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

Fine finish for CdA girls

Overtime victory secures championship for hoops team

Coeur d’Alene High School State Championship basketball players, from left, Dayna Drager, Whitney Heleker and Kelsi DeHaas celebrate their win during an assembly held at the school Monday. Heleker made the winning shot in the 54-50 overtime victory over the Centennial Patriots  in Nampa over the weekend.  (Kathy Plonka / The Spokesman-Review)

Coeur d’Alene High senior guard Sadie Simon said the Vikings girls basketball season had an appropriate ending in more ways than one.

Simon was on the court Saturday when senior teammate Whitney Heleker banked in a 23-foot shot with one second left to secure a second consecutive 5A state championship.

Heleker – a four-year letterman along with Simon, Kama Griffitts and Amy Warbrick – wasn’t a starter. The last three years she was generally the first player off the bench.

“I definitely think it was fitting that she made the shot,” Simon said. “Even though she could have been a starter, she came off the bench. She felt more comfortable getting a feel for the game before going in. She didn’t get the glory of being a starter, so it was just perfect for her to end her career like that.”

Heleker was fouled as she attempted the 3-point shot. So even if she hadn’t made the basket, she would have had three foul shots. She completed the four-point play by making the free throw to cap a 54-50 overtime victory that saw Coeur d’Alene rally from an 11-point deficit.

Heleker still had a stunned but ecstatic look when she talked with a group of reporters afterward.

“It’s the best ending ever … to my career,” she said. “It’s a story I’ll tell the rest of my life.”

She was still marveling about the moment two days later.

“Out of all the players it could have happened to, I’m just grateful it happened to me,” Heleker said.

It was the last game Heleker will likely play. Unlike most of the other five seniors who will continue playing sports in college, Heleker is considering a couple of things. She’s pursuing modeling opportunities but also is contemplating going to college and studying biology.

She will cherish playing basketball.

“It had ups and downs,” Heleker said. “Basketball is definitely a tough mental sport because there are so many demands being on a team. There were times I didn’t want to make it through. I’m very thankful for my family and (assistant coach) Jamie Thacker. They helped me get through some tough times.”

Heleker considered stepping away from basketball after her junior year.

“It was a tough year,” she said. “I couldn’t have made it through without Jamie. She gave me the most emotional support I could ask for.”

Another senior, Kelsi DeHaas, thought about not turning out this season. She knew her playing time would be limited. She played in 21 out of 25 games. Nine of the games she played in for less than a minute.

Her personal highlight came in CdA’s state-opening 60-33 win over Eagle. She scored nine points and had six rebounds in 13 minutes.

She took on the role of being the team’s top cheerleader from the bench.

“It was tough at times,” DeHaas said. “I thought about not playing, but I knew I had a role on the team – supporting my teammates and helping them get better in practice. I felt just as much a part of it as anybody else. We ran a lot of lines and had a lot of three-hour practices. It was worth it.”

Natalie Stewart is another senior who didn’t start. She provided invaluable minutes and production as one of the first guards off the bench. She’s being recruited as a setter in volleyball.

Warbrick, who is considering offers to play basketball at Carroll College and North Idaho College, was the last of the Vikings’ starters to get sick, and the illness hit her on the ride to state. She started and played 17 minutes against Centennial, but spent most of the second half on the bench because she had no energy.

Griffitts, who is headed to play basketball at Snow College in Ephraim, Utah, and Simon, who signed this week to play soccer at the University of Hawaii-BYU, concluded their careers with four straight appearances in state title games. CdA’s overall record in that span was 89-12.

“This is pretty special for these kids,” CdA coach Dale Poffenroth said. “Four years in the state title game and to come out on top twice. It’s really pretty neat for them (the seniors). They’re all good kids. There’s not a bad kid in the bunch.”

Griffitts knew her team could come back, even when the Viks fell behind by 11 points in the third quarter.

“We were very fortunate (to get the game into overtime),” Griffitts said. “It was definitely the perfect ending to a great season and the end of a great career for the seniors.”

Reach staff writer Greg Lee at gregl@spokesman.com. or 765-7127.