JASON ELLIOTT

A lot to shout about

NIC settles for second at nationals, but Nielsen, Jones win national titles

SPOKANE - The NJCAA title is staying in the Northwest.

Cardinals in the thick of things

NIC in 2nd, 1.5 points behind Clackamas

SPOKANE - When North Idaho College won the bid to host the NJCAA tournament, coach Pat Whitcomb's goal was simple - put on a show.

NIC ready to put on a show before the home folks

"At North Idaho College, winning national titles is what we do. From coaches Bill Pecha to John Owen, it's time for us to bring another national title home," NIC wrestling coach Pat Whitcomb said on the eve of the school's biggest national tournament appearance.

Area wrestlers hit final stop on state road

NAMPA — “Anything can happen. They don’t mail in the medals, they let the guys go into the matches and figure it out,” Post Falls coach Pete Reardon said prior to the start of this weekend’s state wrestling tournament at the Idaho Center in Nampa.

Post Falls knocks out Lake City

Thoreson's last-minute basket puts Trojans ahead; Post Falls plays for state berth on Friday

POST FALLS - In front of an estimated 1,300 fans, either last year's Region 1 champion or last year's state champion was going to be sent home early from the 5A Region 1 tournament at The Arena on Tuesday night.

Back for more

NJCAA title winner Jones returns after two-year hiatus looking for another crown

After winning a national wrestling title at 197 pounds in the 2008 NJCAA tournament, that chance for a repeat performance at Meramec Community College never came for Jamelle Jones.

'So close'

Vikings fall to Lewiston, which wins first title since ’76

NAMPA - Like all good things, eventually they to come to an end.

'Smartest' Spartans fourth at 3A state

NAMPA - They were crowned the smartest team in the state 3A tournament, but at times, Priest River coach Gary Stewart wasn't sure if that was translating to the court at Skyview High.

Timberlake falls to Sugar-Salem in OT

Tigers come up just short in first trip to title game

NAMPA - In their previous two games at the state 3A tournament, the Timberlake Tigers hadn't gotten caught up in the emotional roller coaster that comes with playing three games in three days on such a big stage.

Vikings' ship still sailing

Only Lewiston standing in way of 4th straight 5A title

NAMPA - Early this season, Coeur d'Alene coach Dale Poffenroth had junior Erin Legel move from the starting lineup into a reserve role in the hopes of finding a spark.

Timberlake stays on track toward 3A crown

Thompson leads Tigers past Snake River in semis

NAMPA - Timberlake senior Cassie Thompson has spent the first two days of the state 3A girls basketball tournament at Skyview High making her case for the top player of the tournament.

Pressure fuels Viking rally

1-3-1 press helps Coeur d'Alene overtake Boise, advance to 5A semifinals vs. Highland

NAMPA - Coeur d'Alene High sophomore Kendalyn Brainard has been waiting a long time for a night like Thursday.

Timberlake opens with businesslike victory

Snake River next for Tigers in semifinals

NAMPA - After a decisive victory over the team that knocked them out of their only other state 3A tournament appearance two years ago, there were no midcourt celebrations or hugs exchanged as the starters came to the bench.

Coeur d'Alene shoots for 5A 4-peat

Timberlake has eyes on first 3A tourney victory, maybe more

The Coeur d'Alene Vikings didn't win the 5A Inland Empire League, lost in the first round of the Region 1 tournament, and had to go through the back door to qualify for the state tournament.

NIC wrestlers look to set tone for NJCAA tourney

Region 18 event is today, nationals in two weeks

While the NJCAA tournament is still a few weeks away, the top two teams in the nation will face off to determine the Region 18 tournament today in Coos Bay, Ore., starting at 10 a.m.

Reason to be happy

Timberlake romps past Priest River for first district title, headed to state

RATHDRUM - After watching from home as a pair of their Intermountain League rivals battled for the state 3A girls basketball title last year, the Timberlake Tigers knew they'd missed out on a chance to make some history.

Balanced Vikings roll past Trojans

Cd'A, Lake City to play for state berth

COEUR d'ALENE - They've fought for a fish for years.

Lake City knocks off Cd'A

Timberwolves beat Vikings for first time since ’07, advance to title game vs. Lewiston

LEWISTON - The Lake City Timberwolves and Coeur d'Alene Vikings have waged some pretty good battles over the years, but Lake City hadn't been able to come out on top since the Timberwolves beat Coeur d'Alene in the 2007 state 5A championship game.

Lakeland captures opener

Davis, Buchmann lead Hawks to victory over Sandpoint

RATHDRUM - When it counted on Tuesday night, all the Lakeland Hawks had to do was look inside to get them back on the right track.

Keeping her focus

Davis stays the course, coming back from injuries to help the Hawks

RATHDRUM - Over the past two years, Lakeland High senior Jenna Davis has never stopped learning.

NIC men's home streak snapped

CSI prevails; NIC women win going away with big second half

COEUR d'ALENE - Entering Saturday's Scenic West Athletic Conference men's basketball showdown with eighth-ranked Southern Idaho, the 13th-ranked North Idaho Cardinals knew they'd have to battle to come away with a home win.

NIC ready for another battle with CSI

Golden Eagles make lone flight north tonight in men's, women's hoops

COEUR d'ALENE - As rivalries go, this is the biggest one on the schedule for the North Idaho College men's and women's basketball teams.

Young Cardinals ready for opening flight

COEUR d'ALENE - While short on experience in the field, the North Idaho College softball teamhopes torely on a couple familiar faces in the circle to keep theCardinalsin the thick of the Scenic West Athletic Conference race this season.

Cardinals plow through Snow

COEUR d'ALENE - In what some dubbed redemption weekend, it was fitting that the Cardinal with a second chance helped put his team back into the Scenic West Athletic Conference men's basketball race.

Jones, McCrite lead push

NIC a 'little flat,' but closes out home slate with victory

COEUR d'ALENE - As the momentum began to turn, the third-ranked North Idaho College wrestling team took it back in the latter stages of a 26-14 win over Simon Fraser University of Burnaby, British Columbia, on Friday at Christianson Gym.

Tough defense at home

North Idaho men, women avenge earlier losses to Salt Lake

COEUR d'ALENE - With the Scenic West Athletic Conference races beginning to tighten, both the North Idaho College men's and women's basketball teams got defensive at the right time on their home court.

NIC's 2nd trip through SWAC starts tonight

COEUR d'ALENE - The men's and women's Scenic West Athletic Conference race enters the second lap starting tonight at Rolly Williams Court.

A vision become reality

Coeur d'Alene High unveils Lee Shellman Strength Center

COEUR d'ALENE - At first, Coeur d'Alene High football coach and advanced weights instructor Shawn Amos wasn't sure the vision he had was going to come true for renovations to the school's weight room.

Lake City heats up early, clamps down on Lewiston

Lewis' 3s lead way for hot-shooting T-Wolf girls

COEUR d'ALENE - With everything to gain and nothing to lose, the Lake City Timberwolves didn't want to have a letdown in their final regular season game at home.

NIC men get back on track

Cardinal women also romp past Eastern Utah

COEUR d'ALENE - To cure its slow start, it appeared all the 18th-ranked North Idaho Cardinal men's basketball team needed was to get back home.

Cards return to home floor tonight vs. Eastern Utah

COEUR d’ALENE — After three games on the road in Scenic West Athletic Conference action, the North Idaho Cardinals men’s and women’s basketball teams will be back on Rolly Williams Court tonight.

The ball is in her court

After helping turn around Timberlake, Cassie Thompson's next adventure will take flight in Portland

SPIRIT LAKE — Four years ago, Cassie Thompson wasn’t sure if playing for Timberlake High School was something that would send her to a Division I college.

New identity for Trojans

Hillman helps Post Falls get back on track, beat Lake City

POST FALLS - To get to where they were last season, the defending state 5A champion Post Falls Trojans knew they'd have to have some of their new faces step up to build their identity this season.

It's Vikings down the stretch

Legel provides late spark, Cd'A girls edge Federal Way for tourney title

COEUR d'ALENE - Down by 10 points midway through the fourth quarter of the girls championship game at the Holiday Inn Express Invitational, the defending Idaho state 5A champions didn't panic.

Vikings charge into title game

COEUR d’ALENE — For the first six minutes of Wednesday’s semifinal, it appeared as though the Coeur d’Alene Vikings were going to cruise to victory over the Chiawana Riverhawks at the Holiday Inn Express Invitational at North Idaho College.

Coeur d'Alene girls cruise in opener

COEUR d'ALENE - Both girls basketball teams were trying to find an identity in the quarterfinals of the Holiday Inn Express Invitational on Tuesday night.

Girls tourney to crown a champion

Holiday Inn Express Invitational tips off today at NIC

COEUR d'ALENE - In the third year of the Holiday Inn Express Invitational, which begins today at North Idaho College, the tournament will take a different look as the girls teams will compete in a tournament format and crown a champion on Thursday evening.

Making the most of his SECOND CHANCE

Six years after first trying to play basketball at North Idaho College, Petar Joksimovic has his life headed in the right direction again — and he's back on the Cardinals' hoops team

When Petar Joksimovic came to North Idaho College from Belgrade, Serbia, in 2004, he was hoping to make an impact on the Cardinals in Jared Phay's first season as head basketball coach.

Trojans battle to fourth

Bonners Ferry’s Hampton finishes second; Post Falls’ Ost, Booth, McLeod third

COEUR d'ALENE - Although the tournament may have been held at North Idaho College this weekend, the region held its championship hopes on one senior as the finals loomed at the 39th annual Tri-State Invitational at Christianson Gym.

Top returnees include Ost, McLeod

Post Falls, Coeur d’Alene among title contenders

COEUR d’ALENE — Three returning champions and 40 placers will hit the mats starting today at North Idaho College as the 39th annual Tri-State Invitational begins at 10 a.m.

The mind game

Coeur d'Alene senior Staub a whiz in classroom and on the mat

COEUR d'ALENE - He may not be the toughest wrestler in the field at this week's 39th annual Tri-State wrestling tournament, but when it comes to outsmarting someone on the mat, he's already a champion.

Lake City girls down Post Falls

Timberwolves' Butler surpasses 1,000-point mark

COEUR d'ALENE - When two rivals collide on the court, the chances of the game coming down to what happens at the foul line increases with each possession.

Title rematch to Bengals

Lewiston tops defending 5A champ Vikings in OT

COEUR d'ALENE - While it might be a long way from the Idaho Center in February, the two teams who played for last year's state 5A girls basketball championship collided at Elmer Jordan Court on Thursday night.

No crossing this line

The steady leadership of Moreno, Tucker and Duffy has Coeur d’Alene on the verge of its first state high school football title since 1985

COEUR d’ALENE — In a season that has seen its share of wins and a couple losses, the Coeur d’Alene Viking football team has always remained together.

Digging her goals

NIC's Strahinic transitions from Slovenian star to popular D1 recruit

When she first came to America, the thought of playing volleyball for a college scholarship wasn't something that had crossed Tina Strahinic's mind.

Cardinals land sixth seed into NJCAA tourney

COEUR d’ALENE — With the top six teams in the NJCAA winning out in regional tournaments, the sixth-ranked North Idaho College volleyball team remained the sixth seed for next week’s NJCAA tournament, starting next Thursday in West Plains, Mo.

NIC prevails in five again

No. 6 Cardinals edge Salt Lake; both teams headed to nationals

COEUR d'ALENE - In a game of momentum, the wave hit the school by the lake at the right time on Saturday afternoon.

NIC punches ticket to nationals

Cardinals edge Snow in semifinals, play Salt Lake today for regional title

COEUR d'ALENE - When it came down to crunch time, the North Idaho College volleyball team took the fifth.

NIC soccer teams aim for nationals

District tourneys unfold this weekend

For both the North Idaho College soccer teams, they'll rely on new faces as they open district soccer tournaments today.

Magnuson out to defend state swim titles

Meet starts today; finals set for Saturday

BOISE — North Idaho schools qualified 47 swimmers to the state swim meet at the West Valley YMCA in Boise.