It was certainly a basketball-themed week that started off with a great new event ... Minnow Madness, a middle school take-off of Coeur d'Alene's cross-town rivalry between CHS and LCHS, Fight for the Fish. Canfield and Lakes middle schools were awesome, their faculty playing a really exciting basketball game and the students lighting up the place with their enthusiastic cheering (it took a few days for my hearing to return).

I hadn't been in the Lakes Magnet School gym for decades; in fact, it was Coeur d'Alene High School back then. With the place filled to the rafters, Principal Jeff Bengtson joked that it probably had been decades since that many people had filled the gym, likely for a CHS/PFHS basketball game. Canfield Principal Nick Lilyquist and his team took home the traveling minnow spirit trophy and won the game, but this was definitely an event where everyone wins.

Enjoyed my fellow spirit judges, Chris Costa, Hazel Bauman, Rick Rasmussen, Kristen Gorringe, Travis Smith and Dr. Erik Curtis. Halftime featured the incredibly talented young gymnast Magdalena Staszewska and a free-throw contest from center court which was won by David Gorringe.

Kudos to both PTAs and Heather Montee and Teri Jett for organizing a fun family night and giving these middle schoolers some solid experience in being great fans.

In keeping with the week's basketball theme, like many of you I was glued to the radio listening to the State 5A Championship games of Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene. The Vikings caught some tough breaks and ended their season after two games. Post Falls caught some good breaks in a couple of tight games and after knocking off the reigning state champs, made it to the championship game on Saturday night.

After Friday night's game, Bert and I decided to hop a flight down to Boise on Saturday morning, such an impulse made possible with a flight attendant daughter and airline perks. It was worth getting up at 4 a.m. to catch the first flight out in the morning. There was a large group of Post Falls people and we joined them for the game at the Idaho Center.

Alas, the championship was not to be for the Trojans this year, but watching the team - seven of whom made a final appearance on the court at the Idaho Center in Nampa - accept the 2nd place state championship trophy was pretty emotional. So what kind of a prep career did seniors Marcus Colbert, Luke Thoreson, Michael Hillman, Taylor Valente, Seth Anderson, Scott Benner and Tyler Shelton share?

In the past four years, under the leadership of Coach Mike McLean, the Trojans have made it to the state tournament each year, bringing home 3rd place, a State Championship, 4th place and 2nd place. Impressive record and an equally impressive group of athletes. I love this team and have enjoyed watching them all season, a classy group of young men. High five to Coach McLean, too. We spent a few years watching him play basketball for PFHS (Class of '95) back in the early '90s, so it doubles the fun of being a Trojan fan.

One of the best testimonials a community and a school can receive came from the general manager of the Hampton Inn at the Idaho Center, which was headquarters for the Post Falls delegation. "... this is one of the best teams and fans that we have had stay at the Hampton. These athletes have set an example that will be very hard to follow. It speaks volumes for the coaches, staff and parents for the ethics that have been instilled in them. They are respectful of the property, of hotel staff and of other guests who just happened to be at the hotel during the state tournament. ... it gives us a sense of the road these students will take in the future."

Lots to do this weekend ... North Idaho Home and Garden Show at The Fairgrounds, Make-A-Wish Cheers to Wishes with The Gibliano Brothers Dueling Pianos, Family Promise's annual Salmon Feast to name just a few.

Happy Birthday today to my sis, Janna Scharf, Todd Gilkey, Wayne Larson and Laundry Night founder Heidi Rogers, who's now the big 5-0! On March 8 Cyndie Hammond, Joni Morrow, Linda Koehler, Robert Page, Veronicka Peacock, Kylie and Chelsea MacEntee and Lisa Ferguson will blow out the candles. Friday birthdays belong to Nate Thoreson, Karen Roetter, Debbie Myles, Bob Frazey and marking his 30th year, Keith VanSlate. On Saturday Jon Dingman, Mark Hammer, Nancy Frazey and Clark Osterson celebrate. Sue Walker, Jim Faucher, Rachel Dupin, Pat Giesa, Mindy Newby, Ed Robar, Bill Paradee and Mayor Clay Larkin are all another year older. Sharing March 12 birthdays are DeAnn Johnson, Phil Thompson, David Wegner and Will Henderson. On Tuesday wish a happy birthday to Paula Sharp and Margaret Boyd.

Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. She was voted Best Local Writer for 2011 by the readers of the North Idaho Business Journal. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press and Kerri is on the air Mondays and Wednesdays on 1080 ESPN AM (KVNI). She can be reached at mainstreet@cdapress.com