Idaho State 5A boys: Post Falls carries top ranking to tournament
Post Falls boys basketball coach Mike McLean fully expected to be headed to Nampa this week.
He didn’t think his team would be packing along a No. 1 ranking in the state or a 22-1 record.
One opposing coach believes Post Falls has earned the right to head to state with confidence.
“I sincerely have nothing but praise for that team, and the coaching staff has done a magnificent job,” Lake City coach Jim Winger said. “They’re a great team. Everything they’re doing is great. That is a well-oiled machine.”
McLean is taking a team to state for a seventh straight year. He knows what it will take to win a state championship. After all, he’s had a state winner and a state runner-up.
“This year’s team is as good defensively as I have ever had,” McLean said. “I have never had a team that could full-court pressure relentlessly for four quarters. I think this team is in the same conversation as my two other teams that have played in the state title game, but they still have to write their final chapter in their legacy.”
McLean likes what the team has written so far. Post Falls opens today against District III No. 4 seed Nampa (13-12) at 5:15 Pacific time at the Ford Idaho Center.
The Trojans are the deepest team in McLean’s eight seasons at the helm. He feels comfortable going 11 deep.
“What’s special about this team is everyone accepts their role,” he said. “Some of the best basketball I’ve seen all year is actually in practice when we split up intersquad and get after it and play up and down. That’s where our depth helps us. When we go to the bench we get faster. They’re not the shooters our main guys are, but we get faster. So we cycle those guys through. The other part that makes us better with our depth in practice is we can really work on things. When we split them up we try to make it even. That helps us to play intensely all the time.”
The teams McLean has taken to state in recent years haven’t been as blessed on offense as others. This team has a blend of everything.
“This team can score and defend,” he said. “The last couple of years we got to state by playing defense and trying to find a way offensively. We find ways to score in bunches with this team.”
McLean saw the signs last year. He had one of the best junior varsity teams.
“I knew we were coming,” he said. “Last year, our JV team could have placed at the 4A (state tournament). But with loyalty to our guys (seniors), I’m not going to pull out guys who got us through the wars. You’ve got to earn your time and respect the kids you’ve got.”
A pair of guards leads the Trojans in scoring. Junior Max McCullough averages 14.4 and senior Dalton Thompson averages 12.1.
The Trojans are averaging 70.2 ppg and allowing 46.3. They’re dishing out 12 assists and opponents are averaging 19 turnovers.
“We’re just starting to peak,” McLean said. “I actually think we can play better. Does this record surprise me? I didn’t think we’d lose only one game. I go out of my way to make our schedule as difficult and ridiculous as I can to challenge our guys. I have never had a team with this much basketball skill and experience.”