Vikings’ Griffitts earns player-of-year honors

Coeur d’Alene High junior Kama Griffitts has been named the All-Idaho 5A player of the year by the Idaho Statesman newspaper in Boise.

The Boise newspaper selects All-Idaho teams each year based on votes of coaches statewide.

A 5-foot-11 wing, Griffitts averaged 13 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists as she led Coeur d’Alene to the state championship. She was a first-team All-Idaho selection last year and second-team pick as a freshman.

“She’s very unselfish, maybe a little too unselfish, but it makes her a complete player,” CdA coach Dale Poffenroth told the Statesman.

It’s the second year in a row that a North Idaho player was picked as 5A player of the year. Lake City’s Katie Baker was picked after leading the Timberwolves to the state title in 2006-07.

Baker and CdA senior Ali Johnson joined Griffitts as first-team picks. Baker, who was named the Gatorade Player of the Year in Idaho for a second straight year, averaged 18.3 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocked shots. Johnson, who missed the most of the last two seasons because of a knee injury, averaged 8.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists.

Post Falls sophomore guard Katelyn Loper was named to the second team. She averaged 15 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.2 steals for the Trojans, who took third at state.

CdA senior guard Nate Bligh, who led the Vikings to the state title game, was named to the 5A boys first team. He averaged 18 points. CdA lost to Vallivue in the state final game.

Three other North Idaho players were named to second teams. Kellogg senior guard Kenny Stuart, Bonners Ferry senior guard A.J. Bennett and Kellogg junior post Amanda Seeling were named to the 3A teams.