PF team ends special season

POST FALLS – Jenny McVeigh knew it wouldn’t be easy the last time she would be with her Post Falls High girls basketball team in the locker room Saturday before warm-ups for the State 5A tournament third-place game. “I was really emotional before the game,” McVeigh said, wiping away tears. “I do our team prayers. I could barely get through it.”

McVeigh and her teammates bounced back from arguably their worst game of the season in a 61-50 semifinal loss to Vallivue on Friday to run away from Twin Falls 69-53 to earn a trophy.

It was a well-deserved trophy, too, for Post Falls’ five seniors – McVeigh, Kandice McArthur, Heather Arnone and the Schmidt twins, C.J. and Denise.

McVeigh, McArthur and Arnone were on varsity since their freshman season. Their introduction to varsity was a difficult one as Post Falls finished 2-20 overall.

The Schmidts came aboard as sophomores. The seniors were so close to making their first trip to state last year, but lost in double overtime to eventual state champ Lake City after the Trojans watched a five-point lead with 30 seconds left in the fourth quarter evaporate.

The emotions and the tears were copious Saturday when the Trojans, who concluded with a 21-4 record, earned something tangible to show for all their hard work.

“The chemistry was a lot better this year,” McVeigh explained. “In the past we wanted to win as a group, but there were also other things we wanted personally. We got to our senior year and we’re like ‘this is it.’ If we don’t come together and do this there are no second chances.

“We’ve all played together since we were 9 and 10 years old. We’ve just all grown and matured as women. I think we all grew so much from last year to this year. I’m really excited for all of us. We’ve all worked hard.”

The Trojans had their detractors – some critics especially targeted Chris Johnson and his coaching style.

The seniors gathered, arm in arm, around Johnson for a photo following their final game.

“I want to give a shout out for our coach,” said C.J. Schmidt, as she, too, fought back tears. “Johnson’s gone through a lot of adversity. We owe it all back to him. The stuff that’s been said about him is not true. He deserves every bit of this. He believed in us and that’s what pushed us through this whole season. It’s good to have a coach like that.”

The week before state, Post Falls knocked off Coeur d’Alene 46-45 in the Region I championship game. Coeur d’Alene bounced back to capture the state championship in commanding fashion.

“We wanted to be in the championship game with (CdA),” Schmidt said. “But it’s all right. We came through and got third.”

Johnson had no difficulty summing up the season.

“It’s been such a good year,” he said. “I told the kids before the game (Saturday) I wouldn’t trade this bunch for any team I’ve coached in 22 years (14 as head coach). They have talent, but they also have heart. They’re just really good people. They’ve just been a pleasure to be around.”

McArthur said to earn a trophy was the culmination of a special season.

“Coming here is a big experience because last year we should have been here,” McArthur said. “We decided in our last game to go out with a bang. I wanted to do as much as I could. Third – it’s not as good as a state title, but it sure feels good to have it.”

Arnone was a starter the past two years, but her playing time went down this season because seven players were capable of starting and something had to give.

“It was tough at the beginning, but I just wanted what was best for the team,” Arnone said. “I just wanted us to get to state. So it was fine.”

Arnone and McVeigh decided before the season started not to shave their legs until the Trojans lost a game. As it turned out, Post Falls lost its season opener to Lake City.

So then they pledged to go the whole season without shaving.

“We just decided not to shave at all because we didn’t feel like we were defeated in that game,” Arnone said.

So they made a bet with the school’s athletic trainer, Dave Andrews. Arnone and McVeigh would have to clean the training room if they didn’t go the whole season without shaving. If they made it, Andrews would have to buy them something.

They made it without shaving, and Andrews must pay up.

Post Falls sophomore Katyln Loper, who scored a career-high 33 points in the final game, and Jordan Schoening, a junior and the Trojans’ defensive stopper, will miss the seniors.

Loper spoke affectionately about the seniors.

“I love my seniors,” she said. “I give it all to them. They gave a lot of heart. There were a lot of tears in this tournament. They came out and played strong for us and I’m very proud of them.”

“Every game we played was for them,” Schoening added. “They had a rough couple of years. Their freshman year was bad. So this whole season we wanted to play well for them and make it a good year.”

Mission accomplished.