Post Falls boys hold on
The Post Falls High boys basketball team made the biggest plays when it mattered most Thursday in the State 5A tournament.
Click the tab below to read my unedited game story.
By
Staff writer
But there was a hint of disappointment and embarrassment – this after the Trojans found a way to pull out a 63-59 win over Borah in a State 5A tournament opener.
It was, after all, a victory for
District III Boise-area teams went 0-4. In other openers,
In a word, it was relief.
The Trojans trailed most of the game, but when it mattered most they made big plays.
None was bigger than the rebound senior Justin Carter pulled down in the waning seconds with
Carter got a wrap-around pass to Reid, who made a fall away 4-foot bank shot as he was fouled with 3.7 seconds left. He made the foul shot to put the Trojans ahead 61-59.
“I tried to angle my body so I could take the foul and finish,” Reid said.
Said Carter: “I was just looking for the open guy.”
Borah’s ensuing inbounds pass went out of bounds at midcourt, giving the Trojans the ball under their basket. Carter was immediately fouled, and he secured the victory with two free throws.
It was a game both teams had numerous chances to put away in the fourth quarter, but didn’t until Reid and Carter made plays at the end.
“I don’t know if we deserved to win that or not, but I truly believe in close games like that it comes down to better players making plays,”
State openers have a way of doing that to teams, though.
Carter picked up three fouls in the first half and was largely ineffective. But he stepped in the final two quarters, finishing with a team-high 17 points to go with six rebounds.
“I just couldn’t let it get to my head,” Carter said of his early foul trouble.
The Trojans were outrebounded 22-13 in the first half. That was one of the reasons the Lions (15-10) were able to use a 15-4 run to take a 34-26 lead at halftime.
“We played really bad tonight,” said Reid, who had 14 points and seven rebounds. “They’re a good team. They definitely challenged us in a way that we haven’t been challenged yet this season.”
But the big reason the Trojans were out of sorts was by their own making.
“We took really quick shots (including) me personally,” Reid said. “I apologized to my team for that. At the end we kind of came together and we stepped up our defense.”
The Trojans got big contributions from a couple of other players, too. Conner Hill had 15 points and Malcolm Colbert had five steals and three assists.
Borah coach Cary Cada said his team’s inability to finish was its downfall all season.
“Give all the credit to
They had a more complete effort than we had. We were fortunate to put ourselves in a position to win.”
“I believe this first game is more difficult to win than a state championship (game),”
Junior post Justin Podrabsky led