THE FRONT ROW with MARK NELKE: Couple folks missing from state this week

It wasn’t supposed to end in Cottonwood, of all places. 

Mike McLean’s 18-year coaching career with Post Falls High boys basketball was supposed to end this week, coaching a game or two or three at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa. 

A place where McLean and his Trojan teams had been regulars for more than a decade – 11 trips to state in a 13-year span, with two state titles and two other appearances in the state championship games 

But sports doesn’t always cooperate like that. 

Post Falls’ season – and McLean’s coaching career at his alma mater – ended last Saturday with a loss to Timberline of Boise at a state play-in game at Prairie High. 

Instead of a victory parade through Post Falls, it was a 179-mile bus ride from Cottonwood to Post Falls High. 

“I didn’t think much about myself; I thought about the seniors,” McLean said of the bus ride home. “I’m pretty blessed. I get to go out on my own terms; very few coaches get to do that.” 

McLean said years ago his plan was to step down as coach once the last of his three sons was done playing at Post Falls. Trenton is a senior this year, and spent the last three seasons playing for his father on the Trojan varsity. 

MIKE McLEAN finished with an overall record of 289-154, with the 11 trips to state, four appearances in the state title game, and state championships in 2010 and 2015. 

“We play hard, and we play to win,” McLean said of his tenure. “What I’m most proud of, even more than the wins, you can never say we’ve never not followed the rules. We’ve always been above that.” 

McLean said the bus ride home was “actually pretty lively.” 

When the team stopped in Lewiston for a bite to eat along the way, Brian Carlson, a coach in the program for all 18 of McLean’s seasons, led the reminiscing of things that had happened over the years in the program. 

There was talk about all the future NBA guys Post Falls played against, big wins, eventful road trips, etc. 

“In my 18 years there has only been twice I felt good when the season ended, and that was after the state titles,” McLean said. 

But this ride home – with the assistant coaches, with his wife Jessica, a frequent part of the bus rides – was different. 

“There wasn’t any talk of what we could do differently (next year),” McLean said. 

CAPITAL HIGH in Boise has been the early March home of the St. Maries Lumberjacks for the past decade. 

Aside for one year when the state 2A tournament was relocated due to COVID-19 precautions, St. Maries had played at least two – and sometimes three – state tourney games at Capital from 2015-24. 

This year, the Lumberjacks fell short of state, ending an impressive run not only of 10 straight trips to state, but 10 straight district championships. 

St. Maries’ run also ended in Cottonwood on Saturday, with a loss to Marsing in a state 3A play-in game. 

“I think we were all heartbroken over the game; that (state) was our last goal to accomplish,” said Bryan Chase, who took over the St. Maries boys program in 2014, and guided the Lumberjacks to state in each of his first 10 seasons. 

This year’s squad was young, with just two seniors – most of the key players were juniors and sophomores. 

So perhaps St. Maries can begin another long run at Capital High starting next year. 

“Hopefully this team will learn from it, and bounce back next year,” Chase said. 

MEANWHILE, HERE’S to the local teams who are at state this week. 

We’ve got Lake City, led by senior guards Reese Strawn and Cason Miller, key reserves on an undefeated state title team two years ago, now in leadership roles looking to lead the current batch of Timberwolves back to the state title game. 

We’ve got Lakeside, hit hard by graduation but still a dangerous team, coming in a bit under the radar – which is kinda weird for a team that has played in the last two state title gamess. 

We’ve got Coeur du Christ, at state in its first year as a full member of the Idaho High School Activities Association. Why not, Saints? 

And we’ve got Bonners Ferry, whose coach (Nathan Williams) and star player (his son, Asher) lived briefly in the Coeur d’Alene area, looking to repeat as state champions. The Badgers’ only loss this season was a five-pointer at Lake City. 

Time for those teams to make some memories of their own down south. 

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 208-664-8176, Ext. 1205, or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @CdAPressSports.