Panhandle Picks with Greg Lee

OK, cut me some slack here.

I didn’t win last week – and for those counting at home, that’s three weeks straight and four out of five – but I can hold my head high.

My guest, Jeff Moffat, beat me based on the tiebreaker. And I have to tip my hat to him, too. He not only had the margin of victory correct – he predicted the actual final score. Coeur d’Alene topped Lakeland 35-14.

So what’s a Scribe to do? I neither gave up ground nor gained ground on the guests. The scoreboard reads: Lee 36-16 (.692), guests 38-14 (.731).

My guest this week is former Lake City boys basketball coach Kris Knowles. A 1993 Coeur d’Alene graduate, Knowles started on Jim Winger’s first varsity basketball team at Coeur d’Alene. Knowles fondly calls that team “a team of midgets.” He’s right. The Vikings’ starting post, Dennis Travis, was all of 6 feet, 2 inches. The Vikings earned a state berth by beating Caldwell in double overtime when Knowles scored a career-high 33 points.

Lake City at Coeur d’Alene (tiebreaker): I’m going to keep my comments brief here. I think folks will know this game is scheduled for Friday if they look elsewhere on the page! Defense will rule, and it will be LC’s defense. LC 42, CdA 28.

Guest: LC needs to get off to a good start. CdA’s defense knows what’s coming and will back off the blitz. The Vikings have a quarterback who can throw the rock so the Timberwolves have to take care of the pass, but I think Trox and the boys should have them ready to play. It shouldn’t be too hard to be ready against your rival and with a big crowd looking on. Watch for the trick stuff, and injuries could also be a factor. LC and its high-power “O” prevail. LC 35, CdA 24.

Post Falls at Lakeland: This game has the potential to be every bit as entertaining as the CdA-LC game. PF 21, Lakeland 14.

Guest: Tough pick here, but PF coach (Jeff) Hinz and his club are on the right track. Lakeland will be plenty physical and play with a lot of emotion, but Coach Hinz and the Trojans will take care of business. PF 24, Lakeland 14.

Priest River at Timberlake: At the start of the season I wouldn’t have given the Spartans much of a chance. But they’ve gone from none to slim. TL 28, PR 14.

Guest: The Spartans have a tough one on the road here. Timberlake is on a roll and I don’t see that ending at home Friday. TL 21, PR 17.