It Wouldn’t Be A State Tourney Without Fealko
It was a last-minute decision. At least a last-day decision.
Dave Fealko resigned last winter as Lake City High School girls basketball coach following his third state title in four years.
He did so primarily because he thought it was time for him to do other things. Chiefly, he wanted to spend more time with his wife.
But there was Fealko on Thursday afternoon in the seats at the College of Southern Idaho gym, waiting for the tipoff of LC’s State A-1 Tournament opener.
He spoke. Or I should say I listened. He’s a man for whom I have the upmost respect.
In my 11 years of covering prep sports - and covering his teams - I never once heard a negative comment from parents or boosters. That’s truly amazing in today’s age of Little League Parent Syndrome.
Fealko hasn’t wandered too far from the gym in his first season of retirement. In fact, at every game LC game I staffed this winter, there was Fealko, wearing his handsome leather jacket, sitting in the bleachers.
He was an equal-opportunity fan, too. He’s been to many LC boys games, too.
That’s encouraging from this viewpoint: He walked away from coaching on his terms, but his passion for the game still burns.
He and his wife, Patsy, didn’t decide to travel to Twin Falls until the day before the tournament.
Fealko wanted to stay away, not wanting to infringe on coach Dave Stockwell’s first tour to state without him.
“I had to come watch these seniors that were with me for two years,” Fealko said, smiling. “They’re special.”
Cast an occasional glance Fealko’s way and you’ll see him cheer. He sits on the edge of his seat, perhaps out of habit. As a coach, he would often stand up on the sideline to applaud or instruct his team.
Does he miss coaching? Yes. Does he enjoy being out of coaching? Yes.
But being a fan allows him to do things that were contrary to his nature as a coach. For example, he was rooting for Sandpoint in its opener Thursday as well.
Rooting for Sandpoint, the once-bitter rival? Yes, we know that’s a contradiction with Fealko the coach. But not with Fealko the fan.
And across the gym at CSI there was Ron Hunt, who retired as Sandpoint coach last winter. He, like Fealko, spent several winter nights this season in the bleachers.
This is Fealko’s 11th straight trip to a state tournament.
But most importantly, it’s his first as a fan.
Plane vs. bus
There wasn’t a glaring difference between the way Sandpoint and Lake City played in their tournament openers.
Sandpoint flew to Boise late Wednesday afternoon and took a bus the final 2 hours to Twin Falls. LC was on the road in a chartered bus many hours earlier, at 4:30 a.m.
It was a brilliant idea to fly. Sandpoint purchased 21-day advance fares at $44 a Bulldog. Several parents and boosters got in on the deal.
Twenty-one days ago, LC wasn’t assured of making a trip south. In fact, 21 days ago, the Timberwolves were reeling from a 60-36 loss at Lewiston.
But after Thursday, boosters of both teams were whispering about the possibility of an all-Inland Empire League showdown in the state title game. However, LC lost to Centennial on Friday in the semifinals.
Had the matchup developed, that would have brought back memories to Fealko and other longtime girls basketball boosters, who recall the 1984 state tournament in Coeur d’Alene. The host team met Sandpoint in the finale. CdA won in overtime.
Finally, television
The state tournaments are going prime time this year, and all we can say is it’s been a long time coming.
The United Dairymen of Idaho - sponsors of the state tournaments dubbed “The Real Dairy Shootouts” - believed girls basketball deserved equity.
For the first time in history, the A-1 and A-2 title games will be broadcast live on cable outlets statewide.
The A-2 final will be televised today at 5 p.m. PST, followed by the A-1 showdown at 7. Viewers in Coeur d’Alene can watch the games on cable Channel 13 (the Idaho Public Television station).
Fealko lobbied for live TV coverage for years. Unfortunately for him, it came one year too late.
, DataTimes