THE FRONT ROW with JASON ELLIOTT: Kind gestures, and getting better each game

The roads haven’t done the Lakeside High boys basketball team any favors this week since arriving in the Treasure Valley for the state tournament.

But that wasn't the case earlier in the week, when the school’s bus pulled out of Plummer en route to Caldwell and Vallivue High, the site of the 2A tournament.

AS THE Knights traveled down U.S. 95 on Wednesday, they were greeted with some well wishes from a friendly rival in Lapwai.

Community members lined the streets of Lapwai with signs and well-wishes for the Knights, who the Wildcats have played in the last two 1A Division I (now 2A) championship games.

“It was pretty cool to see,” Lakeside junior Tyson Charley said. “Our assistant coach Kenny (Louie-McGee), his wife is from Lapwai. So it was really cool that they did that for us.”

All Ione (Chimburas) Louie-McGee told the players and coaches was to roll down their windows as the team passed by.

“They held up a sign that they were all rooting for us,” Lakeside coach James Twoteeth said. “That was really cool to see.”

Lakeside beat Lapwai in the 2023 title game, while Lapwai won in 2024. The Wildcats failed to advance to state this year.

“Our communities are pretty intertwined,” Twoteeth said. “Their families are related to some of our families. My nephew is married to one of their tribal members and our assistant coach is married to someone from Lapwai.”

Seeing the gesture just made Charley, who had 27 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists in Thursday’s 75-59 win over Riverstone, all that more motivated for another championship.

“It just made me more hungry,” Charley said. “Even though I’ve already got one in my bag, I want two more to end the season. I’ve been waking up early every day this season doing some good work trying to get better.”

All that as Charley battles a torn left meniscus.

“I’m just ready to win this championship, recover and get ready for next season,” Charley said. “I’ve got surgery right after the season, so hopefully I’ll back ready to go next year.”

IN ITS first year as a full member of the Idaho High School Activities Association after two years as an associate member, Coeur du Christ advanced to state, falling to Dietrich in a state 1A opening round game 69-56 at Caldwell High on Thursday.

“We’ve made tremendous progress this season,” said Coeur du Christ senior Ben Connelly, who is averaging 31.2 points per game. “Seeing everyone continue to get a lot better has been amazing to see this year. It’s really what led us to being the eighth team in the state. We deserve this spot and I think we can only get better from here.”

The Saints went 4-0 in the North Star League, then beat Deary in a play-in game to advance.

“It’s been an amazing year,” Connelly said. “I’ve loved bringing my teammates up. I really don’t care how much I score or any of that, or the accolades. I just want my team to win and continue to get better and continue to set a good foundation moving forward with athletics.”

Although second-year Dietrich coach Slade Dill, son of former longtime Dietrich coach Wayne Gill, couldn’t find much – if any — film on Coeur du Christ, he knew that Connelly could be a handful.

“We searched everywhere, and could only find film of their play-in game against Deary,” Dill said. “We just went by stats and knew that he was averaging 31 points this season, and that was against bigger, really good schools. So we knew he’s got to be a good enough player that he’s doing it night in and night out.”

As for the rest of the Saints?

“For a third-year program, they’re doing phenomenal,” Dill said. “They’re disciplined and play a little physical, but basketball is not a no-contact sport. They had two really good guards (Connelly and freshman Grant Clemens) and they both were able to get downhill against our defense and dish it out, and their posts would get a layup. They’re doing a really good job for just being in their third year.”

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.