Spotlight on C.J. Schmidt

She was determined to fight back. After suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her final regular-season game last year, C.J. Schmidt had to watch as her team fell short of qualifying for a state berth.

It was appropriate that Schmidt was the one last Friday with an opportunity to make a game-winning basket and secure a state berth. The 5-foot-9 Schmidt drove the length of the court, making a layup with a 6-foot-2 post guarding her as Post Falls edged Coeur d’Alene 46-45 in the Region I title game. Schmidt scored a game-high 15 points, three times her average.

“She’s one of those stories that makes your heart feel warm,” PF coach Chris Johnson said. “She has been so dedicated, but she has had almost nothing but misfortune in her career. It’s so special now, at the end of her high school career, to see her achieve that kind of success.”