THE FRONT ROW with JASON ELLIOTT: A lot of things to hope and wish on

At this point in the season, every team has a wish list. 

A key moment and event that will bring things together as teams battle for the postseason.

No, I’m not able to see into the future, or can predict what happens next, but there’s a few things that I’m more than curious about in the coming weeks. 

WITH ANOTHER week until the College Football Playoff starts its quarterfinal rounds, with a game on Wednesday and three on Thursday determining the semifinals, is it too much to ask for players to stick around a little longer? 

In the day and age of NIL and transfer portal in college sports, it’s hard to tell sometimes who the best team really is. 

Sure, Oregon has a ton of talent on its roster and might have a legit chance at getting to the National Championship Game. Then what? 

Texas Tech, the Ducks opponent in the Orange Bowl on Thursday, has been waiting and preparing for this game, but coincidently at the site of the national title game on Jan. 19. 

It’s quite possible that you could see more than a few players, or even coaches, off to their next stop by the end of next week. 

Is it against the rules, no. 

Does it make it hard to root for a team in the playoffs? 

Definitely. 

WITH A little over six weeks until the start of area high school district/regional basketball tournaments, you wonder if some schools in the area have what it takes to bring home a championship. 

Fresh off a championship in the Dan Wiley Bracket of the Nike Tournament of Champions in Mesa, Ariz., it makes you wonder if the Coeur d’Alene girls are getting ramped up for another run. 

Junior Brookeslee Colvin totaled 135 points in four tournament games, finishing with the Vikings beating Villa Park (Calif.) 60-44 last Monday. 

Eagle won the John Anderson Bracket of the same tournament in Mesa. The Mustangs handed the Vikings their first loss of the season on Dec. 4 at Coeur d’Alene High. 

Coeur d’Alene entered the state 6A tournament last season on a six-game win streak, advancing to the semifinals before falling in back-to-back games to eventual champion Owyhee and then again in the third-place game to Madison High of Rexburg. 

Meanwhile Lakeland, which is 8-1, opens play in the East Idaho Shootout in Idaho Falls, opening against tournament host Skyline High on Monday. 

Skyline went 0-2 at state last year. Lakeland lost in the state 4A third-place game to Pocatello High in 2024 at Timberline High in Boise, the last time the Hawks appeared at state. 

We will find out much more about the Lakeside girls program after next week’s Avista Holiday Tournament at Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston. 

Lakeside opens with Moscow on Monday, and will face either Evergreen of Vancouver, Wash., or Clarkston on Tuesday. 

The Knights have the ability to compete at a high level, but size could be an issue next week, and at the state tournament, should they advance. 

Timberlake, which could contend for a state 4A title, needs a little bit of luck to go its way after losing one starter to a knee injury before the season began and another that has yet to play this season due to a back injury. 

When healthy, the Tigers could be good enough to get a trophy at state. 

At least, it’s on the list right now. 

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for The Press. He can be reached by telephone at 208-664-8176, Ext. 1206 or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on ‘X’, formerly Twitter @JECdAPress.