Greg Lee

So they came up just short of a three-peat. Nothing to be overly disappointed about if you’re a Coeur d’Alene football player. The Vikings lost to a worthy champion, Madison.

Matthew Phillichi kicked a 25-yard field goal with 1 second remaining to lift the visiting Bellarmine Prep Lions past the Gonzaga Prep Bullpups 32-29 in a State 4A quarterfinal football game Saturday.

It’s been over a year since University basketball standout Brett Bailey gave an oral commitment to the University of San Diego. Bailey made his commitment official Wednesday when he signed his national letter of intent.

The Coeur d’Alene football team will try to do something Friday that’s never been done in the 5A ranks – become the first school to capture three straight state championships. That was certainly the goal when the season started – even if more than half of the Vikings’ starters were going to be juniors and first-year varsity players.

The dream of a repeat ended in a five-set loss for the Colville volleyball team Saturday afternoon at Lakewood, Wash. In a toe-to-toe battle with the No. 1-ranked Tumwater Thunderbirds, Colville came up short, 25-17, 17-25, 25-23, 23-25 and 15-10, in the State 2A semifinals at Pierce College.

LAKEWOOD, Wash. – The Colville Indians didn’t follow their season pattern Friday in the first round of the State 2A volleyball tournament. For the first time this season, the Indians lost the opening set in a match they went on to win. Colville took care of things in the next three sets in a 26-28, 25-11, 25-14 and 25-18 decision over the Mark Morris Monarchs at Pierce College.

LACEY, Wash. – The Mead volleyball team seemingly has as many hitters as a cat has lives. The No. 1-ranked Panthers took care of business in their opening two matches Friday in the State 4A tournament at Saint Martin’s University. Mead swept the Auburn Riverside Ravens 25-17, 25-12, 25-15 in an opener and stopped the Camas Papermakers 25-15, 27-25, 25-15 in the quarterfinals.

LACEY, Wash. – The Mt. Spokane volleyball team’s State 3A tournament was almost over before it got started Friday morning. Down two sets, the Wildcats had no room for error. Somehow they rallied to knock off Lakeside of Seattle 19-25, 18-25, 25-21, 25-12 and 15-9 at Saint Martin’s University.

Idaho High School Activities Association executive director John Billetz stopped by our Coeur d’Alene office recently to talk about football. We chatted about a proposal from the 10 District III (Boise-area) 5A schools that would take a state playoff berth away from the four-team Inland Empire League. As it stands now, District III receives four state berths. But the schools want a fifth, meaning half would qualify for the postseason.

The four seniors on the Colville volleyball team – Leanna Carr, Joellee Buckner, Jacy Vining and Jessie Glidewell – have been part of 96 victories the past three years. They’ll hit the century mark with four more victories. They’ll match last year’s final record (34-1) with four more victories. More important, though, is four more victories will give them a second straight state championship.

The four seniors on the Colville volleyball team – Leanna Carr, Joellee Buckner, Jacy Vining and Jessie Glidewell – have been part of 96 victories the past three years.

The University volleyball team will not be participating in the final day of the 3A Regional tournament today, the WIAA board ruled Thursday. The WIAA ruled that U-Hi played all season with an ineligible player who attends a private school.

The Inland Northwest Sportswriters and Broadcasters Youth Sports Awards banquet would have celebrated its 35th birthday in February. There won’t be a party – er, banquet – this year. It has been canceled indefinitely because it’s become too expensive, Spokane Sports Commission President and CEO Eric Sawyer said Thursday.

Just when Coeur d’Alene cross country coach Cathy Compton thought she’d seen everything from her girls team, it went and topped even her wildest imagination Saturday afternoon. Ranked No. 1 all season, Coeur d’Alene confirmed it in dominating style, posting a state-record 29 points at Hells Gate State Park in Lewiston to capture the school’s second State 5A championship.