THE FRONT ROW with JASON ELLIOTT: Getting their best, and a good show to boot

There’s something to be said for a good rivalry game. 

The gym is packed. 

Fans are into the game from start to finish. 

And in some cases, you can’t even hear yourself think. 

Regardless, it usually brings out the best in those involved in the games. 

AS WELL over 1,800 packed into Coeur d'Alene High's Viking Court for last Friday’s installment of the annual Fight for the Fish spirit games between Lake City and Coeur d’Alene high schools, it was loud. 

It was supposed to be. 

The games were great, and likely will be just as intense when the teams meet again on Thursday at Lake City High. 

Coeur d’Alene's girls, with wins over both Lake City and Post Falls, are 5-0 in Inland Empire League play this year as the Vikings seek a third straight state championship. 

Lake City’s boys, who beat Coeur d’Alene on the road last Friday, are 3-1 in league play, with Post Falls in the lead at 4-0. Coeur d’Alene’s boys are 1-2 in league. 

Coeur d’Alene visits Post Falls next Saturday for boys and girls league games that could go a long way in determining seeding for the 6A District tournament next month. 

Back to the Fish game for a moment. 

Seeking a game to watch the night before her team was to play at North Idaho College, Salt Lake Community College women’s basketball coach Marcilina Grayer and her assistants came away impressed with last Friday’s setting. 

“Oh my gosh, we need to do that in Salt Lake,” Grayer said. “That was dope. I’ve never been to anything like that, or experienced anything like that for a women’s game. It was eye-opening, and I wish everyone did that. That was really cool.” 

Locally, Lakeland and Sandpoint competed in the Battle for the Paddle on Friday and Bonners Ferry will visit Timberlake in the Backwoods Brawl today. 

Unlike the Fish, those schools include a wrestling dual with the girls and boys basketball games.

“I’ve never seen anything like that, and I feel that would bring a lot more more school spirit,” Grayer said. “Especially for the student body. We don’t have anything like that and it was a really dope experience to be a part of.” 

Coeur d’Alene and Lake City will compete in the TerHark Cup wrestling dual next Friday at Lake City High starting at 6 p.m. 

The Vikings have won the dual 22 straight times, with Lake City’s last win coming in 2002. 

AT THIS point in the regular season, some teams are pretty set in their ways as far as lineups, rotations and just what has made them successful to get to this point. 

For Lake City girls basketball coach David Pratt, he’s still trying to find that mix after losing sophomore starting post Ella Pearson for the season with a torn ACL in the Timberwolves’ Dec. 20 game against Central Valley. 

“The nice thing is we get to continue to practice and build on things right now,” Pratt said following Tuesday’s 56-39 loss at Post Falls. “Hopefully we’ll see the fruits of that labor really soon.” 

Though Coeur d’Alene sophomore Brookeslee Colvin has only played for Stacy Boyd for a short time, she’s made quite the impression thus far on the first-year Viking coach.

“In addition to her leadership qualities, Brookeslee is an exceptional student, maintaining a 4.0 GPA,” Boyd said. “Her academic achievements speak volumes about her work ethic and commitment to excellence both on and off the court.” 

Colvin had 34 points in the Fish game last week on the heels of scoring 27 against Post Falls on Jan. 7. 

“Athletically, Brookeslee has delivered extraordinary performances this season, including several consecutive games scoring 30-plus points,” Boyd said. “She scored 31 points against Sierra Canyon (Dec. 20 at the Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas), the No. 9 team in the nation, while embracing the challenging task of defending Jerzy Robinson, the No. 1 high school recruit in the class of 2028.” 

Robinson has played for the United States in international competitions in the past two years, winning a gold medal for the FIBA U-17 Under-17 Women’s World Cup team. 

Colvin had 345 points entering Tuesday’s game at Sandpoint, where she added 14 points in the Vikings’ win over the Bulldogs. 

“Her relentless competitiveness and determination make our team stronger and exemplify the spirit of Coeur d’Alene High School athletics,” Boyd said. 

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for The Press. He can be reached by telephone at 208-664-8176, Ext. 1206 or via email at jelliott@cdapress.com. Follow him on ‘X’, formerly Twitter @JECdAPress.