Post Falls girls knock off Coeur d’ Alene
A year ago, Post Falls High post C.J. Schmidt sat on the bench with a season-ending knee injury when her team lost to Coeur d’Alene in the 5A Region I girls basketball tournament championship game.
Then she watched Lake City knock off the Trojans in double overtime in a loser-out game in which Post Falls had a five-point lead with 30 seconds to go in regulation but couldn’t close it out.
Imagine how special it was Friday for Schmidt and her teammates as the Trojans upset Coeur d’Alene 46-45 to capture the regional title and a trip to state.
“The only thing I wanted to do when I came back from my (anterior cruciate ligament injury) was show my team what I was about,” Schmidt said.
If the Trojans didn’t know what she’s about before Friday, they do now. The 5-foot-9 Schmidt drove the length of the floor as Post Falls’ designated press breaker and made a tough left-handed layup with 6-2 post Carli Rosenthal draped over her for the game-winning basket with 32 seconds remaining.
Post Falls (19-3) advances to state, which begins Thursday at the Idaho Center in Nampa. The Trojans take on Highland of Pocatello (17-5) in the tourney opener at 12:15 p.m. PST.
CdA (19-3) must await the winner of a loser-out game today between Lewiston (10-11) and Lake City (14-6) at LC. The game was postponed Friday because of road closures that prevented Lewiston from traveling.
The Lewiston-LC winner goes to CdA on Monday at 6 to decide a second state berth.
The Trojans’ win snapped CdA’s 25-game winning streak at Elmer Jordan Court, a streak that dated back to the 2005-06 season.
After Schmidt’s basket, the Trojans had to survive a frantic final 29 seconds. This time, Post Falls didn’t implode.
Sophomore Katelyn Loper got a steal and cradled the ball while sitting on the floor as time expired.
Rosenthal, a freshman, had blocked three of Schmidt’s shots earlier.
“I had to retaliate,” said Schmidt, who scored a game-high 15 points. “I was kind of mad about those three shots she blocked.”
Schmidt, who frequently brought the ball upcourt against CdA’s full-court man press, had the option to do it again in the final seconds.
“Fearless move,” coach Chris Johnson said. “On stuff like that it’s really hard to script exactly what’s going to happen, but she knew she had a green light to bring it if Carli was on her.”
Both teams played tenacious defense. CdA, which averages about eight turnovers, committed 24.
“It was a fun game to watch,” CdA coach Dale Poffenroth said. “(Post Falls) played well. We played some of the best basketball that we’ve played in a long time. Chris’ kids just flat earned that game.”