PREP BOYS BASKETBALL: Ulrich enjoys first win as Post Falls coach

POST FALLS — Senior Connor Carver scored 24 points and junior Cashton Bodman added 21 as the Post Falls Trojans defeated the Rocky Mountain Grizzlies of Meridian 76-61 on Thursday night at The Arena. 

“Our kids executed against a zone phenomenally,” Post Falls coach Jayson Ulrich said. “Connor, Jaxon (Lysne) and Cashton killed it from 10 to 12 feet around the rim. We ran our offense and got everything we wanted in the painted area.

“Cashton hit two 3s in the first quarter and spaced them (the Grizzlies) out, and opened it up for Connor.” 

Lysne added 10 points, Carson Munday nine for Post Falls (1-1), which gave Ulrich his first victory as Trojan head coach. Ulrich had been the Post Falls JV coach and a varsity assistant the past three seasons, after coaching in the Lewiston High boys program for 21 years. 

“It means a ton,” Ulrich said. “I have coached these kids I have now from my first day of being here. To do it with them was really special, and to do it at home was special. It was just a fun high school atmosphere, with the band, cheerleaders, students and everything.” 

Senior Tanner Sweaney scored 21 points for Rocky Mountain (1-2), picked by the coaches to finish eighth out of 12 teams in the 6A Southern Idaho Conference.

Post Falls plays at University tonight at 7. 

Rocky Mountain     12    14    14    21    —    61 

Post Falls     18    15    25    18    —    76 

ROCKY MOUNTAIN — Cody W. 2, Sweaney 21, Gavin K. 9, Hammond 6, Swenson 12, Spiker 0, Pinegar 0, Schwendig 4, Paul M. 0, Habeck 0, Stevens 7. 

POST FALLS — Auble 3, Bodman 21, Lysne 10, Norisada 1, Naylor 5, Carver 24, Brown 0, Munday 9, Bresee 4, Dean 0. 

Sandpoint 69 

St. Maries 59 

SANDPOINT — Senior JJ Yearout hit four 3-pointers and poured in 27 points for the visiting 3A Lumberjacks in their opener, a loss to the 5A Bulldogs at Les Rogers Court. 

Yearout also had eight rebounds, five steals and four assists for St. Maries. Jack Barta added nine points, four rebounds, three steals and two assists, and Isaiah Gustaffe had five rebouds and three assists. 

Junior Logan Iverson hit eight 3-pointers and scored 31 points for Sandpoint (2-1).

“Our legs just weren’t under us,” St. Maries coach Bryan Chase said. “We had a heck of a time guarding Iverson tonight. It looked like an ocean for him out there shooting tonight. We just got in an early hole and made some runs, but just couldn’t get close enough.”

St. Maries returns to action next Thursday at Potlatch. 

St. Maries     14    10    15    20    —    59 

Sandpoint    19    13    15    22    —    69 

ST. MARIES — Harold 8, J. Barta 9, Yearout 27, Gustaffe 4, B. Barta 3, Riberich 8, Speakman 0, Sloper 0. 

SANDPOINT — K. Williams 8, Iverson 31, Yarbrough 10, Chamberlain 6, Weisz 0, Roos 7, Gion 3, Corbett 4, D. Williams 0. 

Lakeside 69 

Potlatch 42 

POTLATCH — Senior Hallah Peone tossed in 24 points as the visiting Knights rolled past the Loggers in nonleague play. 

Tyson Charley added 18 points, Furyus Louie 12 for Lakeside. 

Chase Lovell led Potlatch (0-1) with 10 points. 

Lakeside plays host to Wellpinit (Wash.) tonight at 7.  

Lakeside     24    23    15    9    —    69 

Potlatch     9    10    13    10    —    42 

LAKESIDE — Peone 24, Sines 6, Louie 12, Brown 4, Iron Cloud 0, Chimburas 0, Charley 18, Aldrich 0, Greensky 0, Pluff 5. 

POTLATCH — Magallon 2, Marshall 3, Lovell 10, Chittick 4, Pollock 3, Cerruti 0, Morris 2, Brown 5, B. Mitchell 9, Redmon 4.