POST FALLS — After struggling early in the game — in part because of a strong start by their opponent — the Post Falls Trojans needed a little reminder of all the work they put in to get to this point.

That lesson learned, the Trojans, who got all they wanted on this afternoon from the Coeur d’Alene Vikings, battled their way into overtime, and came away with a 65-58 victory to clinch the 5A Inland Empire League boys basketball title Saturday at The Arena.

“We didn’t have a good start, and we had to go to the whip a little bit,” Post Falls coach Mike McLean said. “It’s never easy to win one game in this league, let alone win a league title. I thought maybe our guys didn’t come as prepared mentally as they needed to be, so I’ll take the blame for that.”

Jake Pfennigs had 19 points and 11 rebounds for Post Falls (14-2, 5-0 5A IEL), and junior reserve Casey Walker came up big in the extra four-minute session for the Trojans, in a game where both teams lost two starters to fouls in regulation.

Joey Naccarato scored a game-high 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Coeur d’Alene (8-9, 2-4). But the Vikings’ fortunes took a turn for the worse when Brody Lundblad, in his second game back after missing most of the season with a stress fracture in his foot, and Naccarato fouled out in a span of 12 seconds.

Coeur d’Alene led 52-48 when Naccarato sat down with 1:56 left, but scored just one basket and six points total in the final six minutes (counting overtime).

“Unfortunately our foul trouble hurt us tonight,” Coeur d’Alene coach Tony Hanna said. “That was one of the things we preached at halftime; we had five kids with two fouls at halftime. We talked about keeping our hands off and playing good, solid defense, and we just fouled too much.”

Still, the Vikings had a chance to win it in regulation, but missed 4 of 6 free throws in the final 43 seconds.

Drake Thompson’s driving layup for Post Falls tied it at 56 with 11 seconds left.

In OT, Walker’s steal led to Thompson being fouled, and his free throw gave the Trojans the lead for good at 57-56 with 2:56 left. Walker scored on the drive with 2:20 left, then fed David Bourgard for a 3-pointer from the top of the key and a 62-56 lead.

“Casey’s the epitome of what we love in our program,” McLean said. “He just is a hard worker, finds ways to contribute and he’s really put some time in, making himself a more complete 5A varsity offensive player.”

The Vikings managed just one basket in overtime.

“Hat’s off to Coeur d’Alene; they executed what they wanted to do,” McLean said “They made the game extremely physical. Their physicality, their bumping on all of our cuts ... it took us a while to get back up off our heels and get on our toes and do what we want.”

Post Falls made just 3 of 17 3-pointers, but two of them were huge — Bourgard’s, and one by Tanner McCliment-Call with 1 1/2 minutes left that pulled the Trojans within 52-51.

Coeur d’Alene jumped out to a 10-1 lead in the first four minutes. Lundblad assisted on the first three baskets, two of them 3-pointers by Naccarato.

The Vikings led 23-11 with just under 6 minutes left in the first half before Post Falls picked up the intensity. Still, Coeur d’Alene held a slim lead for much of the second half, and Hanna was encouraged.

“I think we did show what we can do with a full team,” Hanna said. “We’ve finally been a full, complete team for two games. I like where we’re at; I know our record doesn’t necessarily show it. We’re going to be a tough out (at regionals).”

On Friday, Coeur d’Alene plays host to Moscow, and Post Falls is home vs. Lewiston.

Coeur d’Alene 12 13 11 20 2 — 58

Post Falls 8 14 16 18 9 — 65

COEUR d’ALENE — Lundblad 3, Kofmehl 1, Matheson 9, Yankoff 9, Bronson 8, Beggerly 3, Naccarato 23, K. Edwards 2.

POST FALLS — Gennett 7, Thompson 12, McKeown 1, McCliment-Call 8, Walker 6, Bourgard 12, Fleming 0, Ballew 0, Pfennigs 19.