IHSAA picks three finalists for top exec position
Post Falls High School Principal John Billetz is one of three finalists seeking to replace retiring Idaho High School Activities Association executive director Bill Young, the chairman of the search committee told The Spokesman-Review on Friday.
The other finalists are Gerry Nutt, athletic director at Middleton High School, and Bob Ranells, Grand Coulee (Wash.) School District Superintendent, said Lakeland School District Superintendent Chuck Kinsey, who headed up the search committee.
The IHSAA sent an announcement to its member schools Friday. The activities board will interview the finalists Jan. 17. Kinsey said the board will announce its decision the following day. The new director takes over July 1.
Each candidate has extensive administrative experience in Idaho. Billetz was a principal and athletic director at two high schools in southern Idaho before becoming principal at Post Falls 11 years ago. Nutt, who is in his second year as A.D. at Middleton, was also the A.D. at Kuna for 11 years. Ranells, a former principal at Nampa High School, was a superintendent in two Idaho school districts before taking over at Grand Coulee last year.
Billetz and Nutt are members of the 15-person IHSAA board – Billetz representing the state’s principals and Nutt representing boys coaches statewide.
Boys basketball
Jesse James, Joe Ploharz and Corey Pehan all scored 16 points for Mullan (3-1) as the Tigers beat Wallace (1-3) 59-52 at the St. Regis (Mont.) Tournament. Pehan also added 14 rebounds, five assists and three steals, and Tom Norris led the Miners with 15 points.
Kootenai topped St. Regis 80-35 in the second game of the St. Regis Tournament. Anthony Cranford scored 20 points for the Warriors (1-4) who will play Mullan in the championship game today. St. Regis will face Wallace in the consolation game.
Girls basketball
Jenna DeLong (19 points) and Lindsay Stark (11) combined for 30 points as the Coeur d’Alene Vikings defeated host Sandpoint 68-26 in an Inland Empire contest. Ashley Mire scored nine points for the Bulldogs.
The visiting Lakeside Knights jumped to a 31-9 halftime lead over the Post Falls Christian Eagles en route to a 59-19 victory in a North Star matchup. Wynonna Johnson led the Knights with 18 points.
In non-league action, Cassie Scheffelmaier paced the Kootenai Warriors (5-2) with 17 points, nine rebounds, five assists and five steals in a 57-49 win over host St. Regis at the St. Regis (Mont.) Tournament. The Warriors will face Wallace in the championship game today. The game between Mullan (1-5) and Wallace (6-0) was not reported.
Wrestling
North Idaho College (6-0) won seven of ten matches to top Northwest Wyoming 27-12 in a non-conference meet. At 141 pounds, Heinrich Barnes pinned Ross Montour with 13 seconds left in the second round for the Cardinals.