even playing a high school game.

FOR SOME, Saturday’s title game was a chance to share the court with their rivals and former teammates in some cases.

“Avery, Sophie, me and (Kamryn) Pickford, we’ve been playing together since the third grade,” Mitchell said. “It’s sad that I’m not going to play anymore, but I’m glad to end things on a high note.”

“The entire game was big time,” said first-year Lake City coach David Pratt, who led Mt. Spokane to a runner-up finish at state in 2019. “Big-time players making big-time plays. The second half was a little different for us. We just weren’t able to cash in at times and they were.”

Waddington, Zufelt, Pickford and Frazey played all 32 minutes.

“Coming into that game, they gave me everything they had,” Pratt said. “And you could see they were gassed. But they worked so hard for us. Second place, it’s not what we wanted, but it’s a big accomplishment.”

TOURNAMENT OFFICIALS went as far as to alter the halftime of the 5A championship game, a time where annually the state’s ‘Legends of the Game’ are introduced and honored for their accomplishments during a longer-than-normal halftime.

Shelley’s 1991 team was this year’s honoree.

With Shelley beating Lakeland in Friday’s 4A semifinal round, officials opted to honor that team during the 4A title game between the Russets and Skyline of Idaho Falls, leaving the 5A game with an ‘ordinary’ halftime for its game.

Credit to both Coeur d’Alene and Lake City for making the title game, anything but.

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.