Checking in on hoops in 5A IEL

“That’s a big advantage when you can knock somebody off on the road,” Lake City High boys basketball coach Jim Winger said the other day.

If that’s the case, Post Falls has a real big advantage as the 5A Inland Empire League boys basketball season nears the midway point.

The Trojans opened league play last Tuesday with a victory at Coeur d’Alene, then followed it up on Friday with a win at Lewiston, ranked No. 5 in last week’s Idaho media poll.

That leaves Post Falls (9-2, 2-0 5A IEL) with just one road game left in league — Jan. 31 at Lake City — as well as all three home games, beginning Friday when Lake City visits. The Trojans are home against Coeur d’Alene on Feb. 4 and Lewiston on Feb. 10.

Lake City (10-2, 1-1) has split with Coeur d’Alene, each winning at home. With Lewiston, Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls tying for the league title last year, and Lake City winless in league, the Timberwolves might have come into this season a little overlooked.

“We can put up some points,” Winger said. “We’ve been putting up almost 70, almost all year, and in high school basketball around here, that’s pretty good.”

Lake City still has home-and-homes with both Lewiston and Post Falls remaining. The T-Wolves will travel to Lewiston on Monday, then host the Bengals on Feb. 4.

First-year Coeur d’Alene coach Tony Hanna doesn’t like to keep harping on it, but the Vikings (4-7, 1-2) are still not at full strength due to injuries. However ...

“We’re getting better,” he said. “Every game we’re running our offense a little bit better, we’re playing a little bit better defense. We’re chipping away at this thing. We know we have some work to do, but we’re getting there. We know we can compete in this league.”

Coeur d’Alene has three league games left, two on the road — at Lewiston on Jan. 31 and at Post Falls on Feb. 4. Coeur d’Alene is scheduled to host Lewiston on Friday.

Lewiston (8-4, 0-1) was the preseason favorite to win the league.

After five years coaching Timberlake vs. Priest River in the Battle of the Buck spirit game, Hanna got his first taste of coaching in the Fight for the Fish game last Friday at Lake City.

“It is different,” he said. “I was told there (before the Buck game) that you can’t hear, and you have to use hand signals, but I was always able to yell loud enough in that game that they could hear me. And this one, there was times where there was no chance. It got so loud ... there was more people. It’s a fun atmosphere, and I’m glad these guys get to play in an atmosphere like that.”

POST FALLS’ girls (14-2, 3-1 5A IEL) still sit atop the league standings, even after last Friday’s loss at Lewiston. The Trojans have won twice on the road in league — at Coeur d’Alene and at a shorthanded Lake City. Post Falls’ home game vs. Lake City (13-3, 2-1) could eventually decide the league title, though Lewiston (11-4, 2-1) could have something to say about that.

Post Falls wraps up league play next Thursday at home vs. Coeur d’Alene.

Lake City has a pair of wins over Coeur d’Alene. The T-Wolves travel to Lewiston on Monday, then host the Bengals on Jan. 30 in a makeup game.

“I just said, the destiny’s in your hands, just go out and take care of business, and see what happens,” Lake City coach Bryan Kelly told his team after beating Coeur d’Alene in the Fight for the Fish game.

Coeur d’Alene (5-8, 0-4) has played well in spurts, and had a chance to beat Post Falls at home last week.

“Everything we’re looking for is to build for regionals, and I think we’ve seen just about everything so far,” first-year Vikings coach Scott Stockwell said.

“They’re getting better; they’re working hard,” Kelly said of Coeur d’Alene. “They had Post Falls on the ropes; Scott’s done a great job over there. They work hard; they’re good kids.”

And yes, the 5A IEL is using the same tiebreaker format as last year, where teams earn (or lose) points equal to margin of victory (up to nine points) in affected league games. So we’ll see how that affects seeding — and possibly individual games — down the stretch.

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter@CdAPressSports.