Having Drive To Succeed Quesnell Takes On Load As Focus Of Pf Offense

They weren’t supposed to be this good.

The Post Falls High boys basketball team, gutted by graduation, was picked to finish eighth in the nine-team Border League and last among teams from the Inland Empire League.

With league play reaching the final stretch this week, Post Falls finds itself in fourth place and third among the Idaho teams.

Post Falls graduated four of five starters and most of its key reserves off last year’s team that placed fourth at state and finished 22-4.

It’s because of that one starter, though, that the Trojans have more than a shot at pulling off an upset or two in the state-qualifying tournament next month.

In a name, Chad Quesnell. The 5-foot-9 senior is the quintessential guard of the Border League. And he’s arguably one of the best players in the conference.

Quesnell has more than lived up to the honors bestowed upon him last year: All-State, first team, and the Inland Empire League’s most valuable player.

Last year’s starters, three of whom scored in double figures, complemented Quesnell, who averaged a team-high 14.4 points per game. But he has proven he can stand by himself this season.

None of Quesnell’s teammates this year would have started last season.

So give Post Falls credit for molding its team around its best asset. What often could be risky for coaches to do - center the team around its best player - was much more precarious for this year’s Post Falls coach, Wade Quesnell.

See a connection? He’s the father of the standout Trojan.

Wade Quesnell took over for Scott Moore, who resigned after last season.

Coaching your own child sometimes brings undue stress. Taking some of the attention off the Quesnells was that Post Falls came into the season without big expectations.

And it was obvious from the beginning that the Trojans’ best opportunity at success was riding Chad Quesnell’s shoulders.

“My teammates have been very, very unselfish,” said Quesnell, a three-year starter.

The coach agrees.

“The players around him have done things to let Chad score,” he said. “They’ve accepted their roles. Their desire to win has overridden their individual stats.”

Which is one of the reasons why Quesnell is far and away the leading scorer in the league at 21 ppg.

Another reason why Quesnell’s average is up more than six points per game is he’s a vastly improved shooter.

Last year, Quesnell’s scoring mostly came driving to the basket and at the free-throw line.

When he scored a career-high 43 points in a comeback win over Sandpoint two weeks ago, Quesnell did it from all areas. The amazing thing is he did all his scoring in 21 minutes, 27 seconds of the 32-minute contest.

After scoring 15 points in the first 10 minutes, Quesnell went scoreless for the next 10:33. He scored 28 points in the final 11:27.

“That’s one of the things I’ve appreciated about him this season, is he’ll go 6 to 8 minutes without scoring and he won’t force it,” his dad said. “He’s matured, and sometimes that’s tough for a scorer to do.”

Chad Quesnell’s major objective in the off-season was to improve his shooting. He knew defenses would force him to shoot more from the perimeter and not allow him to penetrate as much as he’d like.

He’s shooting 40 percent from 3-point range, up 10 percent, and he’s shooting 50 percent inside the 3-point arc.

Six hours before a recent game, for example, Quesnell was in the gym shooting by himself for 2 hours.

“He wants to play at the next level and he knows he won’t be able to succeed based on what he’s done in high school,” father said. “So he realizes he needs to improve his shooting.”

Quesnell’s not a one-dimensional player. His quick feet and dogged tenacity on defense create concerns all over the court.

Opposing coaches rave about Quesnell’s defense as much as his offense because it’s from his defensive hustle that extra offensive opportunities evolve.

Quesnell’s dive-for-every-loose-ball attitude is an extension of his team. Because they’re not blessed with an abundance of athletic ability, the Trojans try to create an on-the-razor’s-edge tempo.

“That’s the way we have to play - upbeat, enthusiastic, all over the court, high fives,” he said. “We can’t sit back and be unemotional.”

Knowing that his size would likely close more college doors than open them, Quesnell has given extra attention to his school work. That’s resulted in a 3.9 grade-point average.

So if athletic scholarships aren’t abounding then he will hopefully receive enough academic aid to continue playing.

“He’s realistic about his abilities,” Wade Quesnell said. “He’s going to have to prove himself at the college level.”

Just like he’s done in high school.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo