Schedule Conflicts Worth Fixing At Lake City, Cda

Thanks to those who responded to my column two weeks ago regarding conflicting athletic schedules at Coeur d’Alene and Lake City.

By and large, the response supported the schools making every effort to avoid scheduling events on the same night. Believe it or not, there are people who support BOTH schools.

The strong underlying message came from Vikings boosters, who have grown tired of what they perceive as a huge discrepancy between facilities - particularly gymnasiums.

I’m familiar with the old school-new school arguments. I grew up in Kennewick, Wash., and attended Kamiakin when it was the new kid on the block.

Kennewick High was in the old part of town and considered an eyesore at the time. Kamiakin was on the west side where many of the city’s deep-pocketed patrons lived. So the new school was frequently referred to as Country Club High.

Over time, efforts were made to remodel Kennewick to bring it up to modern standards. Just like what they’ve tried to do at Coeur d’Alene.

What rubs CdA boosters raw, though, is that it can’t host the Fight for the Fish basketball doubleheader. Viking Gym can’t come close to fitting the near 3,000 turnout the spirit game has attracted the first two years.

If CdA tried to host the game, officials would have to turn away about 1,300.

Some readers have suggested hosting the game at North Idaho College. That’s not a viable alternative, though. Christianson Gym has a 1,600 capacity, smaller than CdA.

Geral Brouillette has served on the booster boards of both schools, and his closet is full of booster jackets from both schools. He supports all measures to avoid scheduling games at the schools on the same night.

When the schools are playing at the same time, Brouillette is a busy man. He’ll watch half a game at one school and speed over to catch the second half of the other game.

That is if the games don’t conflict with the other game in town - North Idaho College.

“I’d like to see the (athletic directors) at all three schools sit down and work out their schedules,” said Brouillette, who is vice president of NIC’s booster club. “We’d like to see more high school kids at (NIC) games, too.”

So when the crosstown rivals face off which team does Brouillette root for? That’s easy, he says.

“I root for the underdog in that game,” he said.

Couldn’t say it better

Lake City girls basketball coach Darren Taylor said it best following his team’s season-ending 49-48 heartbreaking loss to Post Falls.

“Somebody suck the venom out of me,” Taylor said. “I’ve been snakebit all season.”

Absolutely. Here’s hoping the reptiles that have circled of late crawl back under their rocks.

What’s up with that?

Still can’t explain why three of the Coeur d’Alene girls basketball team’s toughest games were against Lake City.

The only thing that can explain it is LC overachieved big time against CdA.

“It’s a team I don’t recognize when they play us,” CdA coach Bill Pratt said. “I’ve watched them play three teams besides us and they don’t look anything like they do when they play us.”

This ‘n that

Two of the top volleyball players in Idaho are headed to Weber State University.

Outside hitter Kris Hollingsworth of Highland and middle blocker Stephanie Kropushek of Bear Lake signed letters of intent to play for the Wildcats.

Kropushek was a four-year starter at Bear Lake where she led her team to three straight State A-2 titles, including a win last fall over St. Maries.

Hollingsworth led Highland to a state title as a sophomore. Highland finished runner-up to Sandpoint last fall.

Former Post Falls standout Scott Klaudt, who transferred to Hellgate in Missoula for his final basketball season, continues to sit atop the heap in Montana.

Klaudt, who ranks second in the state among Class AA scorers (15 ppg), helped the Knights knock off then-top ranked Helena two weeks ago.

It’s becoming bothersome - at least to me.

I’d like to see the double-bonus free-throw situation changed in high school basketball. As it stands, teams receive two foul shots when a team exceeds 10 fouls in a half.

There needs to be a little more distance between the double bonus and bonus (seven fouls). Two shots shouldn’t be awarded until the 12th foul.

That change would speed up games.