Panhandle Picks With Greg Lee

We’re deadlocked with one week remaining.

Trailing the guests by one, yours truly picked 10 of 13 to pull even with the guests. Erna Rhinehart, my guest last week, was 9 of 13.

The scoreboard shows 73-26 (.737) on both sides.

My traditional season-ending guest is co-worker Jim Meehan, the perpetual (actually 1996) Idaho sportswriter of the year.

I’m going for my third straight win against Meehan. The series record is 2-2-1.

It must be pointed out that the guests always get to make their picks first. So the onus of making sure our picks aren’t identical falls on me. Which always makes the picks in the final week difficult when there are fewer possibilities for upsets.

Mead at Lake City: This would be a natural time for the Timberwolves to have a letdown. It’s a non-league game the week before the state playoffs. But LC has a few reasons to use this as a tuneup for next week. The T-Wolves already have locked up their best regular-season record. But they’d like to be 9-0. And Friday is an opportunity to see how they stack up against the Greater Spokane League.

Heck, if LC wins, it could claim a mythical GSL title. A loss against a playoff-caliber team before the playoffs wouldn’t hurt LC at all. It could point out areas that need attention. But LC will prevail. LC 21, Mead 20.

Guest: OK, I’ll be the bad guy. “Lake City” Lee and I have to have a difference and this is the swing game. Two quality teams with no statistical differences. Mead 27, LC 24.

Post Falls at Coeur d’Alene: Sure this game has little more than pride riding on it.

But CdA can finish with its best record since 1994 (5-5). And the Viks need a win as a springboard into next year. Post Falls could use a victory in its lost season. But the Trojans won’t be able to put the brakes on an avalanche of disappointment. CdA 21, PF 17.

Guest: The Trojans’ defense has been gutted by injury, but they’ll get no sympathy from the Vikings. No playoffs for CdA, but a convincing win. CdA 35, PF 16.

Kellogg at Lakeland: A friend from church coaches at Kellogg. He’s been singing the Wildcats’ praises all fall.

He asked about the playoffs the other day and I blurted that Kellogg would be traveling to Bishop Kelly next week.

That was, of course, assuming Kellogg would lose in the showdown in Rathdrum for the Intermountain League title. Hats off to Kellogg. It has had a wonderful season. But the Wildcats are definitely headed south for the playoffs.

It should be a good tuneup for both teams. Lakeland 28, Kellogg 13.

Guest: The Hawks haven’t given up a point the last two games and they haven’t had trouble scoring all season. Kellogg can run, but the yards won’t come easy against Desmarais, Reese, Phelps and Co. Lakeland 27, Kellogg 6.

Other games

Lee Meehan

Sandpoint 41, Moscow 20 Sandpoint 40, Moscow 12

St. Maries 28, B. Ferry 13 St. Maries 34, B. Ferry 21

Timberlake 28, Priest River 14 Timberlake 21, Priest River 14

Grangeville 45, Orofino 12 Grangeville 42, Orofino 6

Lewiston 21, Twin Falls 14 Twin Falls 28, Lewiston 13