Viks Duo All-State Hoorelbeke, Rupp Capitalize On Championship Run

Funny how success at a state tournament produces individual recognition.

That’s certainly the case for Coeur d’Alene High basketball players Casey Hoorelbeke and Jim Rupp, who led the Vikings to their first State A-1 championship in 25 years earlier this month.

Hoorelbeke, a 6-foot-6 post, and Rupp, a 5-9 point guard, both seniors, were named first-team All-State. The Idaho Statesman newspaper in Boise, which coordinates the All-State selections through the votes of coaches, published the picks today.

Joining the two Viks on the first team are: Spencer Nelson of Pocatello, the Player of the Year bound for Utah State; Joe Green of Highland, the player of the year last season; and Travis Transtrum of Pocatello.

No Boise-area player was named first team. Boise is generally well-represented on All-State teams.

Rupp and Hoorelbeke finished 1/100th of a point apart as the Viks’ leading scorers. Rupp averaged 15.58 to Hoorelbeke’s 15.57 as the two of them led CdA to a 22-4 record.

“Justly deserved,” CdA coach Larry Bieber said. “Both those kids played their roles to the max. They had to make some sacrifices to do it, too.

“Jim had to change the way he played. He had to give up individual showmanship to become a team leader. And Casey had to play inside although he wanted to be a perimeter player. So, this is a byproduct of the team’s success.”

The players agreed.

“I think it’s awesome,” Hoorelbeke said. “We knew our performance at state was going to get us some recognition.”

Said Rupp: “I don’t think All-State would have happened if we hadn’t won state. Getting to state meant that people got to see us play.”

CdA knocked off No. 1-ranked Capital in a state opener. The Viks in general and Rupp specifically caught the attention of Capital coach Ted Hettinga.

“(Rupp) dominated the state tournament,” Hettinga said.

For the season, Rupp shot 50 percent from the field and made a team-high 50 3-pointers. Hoorelbeke averaged eight rebounds per game and led in blocked shots (49).

Both players are being recruited to play basketball and baseball. Hoorelbeke is leaning toward basketball, while Rupp plans to play baseball.

Post Falls senior guard Chad Quesnell, named the Player of the Year in the Border League, was named honorable mention all-state. He was a second team pick last year.

In A-2, Moscow senior guard Kirby Brown was named to the first team. Bishop Kelly forward Abe Jackson, who led the Knights to the state title, was named Player of the Year.

St. Maries senior post Mark Raebel was named to the second team.

No other North Idaho players were honored.

Declo senior guard Mike Christensen, the subject of a recent Sports Illustrated column for his buzzerbeating, 75-foot shot that won the State A-3 title, was named to the first team.

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