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Teams Playing For Keeps

By Greg Lee

Most boys and girls high school basketball teams returned from the holiday break and jumped into the most important part of their seasons - league play.

It’ll be all-you-can-eat hoops for the next two months.

Inland Empire League girls teams could be served a preview of the Region I Tournament title game tonight when undefeated Lewiston (10-0 overall, 1-0 in league) visits preseason favorite and No. 1-ranked Lake City (11-2, 1-0).

It’ll be LC’s all-over-the-court tempo colliding with Lewiston’s inside trio of Laura Bloom, Sara McEachern and Brooke Cushman.

Lewiston has been looking forward to the game since last season. The Bengals had the Timberwolves all but beaten in a regional game when LC rallied late.

In other interesting matchups:

Post Falls’ boys, preseason league favorites, opened with a 65-52 win over Coeur d’Alene on Tuesday. Post Falls (6-3) visits defending league champ Lake City (6-5) on Friday. LC is off to a good start with a sophomore-laden team.

In another league game Friday, Coeur d’Alene (7-4) goes to Lewiston (6-3). Originally scheduled to be played at CdA, the game was switched this week because Lewiston will play host to a girls A-3 district tournament in early February. The Feb. 7 Lewiston-CdA game will be at CdA.

When Intermountain League boys coaches were asked to tab title favorites, they talked about the big three: Bonners Ferry, Kellogg and Moscow.

But improving Lakeland, under first-year coach Trent Derrick, figures to have a say in the crowning of a league champ. The Hawks (2-3, 0-1) entertain Kellogg (4-2, 0-0) Friday. In other IML games that night, Bonners Ferry (4-2, 1-0) goes to St. Maries (3-4, 0-1) and Priest River (3-3, 0-0) visits Moscow (2-3, 1-0).

In an afternoon game Saturday, Moscow visits Bonners Ferry.

Defending State A-2 girls champ Moscow (5-5, 2-0) goes to Bonners Ferry (7-1, 4-0) on Saturday.

This ‘n that

Speaking of the CdA girls, coach Sheila Sharp got her first win at LC during the holiday break. OK, it wasn’t against LC the Viks defeated Orofino. The game was moved from CdA to LC because of a leaky roof at Viking Gym.

“I’m no longer winless at Lake City,” Sharp said, laughing.

You may not be able to name five of the top six Viking girls players, but can you tell us what they have in common? You aced the mini-quiz if you said freshman.

Sharp promoted freshmen Katie Shirley and Janee Andre to varsity in mid-December. They joined starting frosh guard Cassandra Vig and Patty Stranger and post Shaylia Davis.

Rounding out the top six is sophomore forward Kellie Stern. The other three players sharing time with the rookies are seniors Amber Orr, Carrie Cultra and Andrea Wilkey.

Freshmen on varsity? It’s not a precedent. Remember two freshmen by the names of Melissa Dodge and Jennifer Kerns? Dodge started as a freshman on one of coach Dave Fealko’s state title teams and Kerns was the first player off the bench.

CdA’s “Fab Five” make youthful mistakes, but they’re enjoyable to watch. Check them out Tuesday when the Viks play host to crosstown rival Lake City.

The Borah team that fell to Lake City’s girls in overtime in early November - a game featuring the two teams predicted to meet in the state title game next month - may be finally reaching its stride after some early season problems.

Senior guard Sumer Davis, a four-year starter who orally committed to Idaho, missed the game against LC because of disciplinary problems. She also was absent in a six-point loss to Eagle.

After the loss to Eagle, coach Jim Pankratz moved Davis to the point. Last week in a rematch with Eagle, Borah won by 31 points. , DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: LOOKING FOR No. 200 Longtime Wallace boys basketball coach Dick Lilienkamp is stuck on career victory No. 199. The struggling Miners (1-5) defeated Kootenai in overtime earlier in the season. When will No. 200 come? “It’s not a matter of when but if,” quipped Lilienkamp. Circle Feb. 18 on the calendar. That’s the rematch with Kootenai - and likely the only other chance the Miners will have to give their coach the milestone win.

This sidebar appeared with the story: LOOKING FOR No. 200 Longtime Wallace boys basketball coach Dick Lilienkamp is stuck on career victory No. 199. The struggling Miners (1-5) defeated Kootenai in overtime earlier in the season. When will No. 200 come? “It’s not a matter of when but if,” quipped Lilienkamp. Circle Feb. 18 on the calendar. That’s the rematch with Kootenai - and likely the only other chance the Miners will have to give their coach the milestone win.