Trojans Bounce Bengals Second-Quarter Surge Leaves Lewiston Behind, 75-45

For 12 of the opening 16 minutes, the Lewiston High boys basketball team had Post Falls more than just a little concerned Friday.

Lewiston matched tough defense with the Inland Empire League-leading Trojans, and the Bengals were getting nice shots out of their inside game.

But the final 4 minutes of the first half turned out to be the beginning of the end for the Bengals. The Trojans went on a 13-0 run to close the half with a cozy 34-22 lead.

The dominance mounted the final 16 minutes as Post Falls sprinted past Lewiston, 75-45, in a league game played in the Trojans’ gym.

Post Falls coach Scott Moore praised his defense for supplying the huge momentum swing just before intermission.

“That really got us rolling it seemed,” Moore said.

The Trojans coaxed the Bengals into six turnovers in the final 4 minutes - three of the steals coming from the tall and wide wing span of 6-foot-6 senior Travis Bohn. Lewiston committed 13 turnovers in the opening half and added six more miscues in the third quarter.

A jumper in the key by guard Chad Quesnell, a slicing runner at the basket by Jeremy McLean and a 3-pointer by Shane Therrian finished off Post Falls’ turnaround just before halftime.

“Early on Lewiston did a really nice job defensively,” Moore said. “They really cracked down on us, especially our penetrating. They made it very difficult for us to shoot the ball. As we showed some patience and started moving the ball around it opened things up. Once we got the confidence going it just seemed to snowball from there.”

To their credit, the Trojans smelled an opportunity to run the Bengals off the court in the second half. And Post Falls didn’t let up.

Another factor in the Bengals’ collapse was fouls. They added up quickly, too.

Lewiston was called for 10 fouls before the end of the first quarter, putting Post Falls in the double bonus the rest of the half. The Bengals were called for 16 fouls to Post Falls’ eight in the opening half, and Post Falls made 12 of 23 free throws to Lewiston’s 8 of 9.

For the game Lewiston was whistled for 26 fouls to Post Falls’ 14. The Trojans made 21 of 35 foul shots to the Bengals’ 11 of 13.

Brason Alexander led a balanced Post Falls attack with 18 points. Carson Egland scored 12 for the Bengals.

“They’re a great team, the best in the league,” Lewiston coach Dick Richel said. “It’ll take an unbelievable effort for somebody to be able to beat them on this floor.”

Richel said it’s most likely that the state-qualifying regional tournament will be held at Post Falls (12-3 overall, 4-0 in league).

“It’ll be tough duty to win here,” added Richel, whose team fell to 8-8, 2-2. “This is what, first-place team against the last-place team? They swarmed us.”

Post Falls 75, Lewiston 45

Lewiston 8 14 8 15 - 45

Post Falls 14 20 19 22 - 75

Lewiston - White 3, Charlo 4, Eck 4, Pierce 5, Frasier 0, Sullivan 6, Hardin 5, Egland 12, Smith 6, Lupinacci 0, Benner 0.

Post Falls - Quesnell 12, Alexander 18, Bohn 7, McLean 9, Lee 9, Therrian 10, Juhlin 4, Curlee 2, Fehling 2, Olson 2.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 Photos