Post Falls reaches title game
NAMPA, Idaho – What pressure?
Post Falls hasn’t won a boys basketball state championship in 46 years.
After losing the district title game to Lake City, some didn’t expect the Trojans to vie for the 5A title.
Yet here they are, one win away after knocking off 2009 finalist Madison 78-57 on Friday – a year after the Bobcats had dispatched the Trojans in the 5A semifinals.
Post Falls (21-4) meets Eagle at 7 p.m. PST today for the 5A title at the Idaho Center. The Mustangs edged Borah 45-42 in the late semi.
“I don’t think there is much pressure on this team anymore,” third-year Post Falls coach Mike McLean said. “I think we were expected to get here and do well at state. Now that we’ve got to the title (game), our guys will play loose. We won’t be tight. We won’t be nervous.”
By doing what they do, the Trojans leveled all the pressure on Madison (18-8), which seemed overwhelmed by Post Falls’ running-but-by-no-means-gunning style.
Shawn Reid, the 6-foot-4 senior guard committed to Montana State University, helped Post Falls’ offense create havoc. Punctuating his dazzling display with a dunk with less than 2 minutes left, Reid matched teammate Marcus Colbert with a game-high 24 points and 10 rebounds.
The Trojans challenged the Bobcats with a pressing offense that hamstrung Madison’s leading player, Josh Fuller. He scored 10 of his team’s 29 points in just eight first-half minutes because of three fouls. He ended with 16.
“That’s a part of the style of offense we play to help our defense,” McLean said.
5A
Rocky Mountain 72, Lake City 52: Josh Hasquet scored 14 points and Riley Bruneel added 10 as the Grizzlies eliminated the Timberwolves (13-11).
LC’s Chris Wheelock scored a game-high 15 points.
4A
Moscow 56, Bishop Kelly 40: Nick Clyde scored 19 points with 10 rebounds as the Bears (18-6) advanced to the championship game with a win over the Knights. Moscow plays Twin Falls for the title tonight at 5 at the Idaho Center.
3A
Priest River 60, Shelley 49: The Spartans (21-3) built a 17-point lead at halftime and it held up for a victory over the Russets and a berth in the title game.
Jake Weimer scored 17 points and Max Salesky added 15 with seven rebounds for Priest River, which will play Salmon today at 2:50 at the Idaho Center in the championship game.
Fruitland 43, St. Maries 37: The Lumberjacks’ 20-point fourth quarter eclipsed their point total the first three quarters, but it wasn’t enough to catch the Grizzlies in a loser-out game.
Jack Mercer led St. Maries (11-10) with nine points.
1A Division II
Mackay 57, Kootenai 36: Kole Krosch scored 32 points as the Miners eliminated the Warriors (12-11)