Moreland can play a little basketball, too

Since her transfer from Post Falls after her sophomore year, Lake City’s Riki Moreland has been a stalwart up front for coach Jen Owen’s volleyball team.

After her recent exploits on the basketball court, it seems she may just be the stalwart that LC hoops coach Darren Taylor hoped to find stuffed in his stocking this season.

Moreland, a 6-foot senior post, had a career-high 25 points in a win over her old school last week and followed it up Tuesday with a 15-point, 12-rebound performance in an overtime loss to Inland Empire League rival Coeur d’Alene.

So how does it feel to be officially ratcheted up from a one- to a two-sport star?

“It’s pretty fun, actually,” said Moreland, who late last week signed a letter of intent to attend and play volleyball for the College of Southern Idaho. “My sport has always been volleyball, but with basketball, it was my senior year and I figured I met as well go for it.

“It’s all about our team, though – especially our guards, they have all helped me improve as a player.”

But there must have been an intensive off-season workout regimen, right?

“To tell you the truth, I didn’t touch a basketball once,” Moreland said. “That sounds pretty bad, doesn’t it?”

But what Moreland was doing in June won’t matter a lick if the T-Wolves build on what’s been a promising early season.

But will they?

“We are stronger this season (than last),” said Moreland of LC, which returns all five starters from a team that lost to Boise in the consolation game at state a year ago. “But a lot of other teams are stronger, too.

“If we just keep working at it – we have great practices every day, which leads to great games – then we’ll do pretty well.”

Next summer, Moreland is off to Twin Falls.

But not in a rush.

“I think I’m going to go down there in August,” said Moreland, who hasn’t yet decided on a major. “I had a chance to go down there right when I graduated, but I love it here in Coeur d’Alene too much.”

Which begs the question: Why not North Idaho College?

“A lot of people are mad at me for not going to NIC,” Moreland said. “But I think I’ll have a better chance at being recruited by a four-year school and I just love Heidi (Cartisser), the coach down there.

“She’s so great – I talk to her about once a week, and every time I talk to her she’s so excited that I’m going to play there, which makes me feel pretty good.”