POST FALLS - Against the team that kept them from the state tournament last season, the Post Falls Trojans' game plan was simple:

Don't let the Lewiston Bengals get started.

Post Falls' guards hounded Lewiston all over the court en route to routing the Bengals 65-32 in the 5A Inland Empire League girls basketball opener for both schools Tuesday night at The Arena.

"I was real happy with our defensive effort," Post Falls coach Marc Allert said. "That's something we've been emphasizing, and it paid off tonight."

Many of the key players who helped Lewiston win the past two state titles have moved on, and this year's Bengals (3-1) committed 20 turnovers against the Trojans (3-0). But, more importantly, Post Falls' sticky man-to-man defense forced Lewiston into 13-of-43 shooting (30.2 percent) from the field.

"If we can keep 'em contained, and make them work ... " Allert said. "I was very proud of our effort. Our effort was the key to the game."

Lewiston scored the game’s first basket, but Post Falls, with three returning starters and a Division I-bound transfer to boot, went on a 12-0 run over the next 5 1/2 minutes and never really looked back. The Trojans led by as many as 17 in the first half, and eased away in the second half.

“They’re very good,” Lewiston coach Pat Teichmer said. “They’re a physical team, they got up and down the floor well. We got off to a slow start and couldn’t hit shots, and when the basket starts looking smaller, then you start doubting yourself.

“They played great defense, but I didn’t think we played awful defense. They just hit some shots, and we didn’t.”

All 10 players scored for Post Falls, led by Hallie Gennett, the University High transfer who totaled 14 points, seven rebounds and a couple steals. Dani Failor added 13 points, Whitney Gonzales had 12 points off the bench, Brooke Litalien had seven points, three steals and three assists, and Katie King nine points and three assists. Brenna Meehan had four assists.

Emilee Schlader led Lewiston with seven points. Karlee Wilson, a four-year starter at point guard, is back, but the Bengals are young up front and figure to be a work in progress — which is a tough thing to be in this league.

“We’re a pretty young team,” Teichmer said. “We’ve got a lot to improve on. We’ve lost a lot of kids the last few years, but we’ll work at it. I believe in this group.”

Post Falls had won its first two games by 36 and 39 points.

“Honestly I have no idea where we’re at yet,” Allert said. “This was our first test, and we passed.”

Post Falls travels to Lake City on Thursday.

Lewiston 4 6 12 10 — 32

Post Falls 12 13 22 18 — 65

LEWISTON — K. Wilson 5, L. Wilson 3, K. Schlader 0, Teichmer 6, E. Schlader 7, Hobart 0, Wells 3, White 2, Hastings 6.

POST FALLS — Allert 2, Gonzales 12, King 9, Meehan 2, Smith 2, Litalien 7, Gennett 14, Runkle 2, Failor 13, Perrin 2.