THE FRONT ROW with MARK NELKE: Dominant Viking boys, and top career scorers

Coeur d’Alene’s boys basketball team has won its last four Inland Empire League games, all against fellow 5A squads, by 15 points (Lake City), 12 (Lewiston), 29 (Post Falls) and 25 (Lake City).

The league-leading Vikings (14-3, 5-0 IEL), who travel to second-place Post Falls (11-5, 3-2) tonight, are closing in on their first league title since sharing the 5A IEL crown with Lewiston and Post Falls in 2016.

Coeur d’Alene last won an outright league title in 2014 (5A IEL), and last qualified for the state tournament in 2012.

IDAHO DOES not have an official record book for high school sports — though IdahoSports.com says it plans to take on that ambitious challenge.

The Idaho High School Activities Association compiles records for state tournament events only, meaning records can only be set at state tournament games and, in some cases, only in state championship games.

But the list of top career scorers in Idaho high school boys basketball history is about as “official” as it gets.

Idahoops.com has a list of the state’s top career scorers. And while a point total or two may be off, and a name or two missing, it was pretty much agreed Jared Mercer of Kamiah is the state’s career scoring leader with 2,589 points, set in 1993.

That record figures to fall tonight, when Lapwai plays host to Clearwater Valley, with Kase Wynott of Lapwai, sitting at 2,584 career points, needing just six points to break Mercer’s record.

Just six days ago, the 6-foot-5 Wildcats star and Utah State signee posted a ridiculous triple-double of 68 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists in a 105-43 win at Genesee.

I remember when Lakeside upset Lapwai in overtime in the state 1A Division I championship game in March at the Idaho Center in Nampa, snapping “mighty” Lapwai’s 62-game win streak and giving Lakeside its second state title in four seasons.

In defeat, Wynott finished with a “quiet” 40 points.

A “quiet” 40.

This after Wynott put another “quiet” 40 on 5A Post Falls in Lapwai's season opener last season.

SOME LOCAL names dot the idahoops.com list of career scoring leaders in boys basketball.

Counting Wynott, whose name is not on the list because he is still playing, Kyle Wombolt of Kellogg and Coeur d’Alene (1984-87) would be sixth all time with 2,168 career points. 

John Lampart of Worley (1971-74) would be 19th with 1,702 points.

Rod Hill (1985-87) of St. Maries would be 25th with 1,644.

Others in the top 50 — Jeff Nearing of Bonners Ferry (1989-91), tied for 42nd with 1,526 points; David Arthur of Mullan (1976-79), 47th with 1,506; and Danny Roe of St. Maries (1980-83), 50th with 1,496.

One name missing that should be on the list is Kolton Mitchell of Lake City (2020-23), who finished with 1,609 career points, which would put him in 32nd place.

And there could be some others from North Idaho not yet accounted for on this list.

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 208-664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @CdAPressSports.