MANIACS vs.WAMPUS CATS

The Clark Fork Wampus Cats boast one of the great mascots in Idaho, named for a Native American legend about a mythical beast that wandered the Cabinet Mountains with a spiked ball on its tail.

But the top high school mascot in Idaho, at least according to a recent contest by USA Today, is the Orofino Maniacs, who garnered more than 28,000 votes to win the state poll. The Wampus Cats were second, with 11,168 votes, followed by the Community School Cutthroat Trout (201), the Shelley Russetts (183) and the Kuna Kavemen (91).

Many assume the Maniacs are named so because of the state psychiatric hospital in Orofino, but historians contend the nickname predates the hospital. In 1927, Orofino traveled by train to Kamiah, and with no uniforms played a rag-tag style of ball that prompted the crowd to call them Maniacs. For better or worse, the nickname stuck.

Speaking of Clark Fork, I would be remiss not to mention Wampus Cat senior Dimi Kailang, who was poised to be North Star League Player of the Year before a severe ankle injury cost her the basketball season.

Kailang stuffed the stat sheet in the three games she played, averaging 17 points, eight rebounds, six steals and five assists, and was the engine that drove the team. A tough reminder that injuries are part of sports.

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED JINX ALIVE AND WELL

I’m going to blame the Zags’ loss to Wichita State on the dreaded Sports Illustrated jinx. This week’s regional cover says this: Kelly Olynyk and No. 1 Gonzaga Say... Bring on the Madness!

Among the rabid Bulldog fans pictured screaming behind Olynyk is 2011 Sandpoint graduate Emily Jurenka, right behind the girl with the chef hat. Jurenka is a sophomore at Gonzaga, and one of many local hoops junkies whose hearts were broken last night.

As for the jinx, advancing in the the NCAA’s is hard enough without any voodoo or curse. Of course the Shockers hitting dagger after dagger from long range down the stretch didn’t help. Neither did an egregious no-call on an Olynyk drive when the Zags looked to be putting the game away around the four minute mark, after which the Shockers started their improbable run.

It’s not the first No. 9 seed to take down a No. 1 seed and it won’t be the last. So goes March Madness.

As for Olynyk, what a treat to watch a lithe and gifted 7-footer fill the lane and finish on a fast break. More than a few NBA scouts were watching his every move in this tournament, and no doubt loved what they saw.

They play a beautiful brand of basketball in the West Coast Conference, albeit a little closer to the floor than say, Memphis. This point was driven home while watching Saint Mary’s battle Memphis in the first round.

Many of Saint Mary’s finger rolls and jump hooks that normally find the bottom of the net in the WCC were instead marked “return to sender” by the high-flying Memphis defenders.

While there are shot blockers in the WCC, it’s a safe bet the Gaels hadn’t seen those kind of high risers all season.

THE FAST AND FURIOUS

Arguably the craziest quarter of prep hoops in North Idaho this season was played in the season opener on Nov. 13 when the Post Falls girls traveled north to face Sandpoint.

The eventual 5A state champs were clicking on all cylinders early, building a commanding 26-7 lead after the first period. Then a frenetic eight minutes of hoops ensued, featuring a roller coaster of action.

The Bulldogs started the quarter on fire, pressing, running and gunning their way to a surprising 16-2 run in just under four minutes of action.

A stunned Trojan team called time out, and head coach Marc Allert must have had some magic words for his players. The future state champs promptly closed the quarter on a 20-4 run in the final four minutes of the half, capped by a 25 foot shot at the buzzer by Hallie Gennett.

Post Falls would go on to win 78-42 in a game that few who saw the second quarter will soon forget.

ENJOY THE MADNESS

For my money, there is no better sporting event than the NCAA basketball tournament.

I’d sooner miss the Super Bowl, World Series and NBA Finals combined, than miss the unrehearsed drama that is March Madness.

The one-and-done nature, the upsets, the newfound parity, the energy, the nerves, the dimes, the rejections, the jimmy hooks and of course the hold-your-breath buzzer beaters. Add it all up and it’s tough to beat.

I love that good teams still crumble under the pressure and unheard of teams still come out of nowhere and shock the nation. See Georgetown vs. Florida Gulf Coast.

I love that Saint Mary’s Beau Levesque, who shot 45 percent from 3-point land during the season, shot two air balls on wide open attempts from beyond the arc, and that a Mississippi player air balled a free throw.

It shows they’re human. In basketball parlance it’s called “alligator arms,” which more than a few great players have have been afflicted with in pressure situations.

Mostly I just love that there are still two more weeks of Madness left.

Eric Plummer is the sports editor of the Daily Bee in Sandpoint. He can be reached at “eplummer@bonnercountydailybee.com.”