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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spring throws snow at North Idaho teams

Are you as glad as I am that March is behind us?

Some of March’s miserable weather followed us into April. In Coeur d’Alene, where I live, we awoke to about 2 inches of snow last Thursday. I thought perhaps it was a cruel April Fool’s joke, but realized as I looked at the white-draped yard that April 1 was the day before.

The first official week of April got off to a warm start, though. The Coeur d’Alene softball team had its first outdoor practice Monday. In Spirit Lake, the softball and baseball teams also moved outside for the first time this week.

Here’s the dilemma, however. Inland Empire and Intermountain baseball and softball teams have just three weeks from today to squeeze in their conference schedules before postseason play begins the first full week in May.

You can take this to the bank – we’re bound to have a few more postponed baseball and softball games. The forecast for today through Saturday calls for a chance of rain.

I did a 10-day check and rain is in the forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday. North Idaho athletic directors just got caught up on the March postponements. Stay tuned.

All-State teams

Coeur d’Alene senior guard Kama Griffitts was named the All-Idaho 5A player of the year for a second straight year. The Idaho Statesman newspaper announced its All-Idaho teams last week.

In leading CdA to back-to-back state titles, Griffitts averaged 16 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.1 steals.

“She just can do whatever is necessary,” CdA coach Dale Poffenroth told the Boise newspaper.

One other area player, Lewiston senior guard Ryan Young, was named the 5A boys player of the year. The 6-0 Young, who averaged 10 points per game, led the Bengals to their first state title since 1948.

“Defensively, he was a beast,” Lewiston coach Dave Cornelia told the newspaper. “Without him we wouldn’t have had the success we did.”

Young also was a first-team All-Idaho pick at wide receiver in football.

Five other area players were named first team. They are Lake City senior post Katie Baker (5A girls), Lewiston junior post Justin Podrabsky (5A boys), Lakeland senior guard Camille Reynolds (4A girls) and St. Maries senior post Aaron Corsi and Priest River junior forward Jake Weimer (3A boys).

The 6-7 Podrabsky averaged 10.2 points and 7.2 rebounds.

Baker, who was recently named the Gatorade player of the year for the state, averaged 21.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 2.1 blocks and 1.6 steals as she led the Timberwolves to fourth.

Reynolds averaged 16.5 points, 3.9 steals and 3.3 assists as Lakeland qualified for state for a 10th straight year.

Corsi averaged 22.9 points, 10 rebounds and 4.9 points as the Lumberjacks took fourth – their first state trophy in 10 years.

Weimer averaged a team-leading 16.7 points and 9.1 rebounds for the Spartans, who captured the Intermountain League and District I-II titles.

Post Falls junior wing Shawn Reid, Lewiston senior guard Jared Heitzman, Coeur d’Alene sophomore post Carli Rosenthal, Priest River sophomore guard Eric Holbrook and Wallace senior guard Jared Bilaski were second-team selections.

All-league teams

We’re down to the final all-league boys basketball teams.

•In the North Star League, Jared Bilaski of Wallace was named the most valuable player. He was joined on the first team by teammates Nick Arthun and Cody Cline, Merlin and Nate Weaselhead of Lakeside, Jake Zarpentine, Cody Parker and Koten Willms of Kootenai, Jared Broggi and Stillman Berkley of Clark Fork and Casey McKinnon of Mullan.

•In the Central Idaho League, Nels Solberg of Grangeville was named the MVP. He was joined on the first team by Rory Ruskovich and Bob Schrack of Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy, Justin Heustis of Potlatch and Darian Ball and Jack Nygaard of Kamiah.