PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL: Trojans deliver Carlson his first win as coach

POST FALLS — The Post Falls Trojans notched their first win of the season Saturday afternoon, holding off the Meridian Warriors 72-67 at The Arena. It was also the first victory for first-year Post Falls head coach Brian Carlson. 

“I was so happy for our girls, so proud,” Carlson said. “They’ve been through a tough stretch, and battled through, and did enough to get the victory.”

Junior Brooklyn Reese hit three 3-pointers and scored 23 points for the Trojans (1-8). 

“She's put a lot of time into improving her game, and has played well offensively for us,” said Carlson, who noted Reese played more inside last year. "She’s playing more on the wing this year, and it frees her up to shoot a little more.” 

Jaya Felix added 15 points, Kailey Walton 13 for Post Falls, which outscored the Warriors 39-27 in the middle two quarters.  

“We actually attacked their pressure, and scored on the back side of their pressure,” Carlson said of that stretch. 

Senior guard Kiet Martinez hit five 3-pointers and scored a game-high 25 points for Meridian (2-4). Sophomore MK Puello added 20. 

Post Falls returns to action Friday at Lewiston. 

Meridian     16    12    15    24    —    67 

Post Falls    18    19    20    15    —    72 

MERIDIAN — Schureman-Roe 0, Martinez 25, Kagee 2, Fluckiger 8, Klatt 0, Puello 20, Coleman 0, Hancock-Lynch 3, Watson 0, Voegele 9. 

POST FALLS — Benzinger-Stephens 2, Hollenbeck 5, Reese 23, Felix 15, Morrison 0, Johnson 1, Tucker 6, Gluhak 7, Walton 13. 

Coeur d’Alene 61 

Rocky Mountain 53 

COEUR d’ALENE — Junior Brookeslee Colvin scored a game-high 24 points for the Vikings in a win over the Grlzzlies of Meridian at Viking Court. 

Senior Natalie Semprimoznik scored 12 points for Coeur d’Alene (6-1), which travels to Deer Park on Thursday. 

Junior Liv Sangsland scored 16 points for Rocky Mountain (6-1), which was picked to finish eighth in the 6A Southern Idaho Conference. 

Rocky Mountain        10    16    11    16    —    53 

Coeur d’Alene        24    10    20    7    —    61 

ROCKY MOUNTAIN — Smith 8, Anderson 4, Liotta 3, Sangsland 13, Kollman 16, Osterhout 1, Hatfield 8. 

COEUR d’ALENE — Wheeler 9, Brown 5, Bridge 6, Wallis 0, Colvin 24, Shafer 0, Semprimoznik 12, Reardon 3. 

Eagle 66 

Lake City 32 

COEUR d’ALENE — The Timberwolves hung in for a while, but the visiting Mustangs showed why they’re some coaches' pick to be at the top of the state come February. 

Junior Ella Pearson scored 13 points for Lake City, which trailed 17-12 after the first quarter before Eagle broke it open in the second quarter. 

“Our goal was to execute our defense better than we had been,” Lake City coach David Pratt said. “We just wanted to get out on their shooters.” 

Junior Berkley Jones, who scored 31 points on Thursday against Coeur d’Alene and 37 against Post Falls on Friday, scored 16 on Saturday. Senior Trinity Holsinger scored 15 points and junior Taya Nelson scored a game-high 17 points for Eagle (6-0). 

“Both Jones and Holsinger score in the teens for a reason,” Pratt said. “If Eagle’s isn’t ranked No. 1 in the state, they should be. They came up here and dismantled all three of us. They don’t foul a lot and they’re senior-loaded and know how to win. They’re a well coached, good team.” 

Lake City (0-7) hosts North Central of Spokane on Tuesday. 

Eagle        17    19    19    13    —    66 

Lake City    12    8    5    7    —    32 

EAGLE — Elitharp 4, Nelson 17, Lake 3, Hosac 1, Holsinger 15, Ellsworth 4, Jones 16, Mitchell 2, DeVries 4. 

LAKE CITY — Kolden 3, Hiltenbrand 5, Smith 0, Pearson 13, Baltzell 0, Brouse 0, Johnston 9, Johnson 2. 

Grangeville 76

St. Maries 11

GRANGEVILLE — Further information was not available.