Terhark toughness
For Coeur d’Alene High wrestling coach Jeff Moffat, the outcome of his team’s match against cross-town rival Lake City was never in question Thursday.
It was just a matter of how many matches the Vikings would win. So CdA’s 57-16 Inland Empire League victory before an estimated crowd of 350 was neither anything to get overly excited over nor anything to be displeased about.
CdA captured the Ron Terhark Cup for a third consecutive year. LC leads the series 6-4. The Terhark match honors retired teacher and coach Ron Terhark, who founded CdA’s program in 1967.
The Vikings won 11 of the 14 matches – six by pin, one by technical fall and one by major decision. The dual was over in 70 minutes.
“We’re just too experienced for them right now,” Moffat said of the youthful Timberwolves. “We start (eight) seniors. In the middle (weights) we’re awfully solid. We just took care of business.”
LC, meanwhile, started three freshmen and three sophomores, and coach Tim Buzolich forfeited one weight because he didn’t have a wrestler seasoned for varsity.
Vikings senior Josh Manes, a contender for a state title, got things rolling at 135 pounds. His pin 31 seconds into the match was the start of four straight pins.
LC senior Spud Jones, one of three seniors in the T-Wolves’ lineup, stopped CdA’s momentum briefly at 171. Jones caught Vikings junior Trevor Leaf in a head-and-arm throw, pinning in 1:28.
CdA’s Ryan Allen, a defending state champ at 189, was putting on a takedown clinic, leading 15-2, when he scored a pin at 3:15.
Two of LC’s top three wrestlers – junior Mike Vickhammer at 215 and senior Don Sohler at heavyweight – followed with victories.
Vickhammer was locked up with Kelen Efta in a tight and entertaining match. Trailing 8-7 entering the third period, Vickhammer scored a reversal and immediately stuck Efta, pinning with 1:44 left in the match.
Moments later, in a battle between football linemen at heavyweight, CdA’s Will Trujillo struck first with a takedown. But Sohler reversed the Viking and scored three near-fall points as the first period ended.
Sohler added a takedown and Trujillo countered with a reversal in the second period. Sohler added two takedowns in the third as both heavyweights did more leaning than moving in the end.
In one of the best matches, between ranked area wrestlers, CdA’s Jason Ellefloot blanked Aaron Stephens 5-0 at 125. But it was much, much closer.
Ellefloot, who went into the match ranked third – one spot behind Stephens in the Panhandle rankings – scored a takedown, the lone points in the first period.
Stephens chose down to start the second period, and Ellefloot rode the T-Wolf hard the entire 2 minutes.
“I couldn’t turn him at all,” Ellefloot said. “He was really solid on the bottom.”
Ellefloot scored on an escape and a takedown with 34 seconds left to provide the final margin.
Both have good shots at capturing medals at state.
“I knew it was going to be a tough match,” Ellefloot said. “I wanted to take it strong from neutral. I think we’ll both place at state.”
Sandpoint 39, Lewiston 24: At Moscow, the Bulldogs took control of the Inland Empire League match by winning nine of the first 11 weights. Sandpoint’s Sheldon Cramer (215) pinned Matt Olson in the first round.
Boys basketball
Mullan surges past Wallace
Jesse James totaled 22 points, 16 rebounds and four steals to lead Mullan (5-7, 3-2 North Star League) to a 47-31 win over visiting Wallace (4-10, 2-5). Wallace’s Stefan Norris had 16 points and 12 rebounds. … Lakeside-Plummer 93, Coeur d’Alene Charter 25: Mike Sifford, Tim Wolfe and Keith Whipple combined for 53 points to lead the visiting Knights (15-1, 8-0) past the Panthers (0-8, 0-6).
Non-league
Loggers cut down Lumberjacks
Potlatch hit three free throws in the final 20 seconds for a 52-48 win at St. Maries. Ryne Eberlin scored 17 points, including a 3-pointer to cut the Potlatch lead to 49-48, to lead the Lumberjacks (5-9).
Girls basketball
Clark Fork tops PFC
Tiffany Van Buren scored 14 points and visiting Clark Fork (6-7, 4-3 North Star League) took advantage of 31 turnovers during a 33-22 win over Post Falls Christian (5-13, 0-9). … Wallace 65, Mullan 33: Lisa Carver scored 14 points to lead the visiting Miners (15-3, 8-0) past the Tigers (1-14, 1-6).