Greg Lee

When your team has made it to a placing game on Saturday of the NJCAA Division I women's basketball tournament, there's not much difference where a team finishes. Unless of course the team is playing in the national championship contest. The title "National Champions" is much better than "Runner-up". And "Runner-up" is much better than third through eighth, to be sure. North Idaho College finished sixth Saturday instead of fifth. But don't send the Cardinals any sympathy cards. "There weren't any tears in the locker room," said NIC coach Greg Crimp, whose team succumbed 71-59 to Kansas City (Kan.) Community College. No tears doesn't mean the Cardinals didn't care. But when you make it to a placing game - like NIC did for the first time in school history - it's bonus action. To explain the success NIC enjoyed this season one must back up two weeks and recall the storybook comebacks the Cardinals made at the Region 18 Tournament in Coeur d'Alene. Maybe some of the Scenic West Athletic Conference coaches were right when they told NIC's first-round national opponent that the Cardinals were fortunate to be in Tyler. Actually, the word the coaches reportedly used was much more crude - lucky. So here's NIC's response to those coaches: Sixth place in the nation, baby. It wouldn't have been possible if not for a pair of courageous comebacks at regionals in the semifinal and championship games. MVP? Tough choice When the NIC players hold their season-ending banquet and pass out awards, the choice of MVP will be difficult. It could end in a tie. It probably should. How could you pick Shawna Rainer over Jana Nearing, or vice versa? Rainer, a 6-foot post from Shadle Park HS, will end up at an NCAA Division I school where she'll play a more natural position, forward. The 5-10 Nearing, of Bonners Ferry, may be too short for her position (wing) to play Division I. Mandy Jacques (5-6, Sumner, Wash.), Jamie Richards (5-7, Polson, Mont.) and Angie Dickson (5-5, Federal Way, Wash.) deserve an opportunity to play at the NAIA level. Sixth is heavenly Rainer found it easy to talk about the season despite losing Saturday. "We had a great season," said Rainer as the Cards finish 29-6. "This is the most-fun team I've been on. Both on and off the court we've had a great season. We finished sixth and we're really proud of that. Our hard work really paid off. "It's nothing to be ashamed of. Just getting here was a great accomplishment." Hearts as big as Texas That's what Crimp said his players possess. There was a hint of disappointment in Crimp's voice Saturday, but there was more pride in the season's accomplishments. "We play a little bit on emotion and we don't have quite the athleticism that some teams down here do," he said. "Sometimes when you get as high as we were two nights ago, it's hard to get it pumped back up again." Crimp said his team surpassed expectations this season. "I knew we had a good group of sophomores back," Crimp said. "I wasn't sure when I first looked at us that we were as deep as we were. But the kids on the bench kept coming and coming. Then they started to believe in themselves, which was a key. We liked playing together. "Chemistry is a magic thing. It has to do with your players, you can't create it through coaching. I just told them that when they're my age - if they live that long - they won't remember if they were 29-6 or 30-5. But they'll remember a lot of things about the season. There were so many positives."

NIC's Shawna Rainer looks for a way around Kansas City Community College. Photo by Jeff Stead/Special to The Spokesman-Review

North Idaho College coach Greg Crimp has plenty of reason to celebrate NIC's season even if it ends in a loss today. The Cardinals are the first of five teams Crimp has taken to nationals to play in a trophy game. NIC (29-5) assured itself no worse than a sixth-place finish with a stirring 83-77 win over Louisburg (N.C.) Thursday. "It means so much to me for the kids, because this is the greatest group of kids that I've ever been involved with," said Crimp, who's in his 13th season at NIC. "I think they really show what a team is all about. There aren't a bunch of (NCAA) Division I coaches breathing down my neck for our kids like they are the other teams. My kids just come out and play hard and play together." Rocky Rainer NIC sophomore post Shawn Rainer's right eyelid had swelled to the size of a large walnut by the end of the game Thursday. She missed the final 17 minutes after an elbow from a Louisburg player sent her tumbling to the floor in pain. The injury had a Rockyesque look to it. But she won't miss her last game as a Cardinal. "Even if both eyes were swollen closed she'd play," quipped Crimp. Texas barbecue The Cardinals had a late change of mind Thursday night for their day off. They decided not to go to Dallas and Six Flags amusement park. Instead, they changed motels Friday, picking one with a swimming pool so they could sunbathe all day. The Cardinals topped it off in the evening by driving to Kilgore, 23 miles east of Tyler, to enjoy what is said by many to be the best barbecue ribs and brisket in northeastern Texas. The change in plans also meant that Crimp spent most of the day with his wife and twin 8-year-old daughters. In the afternoon, he scouted Casper (Wyo.) vs. Kansas City (Kan.), won by Kansas City 81-57. Central Arizona who? Crimp knew his players had put their embarrassing loss to Central Arizona (89-55) behind them before they took on Louisburg. A handful of the Cardinals were featured on the front page of Friday morning's Tyler Telegraph newspaper sunbathing on the grass outside their motel Thursday. And several Cardinals went to a nearby zoo. "Usually I tell them we're going to walk in together like a team and we're going to dress this way and that, but they made up their own minds and wore shorts and whatever to the (gym)," Crimp said. "They were very loose all day." Crimp's 1988-89 team played in the first tournament held at Tyler. He's thrilled his team is playing in the final tournament in Tyler. The tournament moves to Salina, Kan., for at least three years. The Cards hope to take a little something home by which to remember Tyler. Like, say, a souvenir of sorts, made out of wood and metal, with the words "Fifth Place" inscribed on it. It's a stat not documented, but reserve NIC guard Tammy Goyne has easily led her team in floor burns this season. She did so again Thursday, as she dove and skidded across the Wagstaff Gym floor. Goyne was playing with her usual reckless abandon, and she was especially motivated by the Cards' humiliating loss the night before. "They're (Central Arizona) a good team, but I don't think they're 40 points better than us," the 5-foot-2 guard from Boronia, Australia, said. Quotebook "We knew Louisburg was an awesome team, but we decided instead of coming out and getting killed and hanging our heads like we did last night, we might as well have a good time and make this national trip a fun one. We always say that we play better when we're having fun. Last night we didn't have fun. Tonight we had a great time," said Card wing Jana Nearing, who, with 19 points and 19 rebounds, was in the middle of a lot of the fun she talked about.

North Idaho's Shawna Rainer runs into some opposition - namely, Louisberg's Fredrika Clayton - on her way to the hoop in the second half. Clayton was whistled for a foul. Special to the Spokesman-Review

This recruiting stuff by the four-year women's college basketball coaches at the NJCAA Division I Tournament is serious business. Especially if you're a coach who needs an impact player and can't wait for an incoming freshman or other underclassmen to develop.

For a second straight night, the North Idaho College women's basketball team got into some fun pregame bantering with its opponent. As NIC and Central Arizona were waiting in a tunnel leading onto the court at Wagstaff Gym for their NJCAA Division I quarterfinal matchup, the teams took turns yelling cheers at each other. The teams were so vocal that a tournament official had to ask them to lower their voices until the game being played was over. It was all in good fun. The Cardinals' final cheer proved prophetic in a strange way, though. "Central, get ready for a homicide." It was Central Arizona, not NIC, committing the homicide. "You don't think they took it personally do you?" joked NIC coach Greg Crimp after Central Arizona pummeled the Cardinals 89-55. Don't think so. It's doubtful that a team that has posted 31 victories in 32 games requires much pregame motivation. Press? What press? The defense that keyed NIC's opening-round win wasn't a press. At least not technically. "We just extend our matchup zone to midcourt," Crimp said. "It's not a predictable type of press." The defense allows NIC's guards to free-lance. "They can pressure, they can double team, they can do what they want," Crimp said. If they don't get a steal, the defense retreats into a half-court matchup zone. "We heard they couldn't be pressed," Crimp said. "I think our guards lived up to the task." Quotebook "We seem to be getting famous for being behind and coming back." - NIC guard Mandy Jacques, whose tenacity is infectious. "They're great kids and work very hard. I think we have great chemistry. We're going after our PHD poor, hungry and driven." - Central Arizona coach Lin Laursen who starts four freshmen. Notes Central Arizona freshman guard Sara Ossana, who scored a team-high 16 points in her team's opening 85-77 overtime victory, is the goddaughter of Larry McMurtry, the author of the highly acclaimed novel Lonesome Dove. Savannah Tech is making its second straight trip to nationals after starting its program just four years ago. The Lady Panthers, who brought just eight players to Tyler, have no gym and travel 20 miles to practice. Junior colleges in Mississippi are allowed to have only four players from out of state and can use only two scholarships on the four players. In the nine years Tyler Junior College has hosted the event its women's team has qualified just once. That was in 1992. Tyler is a member of one of the toughest conferences in the nation, the Texas Eastern Conference. It has produced four national championships while the tourney has been held at Tyler. Nearby Kilgore won titles in 1990 and '93, and neighbor Trinity Valley has taken two of the last three titles. TV finished runner-up between '94 and '96. The most successful team in the tournament is Louisburg (N.C.), which has won 39 games. The Hurricanes won national titles in '81 and '92. Casper (Wyo.) College recruits many players from New Zealand. In the past eight years 12 New Zealanders have come to Casper. The connection started with a former Casper assistant who played professional basketball Down Under.

NIC's Jana Nearing, right, fights Tiffany Green for a loose ball. Photo by John Huseth/Special to The Spokesman-Review

Shawna Rainer shoots over Hiwassee's Heather Lenoir. Photo by Associated Press

Women's college basketball coaches were swarming around the NJCAA Division I women's tournament Tuesday like bees to honey. They're all in search of the Queen Bee who perhaps could make an immediate impact and take their teams to the next beehive - or, in coach-speak, to the next level. In the opening game in the fit-for-a-queen Wagstaff Gym on the well-kept Tyler Junior College campus, college coaches outnumbered spectators. Tournament officials estimated the coaching throng at well over 100. The coaches were easy to spot. Most of them were wearing stylish, personalized warmups with their school's name and/or mascot featured prominently. They had their clipboards or notebooks and they were making notations next to team rosters in the tourney program. Judging from opening-round games, there's a deep talent pool for the coaches to pick from. Following each game, the recruiters approached the junior college coaches and talked about the players that caught their eyes. In some cases coaches stood five-deep waiting to talk. North Idaho College coach Greg Crimp was cornered for 20 minutes. Coaches from the University of San Francisco and Xavier had nice things to say about 6-foot Cardinal sophomore Shawna Rainer, a Shadle Park High graduate. Later, Crimp told Rainer's parents they'd better get used to traveling because he thinks she'll be far from home next year. And a coach from Georgia complimented the athletic potential of 6-foot-4 freshman Erin Dowhy of Edmonton, Alberta. She poured in 12 big points and had seven rebounds off the bench in NIC's 74-65 victory over Hiwassee College. From start to finish this season, Dowhy could be NIC's most improved player - especially the last third of the year. Eavesdropping Overheard as two recruiters were walking to the parking lot: "Could I get a ride with you," a coach asked a recruiting foe. "Yeah, but it'll cost you a buck a mile," quipped the other coach. Hey, recruiting can be expensive. Would that be an NCAA violation? More swings than a playground Both NIC coach Greg Crimp and Hiwassee's Dean Walsh acknowledged the strange flow and twists of momentum in their opener. "Most games have runs, but this might have been a little more severe than most," Crimp said. Perhaps the biggest swing came after NIC bolted in front 47-42 with 13 minutes left. Three minutes and 13 straight points later, Hiwassee led 55-47. "That run was bad, but I didn't know it was (13-0)," Crimp said. "I knew I was feeling comfortable and the next time I looked up we were down eight. We weren't feeling good at all. It was like the wind was out of our sails." Following a timeout, though, NIC caught a final wind. Pardon while we gargle It can't be overstated how NIC withstood adversity Tuesday. They may have come close to, well, choking, but they didn't. Tonight, they'll have to play perhaps their best game of the year to beat Central Arizona. Six Central Arizona players scored in double figures in an 85-77 overtime victory against Seminole (Okla.). What's your game plan, Coach Crimp? "I haven't decided yet," he said, smiling nervously. "They don't seem to have any weaknesses. We're going to see a lot of great athletes. And they're well-coached." A hoop heaven Tyler is known as the Rose City (you're not alone Portland) because it calls itself the Rose Capital of the U.S. Since the town began hosting the tourney in 1989, several blossoming stars have dribbled through. Consider: former Texas Tech All-America Sheryl Swoopes (South Plains College), Alabama's Shalonda Enis (Trinity Valley) and DePaul's Kim Williams (Westark, Ark.).

Tammy Goyne has helped drive the NIC women to the national junior college basketball tournament in Tyler, Texas. Photo by Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review

1. Coach Greg Crimp gives Tammy Goyne a hug after the Region 18 title game. Photo by Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review 2. Greg Crimp has the NIC women going to nationals for the first time since 1989. Photo by Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review

Lakeside's Sam Lozeau goes up for a layup against Troy's John Potter in Saturday's A-4 championship game in Nampa. Photo by Associated Press

A 25-point margin of victory, and the winning coach in the State A-2 boys basketball championship game didn't mince words about the key. Moscow coach Don Dudley has stressed defense all season and the Bears were at their smothering best Saturday night as they caused Snake River to dry up in a 69-44 decision at the Idaho Center. "It was strictly our defense and rebounding," said Dudley, whose team opened the season 0-3 before winning their final 20. "We had the depth to play tough defense. I don't think you saw a moment where Snake River could relax on offense."

Scott Moore couldn't wait Saturday morning to start the 8-hour bus ride back to Post Falls. He probably clutched the fourth-place consolation trophy all the way home, too. The soon-to-be former Post Falls High boys basketball coach held the trophy for 10 minutes following the Trojans' convincing 75-66 win over Eagle in the State A-1 Tournament at the Idaho Center. Finally, Moore let his players pose with the trophy for team and individual pictures. "I'm going to hold that thing for a long time," Moore said, grinning. "I don't think anybody we'll be able to sleep on the bus. They're going to be pretty high. We're going to float home." Although it was a special win for Moore - the game was his last under a previously arranged agreement that he resign at the end of the season after a group of disgruntled parents pressured administrators to fire him after last season - he took time to share it with his team. He was especially thrilled for his eight seniors. Two of them, Austin Lee and Brason Alexander, played on the team two years ago that lost in the consolation final. "We learned a lesson from that game," Moore said. "We had fun last night (Friday), we went to the movies and dinked around. But when it was 11 (p.m.) we went to bed. We wanted to be prepared for today." Post Falls' dream of a state title was dashed Thursday in a 56-51 opening-round loss to Boise. But the Trojans' business wasn't finished because they wanted to leave Nampa with a trophy. And they played their brand of basketball the last two days - solid pressure defense. "Those were probably our two best games of the year," said Moore, whose team finishes 22-4. His five-year record is 74-47, the best mark of any Trojans coach in the past 12 years, perhaps longer. How dominating were the Trojans in Moore's final game? Eagle never led. Post Falls' success started with the most unsung player in the starting lineup, 6-foot senior wing Jeremy McLean. McLean, who averaged a team-leading eight rebounds per game during the regular season, made his presence felt immediately Saturday. Austin Lee won the opening tip, tapping the ball to McLean, who broke away for an uncontested layup. McLean scored 10 of his game-high 17 points in the first half as the Trojans built a 41-29 lead by halftime. He also added seven rebounds and two steals. "It was the last game of my high school career so I figured I'd better come out and play well," McLean said. "Adrenaline just kept me going." "He never has a bad game," Lee said of McLean. "He's one of those guys you don't always notice, but he led the team in rebounds. He kicked my butt." Reserve Scott McArthur, on the junior varsity all season, played the final 1:05 of the first half and had a key basket off a nice pass from Alexander that gave Post Falls the 12-point margin at intermission. Post Falls led by 13 points twice in the first quarter. The closest Eagle could get was 31-25 late in the first half. When McLean made two free throws to extend Post Falls' lead to 68-50 with 3:06 remaining, Moore knew the game was over. Still, he called timeout with 1:04 left just to remind his players to be patient, expect to be fouled and relax when Eagle had pulled within 72-62. "I told them that we had had 47 practices and 25 games and I needed 1 more minute at full speed," Moore said. "It says a lot about these guys after dropping the first one to come back and win two. It's special to win with these guys. What we preached for five years - being a class act, good individuals, good in school - it's everything we put our heart and soul into."

The cruelest lessons in life sometimes are learned in the high school athletic arena. They're more difficult to deal with, though, when decided by the slimmest of margins. Just ask the Kellogg High boys basketball team, the victims Friday of a life-isn't-fair ending in a 55-54 loss to Snake River in the State A-2 tournament semifinals at Meridian High School.

Someone once said that officials' calls in athletic events have a way of balancing out. The Post Falls High boys basketball team would have a good argument against that statement. But the lone break the Trojans received Friday came on the last whistle.

How do you split a game ball seven ways? Kellogg High boys basketball coach Tony Kerfoot must find a way - unless he decides to hand out seven balls. He couldn't pinpoint just one player, and neither could senior point guard and defensive specialist Mike Mercado, who was worthy of special praise as he led the Wildcats' comefrom-behind win, 54-50, over Jerome in a State A-2 tournament opener. In the first game of the tourney at Meridian High School, Moscow held off Preston 53-48.

Post Falls' Brason Alexander drives to the hoop and a pair of points over the Boise High defense. Photo by Associated Press

Your team graduates four starters, including the player of the year, off a team that placed third and fourth the past two years at the State A-2 boys basketball tournament. You return three players who shared a starting job last season.

It's probably too early to start talking about a possible North Star League showdown in the State A-4 boys basketball tournament title game. So far so good, though. NSL and District I champ Lakeside and runner-up Mullan came sprinting out of the blocks during opening-round play in the newly expanded 16-team tournament Wednesday. Top-ranked Lakeside wants to return to the state championship game because it believes it should have won last year. Mullan's players, meanwhile, are inspired to send retiring coach John Drager out with a trophy. Both teams played inspired, to be sure. In an afternoon game, Mullan had little trouble with North Gem as the Tigers pulled away 64-47 at Bishop Kelly High School. Down the road, at Borah High, Lakeside got into a track meet with Wilder before prevailing 84-76. Mullan (18-6) takes on highly touted District II champ Troy (21-3) in a quarterfinal matchup tonight at 5:30 PST. Lakeside (20-1) faces off with Cascade (18-3) at 7. One more win by the NSL teams guarantees a trophy game on Saturday. Lakeside 84, Wilder 76 Excuse the estimated crowd of 400 that watched this scoring fest if it feels a little whiplash this morning. There wasn't much defense as the teams zipped back and forth in transition. The Knights had opportunities to put Wilder away early, but the Wildcats would have nothing to do with it. Both teams actually presented matchup problems for each other. Lakeside has a balanced team of height and quickness. Wilder has nobody taller than 6 feet, but is equally as speedy as Lakeside. The quickness canceled each other out. The difference came inside, where 6-foot-5 Andrew Twiss and 6-3 Brenden Nelson owned the key. However, foul trouble neutralized the posts and allowed Wilder to stay within shooting range. Twiss and Nelson combined for 31 points. Matching that combined performance was Wilder's 5-10 forward Jeremy Storms, who played up a storm. He single-handedly kept the Wildcats on the Knights' heels with a game-high 35 points. He drove repeatedly uncontested along the baseline for easy layups. It appeared both teams would threaten the 100-point mark in the first half. Wilder, in fact, scored 117 points in a regular-season game. So the pace was much to its liking. A tipin at the buzzer by Twiss gave Lakeside a 24-14 lead after the first quarter. A 3-pointer by Ken Pluff, who played a marvelous game off the bench, gave the Knights their biggest lead in the opening half, at 34-16, with 5:40 left.

Adam Fehling and his fellow Post Falls Trojans hope they will stand head and shoulders above the rest of the field in the boys State A-1 high school basketball tournament that begins its three-day run today at Nampa. Photo by Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review

Jared Lawrence makes quick work of Pocatello's Kirk Nestler with a pin in 119-pound title match. Photo by Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review

Lakeland's Nathan Pascoe bends Stephan Morley of Middleton to his will en route to victory in 171-pound championship match. Photo by Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review

If these were horse races, one might be tempted to take a trifecta on North Idaho boys basketball teams bound for state tournaments next week. The three teams which figure to contend for state titles are Post Falls (A-1), Moscow (A-2) and Lakeside (A-4).