Cda, Lewiston Meet In Pivotal Game
Big perhaps isn’t a big enough word to describe the Border League boys basketball showdown Friday at Coeur d’Alene.
That’s when Lewiston takes on the Vikings in a game that will decide the league championship and which team, as champion, plays host to the Region I tournament.
With one guaranteed state berth, homecourt advantage could be pivotal.
Tipoff Friday night is at 7:45.
Lewiston coach Dick Richel is calling the face-off between the co-league leaders (11-2) the most important regular-season game in 10 years at Lewiston.
Meanwhile, Larry Bieber is hoping to take his first team to state in his four years as coach of the Vikings.
The Bengals have won 10 straight since a 4-3 start, and the Bengals are unbeaten in seven road games. CdA has won seven straight since a 60-51 setback on Jan. 3 in the teams’ first league encounter.
Bieber said CdA played probably its worst game of the year in the nine-point loss at Lewiston. The Viks played without leading scorer Casey Hoorelbeke, who was out with a fractured foot, and Lukas O’Dowd was rusty and playing in just his second game after missing CdA’s first seven games after hernia surgery. Also, O’Dowd was suffering from food poisoning.
“We still should have won; we shot poorly,” said Bieber, whose team was 17 for 51 from the field, 2 of 18 on 3-pointers.
After Friday, both teams have two league games remaining against teams they’ve beaten. CdA goes to Post Falls and finishes at home against Lake City. Lewiston is home against Post Falls and visits Sandpoint.
If CdA salvages a split against Lewiston and both teams win their final games, the Viks would host the regional tourney based on the tiebreaker involving a better record against the next-best team in the league, Cheney. CdA swept the Blackhawks; Lewiston split.
“We’re not looking past the teams we still have to play - we have to win those games too - but Lewiston is the team we have to beat to get the first seed in the (regional),” Bieber said. “The winner will play at home (in the postseason). The loser will travel. And we want to be right here.”
It’s unfortunate that the most critical boys game of the year is on the same night as second-round play in the A-1 Region I girls tournament at Lake City.
For the fan in general, though, it’s an easy decision on which event to attend. Take in the CdA-Lewiston game because the girls regional title game is Tuesday.
For the record
Clark Fork High administrators balked last week when Lakeside Principal Kurt Hoffman said North Star League officials voted unanimously in favor of giving league champs in basketball an automatic state berth.
Hoffman was correct about the vote. It was afterward that Clark Fork decided it was against the proposal. So Clark Fork’s objection is noted here.
The first night of the NSL’s district tournament has been changed from Tuesday to Monday at Lakeland High to avoid conflict with an A-2 district game.
Nearly perfect
It’s believed that the Lake City High girls basketball team, which completed regular-season play at 20-0, won’t be as dominating next year or in years to come.
The Timberwolves will graduate four of five starters. Half of next year’s varsity will be comprised of players from the junior varsity.
But consider these numbers: LC’s JV, coached by Michelle Judy, wife of new CdA mayor Steve Judy, posted a 19-1 record, the one defeat coming at Boise; the sophomore team, coached by Darren Taylor, finished 19-0; and the freshman team, coached by former CdA High player Laura Brown, ended 19-0.
Add all four up and it’s a staggering 77-1.
Rebuild? Not by most definitions.
Soccer honor for Campbell
Sandpoint senior soccer player Jason Campbell is the 1997 Gatorade Circle of Champions Idaho Player of the Year. A midfielder, Campbell led Sandpoint to third at state. He was an all-tourney pick.
, DataTimes