THE FRONT ROW with MARK NELKE: What might have been, and other thoughts from state

So the matchup high school basketball fans in Idaho have been hoping would happen since 2022 finally took place last Saturday night at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa. 

Lake City vs. Owyhee. 

It wasn’t the undefeated Timberwolf juggernaut vs. the new kids on the block, the current Beasts of the Treasure Valley from the school in Meridian which opened in 2021. 

(We did get that matchup in December 2022, at North Idaho College, a game Lake City won handily, 80-60). 

And while, after a competitive start, Saturday’s title game matchup didn’t go the Timberwolves’ way (Owyhee used a 39-2 run from late in the first quarter to early in the third quarter to win 77-46), who pegged Lake City to be the second-best team in 6A in Idaho at the beginning of the season? 

Those who thought Lake City might go away for a while after the Kolton Mitchell-Blake Buchanan-Zach Johnson-Nathan Hocking squad moved on to college in 2023 were wrong. 

The T-Wolves brought trophies home from state the next two years, and played in the state title game for the third time in five seasons. 

And the Lake City JV and freshman teams went undefeated this season.

WE’LL NEVER know what may have happened if Nathan Williams and his family had continued to live in the Coeur d’Alene area.

Nine years ago, Nathan was coaching his sons, Ridge and Asher, in the Coeur d’Alene parks and rec league. 

At the time, they were living just south of Coeur d’Alene, and Nathan was head of school at Valley Christian School in Spokane Valley. 

Then came a job offer in administration in Bonners Ferry for Nathan – and the chance to coach a group of young boys eager to play basketball. 

Those boys formed the core of what became the current juggernaut at Bonners Ferry High, which played in the last three state championship games, and won its second straight title last Saturday at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa. 

Bonners, which has had some storied teams over the years, had never played in a state title game until 2023. When the Badgers qualified for state in 2021 (when Ridge was a sophomore and Asher was still in the eighth grade), it was Bonners’ first trip to state since 2008. 

The Badgers went 0-2 at state in 2021, fell in the consolation title game the next year, then reached three straight state title games. 

Prior to their runner-up finish at state in 2023, the Badgers’ last trophy from state was a state 3A consolation title in 2002. 

Asher Williams, who has committed to NAIA Montana Tech in Butte, and his Badger teammate Thomas Bateman will play for the Region team (coached by Nathan Williams) at the Idaho high school all-star game Saturday at North Idaho College. 

ELSEWHERE, LAKESIDE didn’t bring home a trophy, but at least played for one for the fifth time in six years. 

Over that six-year span the Knights, who lost in the 2A third-place game on Saturday, have played in three state title games, winning two, as well as bringing home a third-place trophy.  

Lakeside was back at state this year after losing four senior starters to graduation. 

And the Knights will bring back their top two scorers, as well as most of the rest of the squad, next year. 

And kudos to Coeur du Christ, which went to state in its first season as a full member of the Idaho High School Activities Association.  

The Saints gave eventual champion Dietrich a battle in a 1A first-round game before falling 69-56. Dietrich went on to win by eight in the semifinals and by 22 in the championship game. 

Coeur du Christ probably should have been playing for a trophy on Saturday, but lost a lead late in overtime on Friday night and eventually bowed out in two games. 

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 208-664-8176, Ext. 1205, or via email at mnelke@cdapress.com. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @CdAPressSports.