SPOKANE VALLEY — For most of the game, the Post Falls Trojans, one of the best girls basketball teams in Idaho, more than held their own against the Central Valley Bears, considered the top team in Washington.

But a few sketchy stretches proved costly for Post Falls, and Central Valley seized the opportunity, went on a couple runs and finished with a 59-48 victory over the Trojans on Saturday night at Central Valley High in a matchup featuring five college signees — four in Division I.

“I really liked our effort, and I thought we battled and played hard,” Post Falls coach Marc Allert said. “I thought there was about three 1- or 2-minute stretches in there that made the difference. We played right with them most of the game, and there was one stretch in the first half and a couple in the second where things got a little helter-skelter, and we didn’t come down and run our stuff, and took a couple bad shots, and they capitalized on that.”

Post Falls (7-1) led for much of the first half. Sophomore Tyler McCliment-Call, who finished with 17 points and nine rebounds, sank a 3-pointer with 4 1/2 minutes left in the second quarter to boost the Trojans’ lead to 20-14.

But moments later, Gonzaga-bound Trojan Melody Kempton was whistled for her second foul. She sat the rest of the half, and Central Valley (3-1) went on an 8-0 run to finish the half with a 22-20 lead.

Kempton was called for her third foul just 14 seconds into the third quarter. Allert kept her in, but sat her a couple minutes later to buy some time with Post Falls up 28-26.

Lexie Hull, half of the Stanford-bound Hull twins for Central Valley, scored 11 of her game-high 24 points in the third quarter, including back-to-back baskets inside to put the Bears up 30-26. That was the start of a 13-2 run, and CV never trailed again.

“It was really fun; it was a really great game for us. We needed good competition, especially going into league play, and Vegas,” Kempton said. “It’s definitely a bummer to have lost, that’s for sure, but it was a really good game.”

Bayley Brennan, headed for Division II Seattle Pacific, had 14 points for Post Falls. Sydney Parks had 11 rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots. Kempton scored 10 of her 12 points in the second half.

Post Falls, especially in the first half, made it tough for Central Valley to get anything going inside. The Bears shot 8 for 38 from the field in the first half, and finished 22 of 70 for the game — including 4 of 21 on 3-pointers.

Central Valley coach Freddie Rehkow said Post Falls gave his team the most problems “just jamming our cuts, and clogging the key. We had a bunch of wide-open shots, and we didn’t knock ’em down, and that allowed them to keep the key packed in a little bit. They blocked out really well.”

Lacie Hull totaled 11 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, four steals and two blocked shots. Hailey Christopher, an Idaho signee, added six points and seven rebounds. Lexie Hull grabbed eight boards as the Bears outrebounded the Trojans.

“Her (Kempton) sitting on the bench, we still should be able to execute our stuff,” Allert said. “She definitely makes a difference, especially defensively. With their three big kids (the Hulls and Christopher), we can guard two of them, but without her, it makes it a little tougher to guard.”

Post Falls shot 16 of 47 from the field, including 7 of 16 on 3-pointers. CV’s pressure forced the Trojans into 19 turnovers, 11 in the first half.

“Their length causes problems,” Allert said of CV. “Things that are open against most teams are not open against those guys.”

“I think our main thing was to put pressure on them, and speed them up to our pace,” Rehkow said. “Because when it was slow, it was definitely in their favor.”

Brennan had five points in the first quarter as the Trojans led 9-7 after one. McCliment-Call hit two of her three 3s in the second quarter as Post Falls opened up that six-point lead.

After CV took the lead with that third-quarter spurt, Post Falls came as close as four points in the fourth quarter, only to see the Bears score 12 of the game’s final 17 points.

Next up for Post Falls is the Tarkanian Classic Dec. 20-23 in Las Vegas. The Trojans open Wednesday night vs. Maryknoll School of Honolulu.

Post Falls 9 11 14 14 — 48

Central Valley 7 15 18 19 — 59

POST FALLS — Morris 0, Gardiner 2, Brennan 14, T. McCliment-Call 17, J. McCliment-Call 3, Kempton 12, Parks 0.

CENTRAL VALLEY — Simmelink 0, Sams 0, Chalich 2, Christopher 6, Le. Hull 24, Laabs 1, Skaife 2, Howard 5, Whitman 8, La. Hull 11.