Greg Lee

A major facelift of the west side of Boise State University's Bronco Stadium will force a major change for spectators at the Idaho state high school track meets next month. BSU broke ground in mid-February on a $35.9 million luxury suites/press box addition to Bronco Stadium. That means west-side seating, which overlooks the track's start/finish line, will be closed. The only seating that will be open will be the east bleachers.

The speculation about the future of Texas freshman phenom Kevin Durant will do nothing but mushroom in the days to come. The 6-foot-9 forward, who's been called by some media as a cross between NBA standouts Kevin Garnett and Tracy McGrady, tried to stop the conversation in its tracks Sunday following Texas' 87-68 drubbing at the hands of Southern California in the subregionals at the Arena.

MERIDIAN, Idaho – The Bonners Ferry High boys basketball team didn't make it to state primarily because of its shooting. No, the Badgers qualified for the State 3A tournament largely because of defense and chemistry. But as they learned in their final two games, both losses, they needed a few more shots to fall.

CALDWELL, Idaho – Most of the season, the short-but-quick Coeur d'Alene High boys basketball team has posed matchup problems for the teams it has played. Saturday morning, it was the Vikings with the matchup headaches.

MERIDIAN, Idaho – Not even a real badger, let alone the two-legged variety wearing the Bonners Ferry High boys basketball uniforms, could have dug out of as many holes as the ones the Badgers found themselves in on Friday. The final den eventually caved in on Bonners Ferry – largely because of Buhl's defense and in part because of the Badgers' horrific shooting.

NAMPA, Idaho – The final score doesn't justly show how well the Coeur d'Alene High boys basketball team played to be in position to win Friday, nor how feebly it played when it should have put Highland away. For the second day in a row, Coeur d'Alene had difficulty finishing. The Vikings were thankful that they had enough cushion to survive a precarious final 5 minutes.

MERIDIAN, Idaho – Bonners Ferry High boys basketball coach Gordy Allured has stressed that this year's team isn't the most talented of the three he's taken to state in three years. The 2007 Badgers, though, make up the best team. Bonners Ferry proved that once again Thursday as the Badgers knocked off a better group of players in the South Fremont Cougars, 67-56, in a State 3A tournament opener at Meridian High School.

NAMPA, Idaho – Rust, nerves or difficulty finding the range from long distance in an open-ended arena against an inviting 2-3 zone? Coeur d'Alene High boys basketball coach Kent Leiss couldn't put a definite finger on the struggles his team trudged through Thursday in the opening round of the State 5A tournament at the Idaho Center. Perhaps it was a combination of the three.

The Bonners Ferry Badgers overcame adversity to put themselves in a position to win league and district boys basketball titles this year. First, a returning starter moved. Second, a starter who was suspended three games quit just before Christmas. Both players were all-Intermountain League selections last year.

CALDWELL, Idaho – Josiah Menzies was humbled and hurt in the District I boys basketball tournament last week. Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy's leading scorer was held to three points in two games. He also sprained a knee in the Panthers' state-berth clinching win in the district final Friday.

History suggests that the North Star League teams that qualified for the State 1A boys basketball tournament won't be around long this week. The Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy and Clark Fork coaches admit it's a possibility. But they also believe their teams can buck the odds.

POCATELLO, Idaho – No North Idaho 5A or 3A teams captured trophies, but five individuals won state championships Saturday in the 50th high school wrestling tournament at Idaho State University's Holt Arena. In 5A, junior Jeremy Zabel of Coeur d'Alene repeated, winning at 160 pounds; sophomore Tracey Huffman of Lewiston won at 112; and senior Duane Carr of Post Falls was victorious at 189.

POCATELLO, Idaho – Five 5A and six 3A wrestlers from North Idaho will seek state titles in the 50th annual high school championships at Idaho State University's Holt Arena. In 5A, Coeur d'Alene advanced two of three semifinalists, Lewiston two and Post Falls one Friday evening. In 3A, Timberlake will be looking to triple its number of state champions as the Tigers pushed all three of their semifinalists into title matches, while Bonners Ferry got two of four through and Priest River has one.

The Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy boys basketball team is charting new territory. The Panthers will play in their first 1A District I championship game after they posted their first postseason win Wednesday.

The 3A District I boys basketball tournament championship game featured frequent and infrequent participants. It took a half before frequency prevailed going away.