Cornelia likely going out on top

It’s an appro- priate way to go out.

The Lewiston boys basketball team captured its first state trophy in 61 years – and second in school history – when the Bengals held off Madison 56-48 in the 5A state championship game.

It was probably Bengals coach Dave Cornelia’s final game. He has acknowledged what has been the worst-kept secret this season – that this was likely his final year as head coach.

Something quite rare occurred this season – the best 5A boys and girls basketball in Idaho was played in North Idaho.

Here’s a look back at the winter.

Boys basketball

Cornelia has left a little wiggle room in case he decides to return.

He told me Monday that he will tell his administration his final decision by spring break.

I remember an e-mail exchange I had with Cornelia during the season when I tried to confirm the rumor that was floating around about this being his final season. He asked me then not to print anything and I honored his request. He told me at the time that he was burned out.

Funny how a state championship can renew the juices.

“It still hasn’t really sunk in,” Cornelia told me as we gathered for our annual All-North Idaho basketball team pictures. “People are still calling me and congratulating me. A lot of my former players are still calling. A friend of mine that I went to high school with who lives in Chile watched the game on the Internet. It’s all so numbing.”

That’s making his final decision difficult.

“The closer I get to spring break, the harder it’s going to be for me to pull the trigger,” Cornelia acknowledged.

Cornelia is 43 and just finished his eighth season as head coach. All eight of those teams qualified for state. He assisted under former coach Dick Richel for 11 years.

The compelling reason for Cornelia to resign is he has two daughters – ages 12 and 9 – who play basketball. It’s time for him to follow them around.

This may not have been Cornelia’s most talented team. Some would argue it wasn’t. Some would suggest his team two years ago was the best of the bunch.

Some also would argue that Cornelia had more than enough talent to win one or two more state titles.

Cornelia was so disappointed the past two years that he almost didn’t return to coach.

Often it takes some time after a season to let the emotions settle before making a final decision.

I’m sure Cornelia is done – even if he left a big toe in the door just in case he talks himself out of it. The sport will lose a class act.

Next year, Region I receives two automatic state berths. Lewiston will be in a serious rebuilding mode, so even if Cornelia returned his run of state tourney appearances would likely come to an end.

Post Falls, Coeur d’Alene and Lake City will wage an entertaining battle for the state berths.

Girls basketball

Coeur d’Alene did what was expected, even if it turned out to be more difficult than anticipated.

The Vikings captured a second straight state title and played in the state final for a fourth consecutive year.

What a run for seniors Kama Griffitts, Sadie Simon, Amy Warbrick and Whitney Heleker – all of whom had front row seats during the entire ride. They went a combined 89-12 in that span.

My early prediction for next year is the Vikings will challenge for a state championship again. It’s too soon to say they will make it a threepeat. Believe it or not, but coach Dale Poffenroth will have what I would call a restructuring – not rebuilding – project.

The Vikings return two starters – sophomore Carli Rosenthal and junior Dayna Drager – and reserves Kelsey Bybee, Amanda Buttrey and Rachel Crawford, all juniors, will be in the mix for starting jobs.

A handful of players off an 18-0 junior varsity and perhaps an incoming freshman or two will have roles on the team next season.

It will most likely be Poffenroth’s final season.

So you can go ahead and use ink to put CdA’s name down as one of the two 5A state qualifiers from the region next year.

Wrestling

For my money, some of the best 5A wrestling in the state also hailed from North Idaho.

No area team captured a state title, but Lewiston and Coeur d’Alene certainly were in the hunt. And don’t be surprised – I repeat, surprised – if the Vikings make a serious run at a state title next year. They had eight sophomores in their lineup this year.

Lewiston sophomore Casey George (119 pounds), Coeur d’Alene junior Braden Mowry (125) and Lakeland senior Kyle McCrite (125) defended state titles. Post Falls junior Chad Booth (103) and Sandpoint sophomore Garret Belgarde (103) also won titles.

All-league teams

The Inland Empire and Intermountain league boys basketball coaches have announced all-league teams.

In the IEL, Post Falls junior wing Shawn Reid was named player of the year. Moscow sophomore Jake Helbling was named newcomer of the year. Lewiston coach Dave Cornelia was honored as coach of the year.

Named to the first team were Devon Austin of Coeur d’Alene, Justin Carter of Post Falls, Nate Frisbie of Lake City, Mac Stannard of Moscow and Ryan Young of Lewiston.

Named to the second team were Stefan Buratto of Sandpoint, Ben Frisbie of Lake City, Jared Heitzman of Lewiston, Justin Podrabsky of Lewiston, Ryan Strong of Lewiston and Conner Williams of CdA.

In the IML, Priest River sophomore point guard Eric Holbrook was named player of the year.

Named to the first team were Jake Weimer and Max Salesky of Priest River, Aaron Corsi and Zach Lehman of St. Maries, Kyle Kenser of Kellogg, Michael Welch and Dylan Midstokke of Orofino, Aaron Hoisington of Bonners Ferry and Patrick Lagrimanta of Timberlake. Priest River coach Ryan Bodecker was named coach of the year.

And a football note

Carroll College (Helena) coach Mike Van Diest announced the signing of six recruits, including defensive end/linebacker Dakota Amy of Kootenai High in Harrison.