COEUR d'ALENE - If North Idaho College athletic director Al Williams was able to have two championship games in this week's fourth Coeur d'Alene Inn-vitational holiday basketball classic like the inaugural girls championship game in 2010 - he'd have a happy new year.

In last year's girls championship game, Coeur d'Alene edged Federal Way 70-69 in the final seconds at Christianson Gym.

"If we can get the boys game to match that, we'll be one of the top tournaments in the region," Williams said. "Last year's title game was phenomenal. Both teams played strong defense."

The girls tournament features Coeur d'Alene, Lake City, Post Falls, Lapwai, Davis (Yakima), Skyline (Sammamish, Wash.), Federal Way (Wash.) and Redmond (Ore.).

Boys teams include Coeur d'Alene, Lake City, Post Falls, Chiawana (Pasco, Wash.), Prairie (Vancouver, Wash.), Redmond, Davis and Foster (Tukwila, Wash.).

Both will be a true tournament format, with a winner crowned in both divisions. This will be the first year for a boys championship game. Last year's event was the first with a girls title game.

"When we started this four years ago, the whole idea was to keep adding regional powers," Williams said. "We're hoping to develop it from champions of Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. It's been nice to have a sponsor that continues to help bring teams in."

BOYS: Coeur d'Alene (2-2) opens with Foster High of Tukwila, Wash., in Tuesday's final game at 7:30.

Deon Watson, an all-tournament selection for the Vikings, returns.

Foster boys coach Michael Broom leads his team into Coeur d'Alene returning three starters.

"I thought the players would enjoy it," Broom said. "We're looking forward to getting into the tournament atmosphere and playing three games in three days like at the state tournament."

Post Falls (6-0) is coming off a 4-0 record in the Wild West Shootout in Reno, Nev., last weekend and opens the tournament against Prairie at 1:30.

Marcus Colbert, the tournament's Most Outstanding Player last year, returns for the Trojans, which have a 9-0 record in three previous appearances at the invitational.

"Post Falls thinks they've got ownership of this tournament because they haven't lost in three years," Williams said. "It could very well be them versus Davis in the finals. It's their challenge to go 12-0, as it is for Colbert to finish unbeaten. I'm interested to see if we can throw one more challenge at him."

Colbert, a point guard, has signed to play basketball at Montana State in Bozeman next season.

"Davis is loaded," Williams said. "If they're the best team in the state (Washington), it should be a good tournament for them."

They'll open against Redmond, with the winner facing the Foster-Coeur d'Alene winner in a semifinal game.

"This tournament was a great opportunity to get away from teams we see all the time in state (Oregon) and play some great competition," Redmond coach Jon Corbett said. "We will use it to do some team building and mix up our lineup as we start into the bulk of our season. It's always good to get away from home and spend some time together as a team."

Seniors Connor Lau and Matt Dahlen are returning starters for the Panthers, who finished 9-15 last year. Tanner Manselle, a 6-foot-6 guard/forward, is also receiving interest from some smaller schools in the Northwest, according to Corbett.

"Tanner was hurt a good portion of last season, but started off and on for us," Corbett said. "I anticipate he will start getting more offers now that he is healthy for the first time in over a year. We also have a couple others coming back from injury, so it's a great time to put the pieces together."

GIRLS: Redmond returns two starters from last year's team which lost in the first round of the Oregon state 6A playoffs.

Six-foot forward Jesslyn Albrecht and 5-foot-10 forward Margo Capps are returning starters for the Panthers, who open with the Lake City girls Tuesday at 3 p.m.

"This tournament offers a great opportunity for my young varsity team to grow," Redmond coach Nathan Covill said. "We'll play great competition out of the state and see a beautiful part of the Northwest. For me as a coach, it gives us an opportunity to play competition we would never play during the winter year. There are some great teams in this tournament and having the opportunity to play great teams from around the Northwest region is very appealing."

Covill played basketball at the University of Montana in the 90s.

"My wife is from Spokane and my father lives in Western Montana," Covill said. "I have spent tons of time in Cd'A and know the area quite well. I'm hoping this tournament gives the team the opportunity to grow basketball wise and as a team. Being dependent on four young sophomores, I feel this is very important. Playing three games in three days is also a great way to make improvements and adjustments quickly to see if they work. As a coach, I've always felt that tournament play is one of the best ways to prepare for the playoffs and improve as a team."

Darah Huertas-Vining of Federal Way returns as an all-tournament selection last year and is averaging 21 points per game this season.

"They lost a player who is starting at Washington right now," said Williams of Federal Way. "They'll be a contender regardless because of the talent on their team."

Williams also looks for good things out of 1A Division I Lapwai, which opens the tournament against Davis.

"I always enjoy watching them," Williams said. "This is basically their tuneup for the state tournament. They took last year's state 5A champion to the final two minutes before losing to Lewiston. They've got the early morning game, but it's a good test for them. They've got one returning starter (Nathanee Spencer) who's a pretty good athlete. She can carry them a long ways if she gets hot."

Championship games are schedule for Thursday at 6 p.m. for the girls and 7:30 for the boys.