Fca Happy To Catch State Fever Eagles Win District Despite Star’S Illness

Falls Christian Academy’s leading scorer Jared Bligh came down with the flu about an hour before the A-4 District I boys basketball tournament championship game.

Bligh wouldn’t let Eagles coach Jared Phay take him out of the starting lineup, though. His face pale, Bligh struggled in the first half.

“Once I got going I think I was able to sweat it out a little bit,” Bligh said.

Bligh scored 14 of his game-high 16 points in the second half as the Eagles soared past Clark Fork 54-44 Friday at Lakeland High School.

Both teams are headed to state, which will be held Wednesday through Saturday at two sites in Caldwell.

FCA (18-4) earned its first district title and is making its first trip to state. Clark Fork (14-7) is making back-to-back appearances.

The Eagles open against the District III runner-up at Caldwell High School. Wilder (18-5) and Notus (19-4) face off tonight in the District III title game.

Clark Fork opens against District V runner-up Clark County (11-10) at Vallivue High School. Clark County is making its first state trip in 22 years.

The North Star League co-champions split league games, winning their games at home. The winning teams scored 70 or more points.

There was no offensive showdown Friday. In fact, the teams’ familiarity coupled with good defense kept the contest from being a highscoring affair.

FCA did most of its damage in transition off steals and on the boards. The Eagles outrebounded the Wampus Cats 32-25.

The Eagles used three consecutive baskets in transition, two from Chad Wild, to close out the third quarter with a 38-28 lead.

“That’s usually our game,” Phay said. “We like to force the issue and run the floor.”

FCA used an 11-4 run to build its biggest lead at 49-32 in the first 4 minutes of the fourth quarter. The Wampus Cats needed a 7-1 spurt to make the final margin respectable.

Bligh had eight rebounds, four assists, three blocked shots and three steals to go with 16 points. Phil Hanks had 12 points and Wild added 10.

Brent Stutzke led the Wampus Cats with 15.

Clark Fork coach Brian Powell said his team committed too many turnovers (20), especially against FCA’s trapping pressure.

“We didn’t get the ball to the middle and look to break it aggressively,” Powell said. “We were kind of passive when we did break it. They were the more aggressive team tonight. A lot of times when you’re more aggressive you get the breaks.”

The NSL coaches announced their all-league team.

Four from Clark Fork and three from Falls Christian were named to the team.

FCA’s selections were: Bligh, Bligh’s brother, Aaron, and Drew Baker. Clark Fork’s picks were: Brent and Nate Stutzke, Derrick Higgins and George Klontz.

Others named to the team were: Derick Stanley of Mullan and Scott Johns and Jason Shanks of Kootenai.

Following the game, witnesses said a Clark Fork booster assaulted a referee as the officials were walking to their car.

Police were called, but the man had left before authorities could respond. The referee was uninjured.

Clark Fork 11 9 8 16 - 44

Falls Christian 10 14 14 16 - 54

Clark Fork (14-7) - Changala 0, Valliere 0, B. Stutzke 15, Rounsville 8, N. Stutzke 4, Higgins 6, Vogel 0, Klontz 11, Burbach 0.

Falls Christian (18-4) - A. Bligh 3, R. Baker 0, Dowers 0, Beck 5, D. Baker 8, Jackson 0, Hanks 12, Anderson 0, Wild 10, J. Bligh 16.