Panhandle Picks With Greg Lee

I’m back in my usual position. The guests are chasing the scribe.

I broke out of a first-week tie by notching a win over a head coach’s wife, Post Falls’ Jeri Lee. I missed just one of 11 games last week, moving my season total to 17 of 20 (.850 batting average).

In the interest of fairness, though, I’ve adjusted the guests’ total by one game (16 of 20, .800). Jeri went with her heart last week when she picked Falls Christian to upset Lakeside. She picked Falls because “God is on their side.” Lee picked 8 of 11 games correctly (9 of 11 with the adjustment).

God doesn’t play favorites - at least not in sporting events.

Our guest this week is Lakeland High School counselor Don Wilhelm. You may know him as the public address voice at football and boys basketball games.

Wilhelm, who got his start in education as a teacher and head boys basketball coach at St. Maries in 1964, is in his 29th and final year as a counselor at the Rathdrum school. He plans to retire to the golf course and other recreational activities.

Lakeland at Kellogg: This is my first upset special of the year. This is risky because the last upset I predicted resulted in a dead fish arriving in the mail.

If you based a prediction here on strength of schedule, the obvious choice would be Lakeland. Kellogg’s Hostess non-league schedule didn’t do it much good.

This is a critical Intermountain League opener. The winner here will have a big inside track to a state playoff berth.

Opening against Post Falls and Sandpoint has given Lakeland an opportunity to identify its weaknesses and strengths.

The Hawks need a win badly. Kellogg could play without standout running back Josh Easley (sprained ankle). But I’m going with a hunch. Kellogg 20, Lakeland 19.

Guest: Lakeland has the tradition on its side. Kellogg is tough this year. This should be a good battle with Lakeland coming out on top. Lakeland 27, Kellogg 21.

West Valley at Post Falls: It’s just one more week until the “real” season starts for the Trojans (when Lewiston visits).

Lewiston pulled away in the second half against the Eagles last week 49-21. Post Falls will also pull away Friday. PF 35, WV 13.

Guest: Post Falls is a great team. The Trojans don’t seem to have any weaknesses. They’ll be hard to beat this year. PF 38, WV 14.

Coeur d’Alene at Deer Park: The winless Vikings could play blindfolded and still beat the Stags. And Wallace could probably defeat Deer Park.

The Viks will give second-year coach Bill Anderson his third victory (one previously against Deer Park and Lake City). CdA 41, DP 14.

Guest: Coeur d’Alene is ready for a win. The Viks should overpower Deer Park. CdA 42, DP 7.

Borah at Sandpoint: This is the dream matchup that never occurred back in the days of Ed Troxel (former Borah coach) and Cotton Barlow (the late Sandpoint coach).

The Bulldogs step up a division and knock off the team with the richest football tradition in the state. (Hey, I’ll do anything to avoid the smell of dead fish). Sandpoint 21, Borah 19.

Guest: This is a tossup. Sandpoint looked good the last two weeks. The Bulldogs are a physical team. I give them the edge. Sandpoint 28, Borah 20.

Other picks

Greg Lee Don Wilhelm

E. Valley 36, Lake City 17 E. Valley 35, Lake City 13

B. Ferry 20, Wallace 6 B. Ferry 21, Wallace 7

St. Maries 22, P. River 7 St. Maries 27, P. River 14

Lewiston 39, Pullman 13 Lewiston 41, Pullman 20

Moscow 14, Clarkston 13 Moscow 21, Clarkston 7

Mullan 48, Clark Fork 12 Mullan 52, Clark Fork 14

Colton 20, Lakeside 16 Lakeside 40, Colton 13

Kootenai 26, F. Christian 8 Kootenai 27, F. Christian 14

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