Who Says Nobody’s Perfect?

Just two A-1 high school boys basketball teams have posted undefeated seasons since the state format expanded to the four-championship alignment in 1964.

Capital did it twice, going 26-0 in 1974-75 and 25-0 in 1977-78 during a stretch of four straight titles by the Boise school. The coach was and still is Charlie Henry.

Two of the eight teams that open play today in the A-1 tournement - Centennial and Rigby - will take unbeaten records into Holt Arena at Idaho State University.

Both teams are 23-0. The odds say that one of the teams will finish the season undefeated. The odds also say both could lose.

The team most likely to end its season undefeated and capture the state title this weekend is Centennial, which was ranked No. 1 all season.

The Patriots of Centennial routinely defeated opponents by double-digit margins (average margin of victory 22 points). In fact, their closest game was a 67-58 win over Capital.

“They’re the best team in the state - period,” said Lake City coach Jim Winger, whose team dropped an early season game to the Pats 68-51 after trailing 31-29 at halftime.

Winger watched Centennial handle Capital 71-61 in the District III title game last Friday.

Rigby has won some games it easily could have lost, including two in overtime. One of the overtime wins was a mid-December non-league game against visiting Capital (71-68).

Centennial is making its first trip to state since the school opened in 1987. Capital opens today against Rigby.

“It’s ironic that we will have played the two undefeated teams back to back (at district and state),” Henry said.

Coaches of state-bound teams are smiling. They advise it might be wise to cover a bet on one of the unbeaten teams.

“On paper, Centennial should win state,” Pocatello coach Greg Evans said. “But I think there will be an upset or two. I think any team could win state.”

Winger agrees: “Centennial is the favorite, and then the other seven teams are pretty equal.”

Will it be Rigby and Centennial in the championship showdown Saturday? Winger knows his state tournament history, and he says no.

“It isn’t going to happen,” Winger said. “It wouldn’t surprise me if both lost.”

Centennial coach Tom Aipperspach understands his team is carrying a weighty burden. The Patriots won the Southern Idaho Conference last season and were considered a serious contender for the state title. But the Pats were eliminated in the district tournament.

Aipperspach said his players have not buckled under the pressure and he doesn’t expect them to.

“These kids are not going to succumb to the pressure,” he said. “As far as I’m concerned, we’ve had all the pressure from day one. If something happens and we lose, then someone is going to have to earn it. We’re not going to hand it to them.”

History lesson II

The most recent team to go to state undefeated but lose was Meridian in 1986-87, then coached by Don Haynes, who would move on to Coeur d’Alene two years later. Haynes’ Meridian team was upset in the semifinals by Coeur d’Alene, which went on to lose to Rigby 72-68 in the championship game.

Another team that took an unblemished record to state before losing was Coeur d’Alene, in ‘78-79. The Vikings, coached then by Dean Lundblad, fell to Highland 43-41 in the state opener after nearly upsetting Capital the year before in the state championship game (67-66).

Post Falls, LC in final?

If an upset or two occurs at state, that could open the door for Lake City or Post Falls to advance to the championship game.

It wouldn’t shock Winger.

“If we can go to Post Falls - in front of a big, loud crowd - and win the regional, we can beat anybody in the state tournament,” Winger said. “I’m more comfortable, more at ease going to state, than the first two years. We’re loose, we’re confident and we should do well.”

Post Falls is making its first trip to state since 1988-89.

“Maybe the route we took will be better for us in the long run,” Trojans coach Scott Moore said. “We didn’t come out focused and ready against Lake City (in regionals). But in the last two games we’ve played some of our best ball offensively because we’ve been patient. We have to play with composure (at state).”

Bricks, bricks and more bricks

The last time state was held at Holt Arena was 1990-91. The average shooting percentage for teams during opening-round games that year was 26 percent.

All the lights in the background in the spacious domed arena are turned off. The absence of a background behind the baskets apparently takes a while to get used to.

Pocatello’s Evans said Rigby, which loves to hoist 3s, could have trouble.

MEMO: This is a sidebar which appeared with story:

STATE A-1 TOURNAMENT

When: Begins three-day run today at Idaho State University’s Holt Arena. First-round games: Rigby (23-0) vs. Capital (16-7), 1 p.m. PST; Lake City (14-8) vs. Blackfoot (13-13), 2:30; Post Falls (20-4) vs. Pocatello (16-7), 5:45; Centennial (23-0) vs. Madison (18-7), 7:15. Championship game: Saturday, 7 p.m. Lake City vs. Blackfoot: Lake City may be a new school, but the Timberwolves aren’t new to state. Coach Jim Winger is making his third straight trip to state (two previously at Coeur d’Alene). Brian Russell, a starter at CdA last year, is also making a third visit, and junior point guard Mike Thompson, a starter last year for the Vikings, returns. Four other players who also accompanied CdA to state last year play key roles for LC. Blackfoot returns to state for the first time since 1990-91. “I’m a firm believer that state experience is an edge,” Winger said. “I fully expect my team to play like they’ve been there before.” The T-Wolves have played well in big games and in front of big crowds. The regional title game is the most recent - and perhaps best - example when LC defeated Post Falls 79-63 before a standingroom-only crowd of 2,000 at Post Falls. LC is heavily favored to win its opener. Blackfoot coach Dale Shelley says his team’s record is deceiving. “At 13-13, we haven’t had great success, but we’ve been in every game but one.” Players to watch: Lake City - Brian Russell, 6-foot-3 senior, post, 18.4 points and 9.2 rebounds per game; Bryan Kelly, 5-10 sr., guard, 11.2 ppg; Scott Hoover, 6-4 junior, wing, 9.1 ppg and 6.5 rpg. Blackfoot - Landon Kesler, 6-4 jr., wing, 15 ppg; Scott Cannon, 6-0 jr., point guard, 10 ppg. Radio: KVNI (1080 AM), pregame 10 minutes before tipoff. Post Falls vs. Pocatello: Post Falls coach Scott Moore will tell people he doesn’t care which team the Trojans play today. But given a choice, Post Falls probably wouldn’t have picked Pocatello. After all, this will essentially be a “home” game for the Indians. So Moore hopes the Trojans’ state experience in football will have a calming influence.State is new for Pocatello, too. The Indians last qualified in 1991-92. But they should play like they’re at home in Holt Arena. Pocatello is 22-1 at home the past two years.”We may have the toughest opener,” said Moore, alluding to Pocatello’s “home court” advantage. Players to watch: Post Falls - Mike McLean, 6-1 sr., wing, 12.5 ppg; Tim Roberts, 6-0 sr., guard, 12 ppg; Darick Pope, 6-6 sr., post, 10 ppg. Pocatello - J.T. Nelson, 6-10 sr., post, 17 ppg, 12 rpg, 7 blocks per game; Kevin McCarthy, 6-2 sr., point guard, 8.8 ppg; Dane Jorgensen, 6-1 sr., guard, 6.6 ppg. Radio: KVNI (1080 AM), pregame 10 minutes before tipoff.