Idaho preps: Colleges land PF’s Loper, Reid

Post Falls basketball standouts Katelyn Loper and Shawn Reid are headed east to play in college next year.

Loper, a 5-foot-10 guard, is headed near the Big Apple and Reid, a 6-5 guard, is bound for Big Sky country. Loper has given Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., an oral commitment while Reid has accepted an offer from Montana State University.

Loper wants to major in communications with an emphasis in sports broadcasting.

Hofstra coaches saw Loper play last summer for the Spokane Stars at the junior nationals in Washington, D.C. They were recruiting a girl on a team the Stars were playing when they noticed Loper.

Montana State, Boise State and Northern Arizona also recruited Loper. She visited Hofstra and BSU in early September.

“I didn’t feel as comfortable at Boise State as I did at Hofstra,” Loper said. “I thought I fit in well with the girls at Hofstra.”

Post Falls coach Chris Johnson thinks Loper will make a smooth transition to the East Coast.

“She’ll soak up the culture there,” Johnson said. “She makes friends so easily. I think she’ll love that whole environment. We’re really glad she made her decision before the season started so she can relax and enjoy her senior year.”

Spokane Stars coach Ron Adams believes Loper made a good decision.

“She earned the scholarship when she was at junior nationals,” Adams said. “She’s one of the best catch-and-shoot players I’ve coached. She will fit in well there.”

Montana State was the first school to recruit Reid last year. Portland State and Colorado State were also recruiting him, but he found everything he wanted in his visit to Bozeman.

“I want to major in business and they have one of the top business programs in the nation,” Reid said. “They showed a lot of interest in me right away. They were sending me letters almost every day.”

Reid has grown more than an inch since last season. He wears a size 14 shoe and has been told that he could grow as tall as 6-10.

“They’re excited about getting him,” Post Falls coach Mike McLean said. “They think he can be their No. 1 guard.”

Win or done?

The Post Falls and Lewiston football teams can’t afford another 5A Inland Empire League loss if they want to stay in the playoff chase.

Lewiston (3-3, 0-1 IEL) visits Post Falls (4-2, 0-1) Friday.

“The scenario we’re looking at is win our last two league games and we’ll be playing for something,” PF coach Jeff Hinz said.

PF bounced back last week with a second-half rally to beat Central Valley 13-12 after losing 20-0 to Lake City in a league opener the week before. Coeur d’Alene handled Lewiston 42-26 in a league opener for both teams last Friday.

•In a 4A IEL opener Friday, Moscow (4-2) travels to Lakeland (2-5).

Lakeland must find a way to contain the quick Bears, especially speedy running back Jayson Washington.

•In a non-league game tonight, Coeur d’Alene (5-1) faces Shadle Park (0-6) at Albi Stadium. In a non-league game Friday, Lake City (1-5) plays host to Meridian (1-5).

•In Intermountain League games Friday, Timberlake (5-1, 3-0) can clinch the title when St. Maries (0-6, 0-3) visits. In other games, Orofino (3-3, 2-1) is at Priest River (5-1, 2-1) in a game that will decide second and Kellogg (1-5, 1-2) goes to Bonners Ferry (3-2, 1-2).