Coeur D’Alene High Grabs First Hoops Crown In 25 Years

In the closing minute of the State A-1 boys basketball championship game Saturday, well after Coeur d’Alene’s 16-point first-quarter lead had evaporated, there was no fear in the eyes of the Vikings.

The Vikings coupled a free throw, a defensive gem and a breakaway basket for a 56-53 victory over tradition-rich Borah before a crowd of 5,000 at the Idaho Center.

It’s CdA’s first state crown in 25 years, seventh in school history. And the title comes on the weekend of the 70th anniversary of the school’s first basketball title in 1928.

“I’m just emotionally and physically beat,” CdA Coach Larry Bieber said. “But I’m also on cloud nine. There’s great emotion. But it doesn’t matter how I feel. This is about the kids.”

See Sports, page C1.

, DataTimes