Post Falls’ win over LC completes sweep

Look who has the momentum now.

It wasn’t improbable, but the Post Falls High girls basketball team pulled off victories in back-to-back nights that some may have thought implausible.

Some, that is, except the Trojans.

After knocking off second-ranked and Inland Empire League champ Coeur d’Alene 47-44 on Thursday, Post Falls held off defending 5A state champ Lake City 55-51 Friday at The Arena.

With the sweep, the Trojans (17-3, 9-3) vaulted past Lake City (13-5, 8-3) to secure the second seed in the Region I tournament that begins Friday at Elmer Jordan Court. The two teams turn around and face off in a regional opener in the first game at 5:30. In the second game, Coeur d’Alene (18-2, 11-1) will take on No. 4 Lewiston (10-10, 7-5) at 7.

Senior Kandice McArthur’s steal in the final seconds and free throws after being intentionally fouled secured the sweep.

Moments earlier, sophomore Katelyn Loper scored the go-ahead basket when she made a 10-foot leaning runner just inside the free-throw line with 17 seconds remaining.

“We were supposed to do a pass and cut,” Loper said. “He (Coach Chris Johnson) said, ‘If you have a layin, take it.’ I just took a chance and put it up there and happily it went in. I’m just happy for our seniors. That’s who I’m really happy for. They deserve it.”

It was a game that the Trojans almost let slip away. Post Falls took a 27-17 lead into halftime.

“We came out soft and I don’t know why,” LC coach Darren Taylor said of his team’s start.

The Timberwolves chipped away at the deficit, pounding the ball into junior standout post Katie Baker, who scored 16 of her game-high 22 points in the second half. She also had a game-high 14 rebounds.

LC crept within 36-33 through three periods. Then 59 seconds into the fourth quarter, senior post Amanda Krier made two fouls shots that put the T-Wolves ahead 37-36.

A steal and layup by junior Jordan Schoening allowed Post Falls to push ahead 49-45 with 3:19 to go.

Baker tied it at 51 when she made a nice baseline move for a 4-foot bank shot with 1:21 remaining. The T-Wolves had a chance on their next possession to take the lead, but Baker was called for an offensive foul.

After Loper’s basket, LC had a final chance. Taylor thought his team was executing the play well before McArthur tipped it away.

“It was a great play,” Taylor said. “That was the game right there. We were going to Amanda (high post) and then diving Katie (down low) and no one went with Katie. I was watching going ‘that’s a layin’.”

Taylor couldn’t believe the difficult shot Loper made.

“Loper makes some shots that are crazy, but they go in,” he said. “That last one …. You’ve got to give them credit.”

Loper finished with a team-high 20 points. Schoening added 13. Krier supported Baker with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

“The kids were just bubbly all day,” Johnson said of their win over CdA. “(With Senior Night) there were a lot of tears just moments before the game. I’m proud of them for pulling it together.”

Also in the league, Kama Griffitts scored 18 points to lead Coeur d’Alene to a 59-27 victory over host Moscow. The Vikings outscored the Bears 17-7 in the second quarter and led 33-15 at the half. Chantel Divilbiss led Moscow with 10 points. CdA improved to 18-2, 11-1. The Bears fell to 0-19 and 0-11. … Kiki Edwards-Teasley scored 12 points and Jessica Kramer added 10 as Lewiston routed host Sandpoint 57-26. The Bengals outscored the Bulldogs 15-4 in the second quarter to take a 30-15 lead at the half. Lewiston put the game away in the second half by outscoring Sandpoint 27-11 in the second half. Alissa Tenuto had a team-high nine points for the Bulldogs. The Bengals improved to 10-10, 7-5, while Sandpoint fell to 7-13, 3-9.