Panhandle Picks With Greg Lee

I never said I’d go undefeated.

Because I’m accused by my teammates of inviting easy marks the majority of the weeks, I had to show we take on all comers.

That explains why I asked Jim “The Greek” Winger, the Lake City High boys basketball coach, to be my guest last week. Winger wins just about every betting pool around (with play money, of course).

And his record at the track is reportedly second to none.

I will predict that I’ll win overall. So along the way, I accept the fact that there will be some weeks that I don’t come out on top.

Winger had one of the all-time best weeks in the history of Panhandle Picks. He picked 13 of 14 games to my 11-of-14 effort.

Overall, I’m clinging to a one-game lead (Scribe 18 of 22, .818; Guests 17 of 22, .772).

(Winger also wants to set the record straight regarding his comment about sportswriting being easier than teaching. He didn’t mean to suggest that teaching was easy. So, his teammates at LC need to lighten up a bit.)

My guest this week is Sandpoint Middle School athletic director Dave DeMers, a former three-sport standout at Sandpoint in the late 1970s and longtime assistant football and track coach.

Cheney at Sandpoint: This is the third new opponent on Sandpoint’s revamped schedule. Cheney presents a similar challenge to that of the first two opponents.

Sandpoint shows marked improvement over opening losses, but a third straight defeat looms in a game that won’t be decided until late. Cheney 20, Sandpoint 14.

Guest: Cheney is supposed to win the Frontier League, and Sandpoint is very young. But I’ll go with Sandpoint. Sandpoint 21, Cheney 20.

Lakeland at Bonners Ferry: Lakeland returns to Kenny Mendenhall Stadium, site of the Doug Flutie-style miracle that helped the Badgers upset the Hawks and snap Bonners Ferry’s 14-year losing streak to Lakeland.

It will take more than a Hail Mary for the Badgers, picked to finish second behind Lakeland, to upset the Hawks Friday. The Badgers’ tough non-league schedule has taken a toll, too. Lakeland 28, BF 6.

Guest: Lakeland is too powerful for Bonners Ferry. But the Badgers will make it a real game. Lakeland 28, BF 21.

Lake City vs. Moscow (Kibbie Dome): Speaking of schedules, the Bears’ non-league slate doesn’t get any easier as they take on LC in the first game of annual Shriners doubleheader.

The Timberwolves, fresh off a road shutout over Clarkston, easily fill their Bear hunting tag. LC 40, Moscow 13.

Guest: Moscow’s no match for the Wolves. Chad Troxel runs and throws wild. LC 35, Moscow 3.

Coeur d’Alene vs. Clarkston (Kibbie Dome): The Vikings need a breakthrough game, and Clarkston fits the bill.

CdA must avoid self-destruction, though. The Bantams will trying to bounce back from an opening-week embarrassment (40-0 loss to LC). CdA 24, Clarkston 14.

Guest: CdA is struggling to find an identity. I believe it will this week. CdA 21, Clarkston 12.

Other games: Lee DeMers E. Valley 28, Post Falls 20 E. Valley 33, Post Falls 14 St. Maries 20, Kellogg 6 St. Maries 28, Kellogg 14 Capital 21, Lewiston 16 Capital 21, Lewiston 14 Colton 42, C. Fork 36 Clark Fork 42, Colton 21 Reardan 22, Wallace 20 Wallace 28, Reardan 21 Lakeside 28, Kootenai 6 Lakeside 21, Kootenai 14 F. Christian 34, Lind 12 F. Christian 30, Lind 28 Grangeville 34, T-Lake 13 Grangeville 35, T-Lake 14 P. River 14, Orofino 13 P. River 21, Orofino 7