Post Falls moves into 5A IEL lead

POST FALLS - Post Falls took control of its playoff destiny on Tuesday night with a 64-46 win over the visiting Lake City Timberwolves in a 5A Inland Empire League contest at The Arena. Post Falls (14-2, 3-1) guards Malcolm Colbert and Connor Hill combined for 25 of the Trojans' 31 first-half points to help build a 31-28 halftime lead. "We came out flat the last time we played them," Colbert said. "It was eating at us. Tonight, our defense led to our offense. If we continue to play like that, we can go really far." Hill finished the night with 23 points, hitting a pair of 3-point baskets in the fourth quarter to put the game away. Colbert added 19 points in the backcourt for Post Falls. "I just started hitting shots in the second half," Hill said. "It felt good to start getting some shots to fall after missing a few in the first half. The gym felt pretty big in the second half. I was pretty money in the second half." Lake City (10-7, 3-2) hung around in the first quarter, battling back from an early deficit to take a 10-6 lead on a 3-pointer by Chris Wheelock. Both teams exchanged the lead for most of the first half, until points by Hill gave the Trojans a 31-24 lead with 1:24 left in the first half. "We came out ready to play," Lake City coach Jim Winger said. "Post Falls played very well. They shot the ball well. They were picked first in the league for a reason. I've got no complaints about the way we played tonight - we just ran into a buzz saw." After losing at Lake City 68-57 on Jan. 12, Post Falls coach Mike McLean knew he'd have to make some adjustments in the rematch on Tuesday. "I knew they were going to come out in a zone by watching them play Coeur d'Alene on Friday," McLean said. "We'd been working on extending the zone on offense and we hit some shots." Starters Shawn Reid, Marcus Colbert and Jeremy Cragin each got into foul trouble in the first quarter, but the Trojan reserves stepped up. "I was happy with our bench," McLean said. "Everyone off the bench gave us some good minutes. As a team, we had a bad taste in our mouths with the way we played the last time. Our goal was to play tough defense from the opening tip." Wheelock scored 12 points for the Timberwolves, followed by Beusan with 11 points. On Saturday, Lake City hosts Lewiston and Post Falls travels to Sandpoint. Lake City 15 13 8 10 - 46 Post Falls 15 16 14 19 - 64 LAKE CITY - Smith 2, Wheelock 12, Carlson 1, Smyly 9, Philp 2, Stoddard 7, Jackson 2, Hartz 0, Beusan 11. POST FALLS - Gonzales 0, Hill 23, Muncey 0, Mal. Colbert 19, Reid 11, Mar. Colbert 5, Mikkelson 0, Lickfold 0, Kennedy 2, Cragin 3.