Greg Lee

Post Falls High School boys basketball coach Scott Moore is right. There is a lot more to the Lake City Timberwolves than just Jon Chatfield. Chatfield still managed to score a game-high 16 points, but it was the supporting cast that helped the Timberwolves trudge past the Trojans, 69-50, in an Inland Empire League opener for both teams Friday at Lake City.

Two-time Sandpoint High School state wrestling champion Pat Larson will rejoin the Bulldogs today, two weeks after he allegedly quit the team. Larson, a 152-pound junior, reportedly quit the team the day before the prestigious Tri-State Tournament. But he and his parents claim the situation regarding his departure was misunderstood, that he left the team because of injuries.

Inland Empire League boys basketball teams begin conference play tonight, and Lewiston coach Dick Richel sees league as an opportunity for a fresh start. Richel isn't alone. As four of the five teams brace for league openers, just one team boasts a winning record. It's no surprise which team had the most successful first half of the season. Lake City, 6-3 overall and heavily favored to win the league championship, entertains defending league champion Post Falls (4-4) tonight.

Sandpoint's Zach Vaughan throws Shawn Howard of Shadle Park on his way to 8-6 victory at Christianson Gym. Photo by Shawn Jacobson/The Spokesman-Review

1. Jon Chatfield averages 26.8 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. Photo by Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review 2. Jon Chatfield lifts ball over a Boise defender and into the basket on his way to a 33-point performance. Photo by Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review

If the Moscow High School girls basketball team was in the Inland Empire League, it would be in first place going into the holidays. Moscow, which captured three straight State A-2 championships and took fourth last year, appears poised to capture another state title. The Bears probably could contend for an A-1 crown. Moscow is 4-1 against IEL teams, losing only to defending state-champion Lake City 47-37 in the Bears' season-opening game at LC.

The final statistics didn't show the complete contributions of North Idaho College basketball player Eric Sanchez. The 6-foot-4 sophomore finished with just four points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals. Nothing stellar in that line, but it was his fly-at-the-ball aggression in NIC's often-smothering 1-3-1 halfcourt trap defense that drew high praise from coach Rolly Williams.

Just call this a do-over, or a P.S. After watching the Coeur d'Alene High School boys basketball team in its homeopening 68-62 loss to Central Valley last week, it's evident another player should be added to the preseason all-Inland Empire League team. In fact, this player wasn't even listed in our "players to watch" graphic in the preseason preview package. If Coeur d'Alene's 6-foot-6 sophomore post Luke O'Dowd is still an unknown, it won't be long before he erases "un" from the word and is known.

Heidi Umthun hopes to help get the Post Falls Trojans to state before heading off to Boise State University next season. Photo by Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review

The Lake City High School boys basketball team prefers to play at a sprinting pace. Not breakneck, mind you, but quicker than the first-half tempo of its home opener Tuesday against taller Moscow.

Idaho/GSL girls Some day girls basketball between the intracity rivals here may be competitive. Until then, though, Lake City owns the show. The Timberwolves put a 62-19 hurt on the Coeur d'Alene Vikings in an Inland Empire League game Saturday at Lake City.

Sandpoint coach Dan Taylor has his eye on another championship banner. File/The Spokesman-Review

GSL/FL boys Corby Shuh gave new meaning to the term single-handedly Tuesday. The 6-foot-3 Central Valley High School guard shot the Bears back into their non-league game against Coeur d'Alene. And it ultimately proved fatal to the Vikings, who lost their shooting touch in the second half.

If for no other reason than to stir up conversation in North Idaho boys and girls basketball locker rooms, we offer our prepostseason Inland Empire and Intermountain all-league teams. We'll start with the boys. In the Inland Empire League, Lake City is represented by three players on the all-league team - point guard Mike Thompson and wings Scott Hoover and Jon Chatfield.

Coach Jerry Lee is rewarded for pointing his Post Falls Trojans back to the State A-1 Division II playoffs. Photo by Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review

Lewiston receiver Jim Farris, turning the corner against Post Falls, is expected to play despite a sore back. Photo by Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review

Genuinely humble. Graceful in victory and defeat. Doesn't possess an inflated image of his or her talents. I've been following high school athletes in these parts for nearly 11-1/2 years and there's only been a few high-profile athletes who share those characteristics with Alli Nieman. Her qualities are as natural as one of her smooth 10-foot turnaround jumpers or a well-timed, crushing kill off a quick set.

Nieman

It took the Deary Mustangs just 17 minutes to romp past the Mullan Tigers 48-0 in a State A-4 eight-man football semifinal Saturday evening at the Kibbie Dome. Before the fans could warm their seats, Deary was thinking about its third straight trip to the state championship game.

Post Falls running back Josh Mort finished with 185 yards but was targeted in the first half by Lewiston when he had just 44. Photo by Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review

Lake City's Lindsay Herbert dribbles past Centennial's Kristinya Birch in the season opener Friday night. Photo by Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review

Austin Lee stands out at defensive end for the Post Falls Trojans. Photo by Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review

Seth Kernodle, left, and Josh Morton, both 150-pounders and Mead High School products, are matched in practice. Photo by Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review

New Lake City girls basketball coach Dave Stockwell hopes to direct Natalie Telford and teammates to more success. Photo by Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review