Lake City Foursome Grows Up Together

For four senior Lake City High School boys basketball players, the State A-1 Tournament represents more than the end of their prep careers.

It’s the culmination of a seeming lifetime of games together.

Point guard Mike Thompson, off guard Jerid Keefer and post Chad Beadell, all starters, and reserve guard Joe Everson, have been playing together since the fourth grade.

They play today at Idaho State University’s Holt Arena in Pocatello in what they hope to be a three-day run to the state title.

“This is real special for us because it’s our last big trip together,” said Keefer, who played in his final state soccer tournament with Thompson and Beadell last fall. They’ve played soccer together since first grade.

The foursome won early and often beginning that first season nine years ago. Keefer’s and Everson’s fathers coached the youth league and AAU teams until the boys reached high school. Their record during that five-year stretch was 89-23, including three youth league titles.

Including their 18-4 record they take to state, the boys’ four-year high school mark is 62-21.

Keefer laughed as he recalled the first season, especially when Thompson wanted to quit after a couple of games.

“I didn’t know what a basketball was then,” said Thompson, a three-year varsity starter. “I was pretty bad. I didn’t have a clue about basketball.”

Keefer’s father, Ron, showed Thompson how he could use his best asset, quickness, to get around defenders.

“I started using simple fakes and I started scoring,” Thompson remembered.

The finality of the foursome’s playing days has hit each in a different way.

“Going to state means everything,” Thompson said. “It’s just started to sink in lately. After playing all those games together we only have three left. It’s like the final chapter in our little story.”

Added Beadell: “When you’re growing up, you keep thinking it’s going to keep going on and going on, forever. Then when we played Sandpoint (during regionals), we realized it was the final home game together. We have a lot of memories.”

Everson remembers going to high school games together, back when there was just one high school in town, and dreaming of playing in a state tournament with his buddies some day.

“Now we want to win it and put the finishing touches on it,” he said.

Keefer, who will share valedictorian honors with teammate Brock Bemis, said the developing of “lifetime friendships” has extended beyond the foursome.

“This season is just as special for our parents,” he explained. “Our parents didn’t know each other before we started playing together. They’ve grown into best friends, too.”

As far as Keefer is concerned, the Timberwolves already have exceeded his expectations.

“I didn’t think we’d be ranked No. 1 going to state,” he said. “I started reading our itinerary for state and started getting tingles. Coach (Jim) Winger has every day at state planned out. For Saturday it says ‘leave motel for the game at 5:15. Play in (state) title game at 8.”

Winger said it’s the first time in four trips to state that he’s planned the itinerary past the second day (Friday). He did so this year because he wants his players to focus on the purpose of the trip - to capture a state title.

And the foursome agree with their coach.

“There’s only one way to end it - and that’s to win a state championship,” Beadell said. “That would be the ultimate way for us to close it out.”

, DataTimes