Post Falls Kos Feisty Pocatello Trojans’ Quesnell Makes Most Of Opportune Whistle At End

Someone once said that officials’ calls in athletic events have a way of balancing out.

The Post Falls High boys basketball team would have a good argument against that statement. But the lone break the Trojans received Friday came on the last whistle.

With half a second left, Post Falls junior guard Chad Quesnell went to the free-throw line to shoot three foul shots after Pocatello’s Jon Godfrey apparently knocked the Trojan down as he released a shot.

Quesnell made the first free throw to break a 68-all tie. After missing the second, Pocatello called a timeout.

Quesnell, who later said he was trying to miss the last shot, made the final attempt as Post Falls prevailed 70-68 in a State A-1 Tournament loser-out game at the Idaho Center.

Pocatello didn’t get off a shot as a length-of-the-court inbounds pass was knocked down by Jeremy McLean.

Post Falls (21-4) can still bring home a trophy. The Trojans must answer an early wakeup call when they meet Eagle (17-10) at 8:15 a.m. PST in the fourth-place game. Eagle eliminated Blackfoot 70-58.

Pocatello coach Greg Evans adamantly argued there never should have been a whistle on Quesnell’s 3-point attempt.

“I don’t think the last call of the game should have ended that game,” Evans said. “I thought it was a ridiculous call. Jon (Godfrey) didn’t touch him. The official should have known better. It’s too bad they didn’t let the kids decide the game. The official decided that game and you can quote that.”

Still, he didn’t have much room to complain since he received the greater balance of calls during the previous 31 minutes.

He even admitted so. “I’m not going to dispute that,” Evans said.

The final statistics showed that the calls were not even, especially considering that Pocatello pushed the physical issue for 32 minutes. Post Falls was called for 31 fouls to Pocatello’s 18. It was 15-4 after the first half.

Pocatello made 28 of 44 free throws to Post Falls’ 15 of 28.

One of several physical plays involving Pocatello’s Kendall Olsen occurred with 33 seconds left in the first quarter. The 6-foot-8 Olsen got tangled up with Post Falls’ 5-11 guard Brason Alexander and they tumbled to the court.

Alexander tried to get up, but he said Olsen grabbed the back of his head and pounded his face into the hardwood at least three times, yelling choice obscenities.

There was no foul call. Alexander’s front right upper tooth was knocked loose and the left upper tooth cracked. He had to leave the game and ended up playing just 16 minutes.

Quesnell said he was touched by Godfrey on the last play, but admitted he may have “acted” a little as he fell backward.

Arena officials apparently saw the physical nature of the game and realized that postgame emotions could be running high so they held Post Falls back from leaving the court until Pocatello was nearly in its locker room.

In between the opening tip and the bizarre end was an entertaining game.

Quesnell led PF with 21 points. Reserve Chad Juhlin filled in admirably as posts Austin Lee and Travis Bohn fought foul trouble. Juhlin had 13 points and four rebounds. And Lee and Bohn, playing a combined 29 minutes, each scored 10.

Post Falls caused Pocatello problems with fullcourt pressure. The Indians committed 24 turnovers, and Quesnell, Bohn, McLean and Juhlin each had three steals.

The Trojans scored more points in the first quarter (25) than they did in the first half the day before (21). Their biggest lead was 39-30 with 2:47 left in the first half.

Post Falls’ 41 points in the first half was 10 fewer than they scored in four quarters against Boise.

The Trojans threatened to blow Pocatello home, but the Indians fought back each time. Post Falls answered each Pocatello spurt. The Trojans led 58-49 late in the third quarter, but the Indians pulled within 58-53 by period’s end.

Pocatello tied the score at 64-all with 3:15 left and at 68-all before Quesnell’s winning foul shots.

“It took us almost 32 minutes, but we got a call when it counted,” Moore said. “Even though we got the short end of the stick on most calls I really think our kids held their composure really well.

“In my opinion it was 5 on 7 most of the game. We could have easily have let that get into our heads and take us out of our game plan. We stayed intense and we stayed aggressive. That’s probably our most intense game for 32 minutes all season.”

Post Falls 70, Pocatello 68

Post Falls 25 16 17 12 - 70

Pocatello 22 13 18 15 - 68

POST FALLS Olson 0, Quesnell 21, Alexander 4, Bohn 10, McLean 6, Lee 10, Therrian 6, Juhlin 13, Fehling 0.

POCATELLO Olsen 15, Godfrey 15, Transtrum 0, Scott 0, Christensen 11, Herzog 3, Nelson 24, Jorgensen 0, Chambers 0.

, DataTimes