CdA boys use girls’ title as guide

The Coeur d’Alene High boys basketball team wants to do something that’s been done just twice in the 5A classification in the last 31 years.

It’s been 25 years since it happened. Yes, winning a state championship is at the heart of the Vikings’ desire.

Since the state activities association started sponsoring state girls basketball tournaments in 1976, just twice has a girls and boys team from the same school captured state titles the same year.

Meridian was the last school to do it in 1983, and Capital did it in 1977.

“The girls showed us that it’s not an unrealistic goal,” Coeur d’Alene senior guard Andrew Prohaska said. “It would be pretty cool if we won like they did.”

The No. 1-ranked Vikings (20-2 overall) begin their quest this afternoon when they meet defending state champ Madison (15-9) at 12:15 PST.

Region I runner-up Lewiston (15-7) takes on No. 2-ranked Vallivue (20-3) at 7. In other openers, Eagle (18-5) goes against Centennial (11-12) and Highland (21-2) faces Timberline (17-6).

CdA and Madison are familiar opponents. The Vikings beat the Bobcats 64-53 in a season-opening road trip to eastern Idaho.

The Bobcats, who graduated four starters off their state title team, were trying to find an identity at the time. They’ve had a season of stops and starts, including four losses to Highland.

CdA coach Kent Leiss said his team won’t look past Madison.

“Madison is just as good as we are,” Leiss said. “They have a tradition, a mystique, and coach (Bill) Hawkins has made a living at state tournaments for a long time.”

Lewiston used a zone defense to bottle up the Vikings in the first half of the Region I final last Friday. But CdA rebounded from a 21-14 halftime deficit to win 40-35.

Leiss figures Madison will probably play mostly zone, especially since Hawkins was at the game Friday and watched CdA struggle for a half.

“I’m really surprised more teams didn’t play zone against us this year,” Leiss said. “We’ve spent a lot more time (the last couple of days) working on our zone offense.”

Hawkins and Leiss don’t see a clear-cut state favorite.

“I think all of the teams have a shot at it,” Hawkins said. “Some of us don’t have the records that other teams do. But I really feel like all these teams are evenly paired more than anybody knows.”

4A: There’s no doubt that top-ranked and defending state champ Burley (24-0) will be the favorite when the tourney begins today at College of Idaho in Caldwell. The Bobcats have won 43 straight games.

The other teams have six or more losses. Region I champ Moscow (8-13) has the worst record. The Bears meet Pocatello (13-13), the team with the second-worst record, at 5:15.

3A: Intermountain League qualifiers Kellogg and Bonners Ferry hope to contend for trophies when the tourney begins today at Meridian High School.

District I runner-up Bonners Ferry (14-9) takes on defending state champ Shelley (19-4) at 12:15 and District I champ Kellogg (16-5) faces District IV champ Kimberly (14-7) at 5:15.