KHSWILDCATS.COM

Is that our very own former Kellogg Coach David Roberts going head-to-head with Coeur d' Alene High School in the first round of the State Tournament? I believe it is... Good luck Coach Roberts.

Yep, that's him. It's a young team (two senior starters) and a short team, but they are a lot of fun to watch. Their semi-final win against the higher seeded Vallivue last Tuesday was one of the best games I've seen in a long time. The only sophomore on the team scored 21 points in the fourth quarter (and the last four points of the third) to put away the Falcons. It was the most dominating performance I've ever seen by a single player. We'll what we can do against the Vikings.

One more thing about the state bball tournament. I'm sure I'll see the Wombolt boys there--probably taking in the Timberline/CDA game on Thursday night (usually accompanied by John Cuthbert). It always tickles me to see them make the trip to state each year, regardless of who is playing. It's something I can imagine myself doing (although it's not much of a trip, now that I live about five miles from the Idaho Center).

I would normally pull for the North Idaho team, but in this case, I have to root for the Wolves of Timberline. I got to watch a Timberline District game while we were down for the Girls' state tourney and it was like I was watching one of those early 90s teams of Coach Roberts. Quick, scrappy, and all over the floor. They do have a pretty good post guy too, but I think he was a sophomore.

I am going with Timberline on this one.

That is a great tradition the Wombolt boys have along with John Cuthbert. They are a permanent fixture at those tourneys.

This sounds like it is going to be a pretty exciting game. This is the one game that I would really like to see. I wish I could be there so bad... I wish I could give a scouting report on CDA, but I sadly didn't make it to even one North Idaho boy's basketball game this year....

In similar news, our buddy Brian Carlson will be reffing the State Tournament. He has 2 4A games in a row on Thursday. He will be reffing the Skyview vs. Century game at 3:00 p.m. and the Burley vs. Middleton game at 6:15 p.m. at Albertson's College.

Actually, knowing that Timberline is David's team makes things a little nicer for me. While I, like Simon, would almost always root for a North Idaho team, I won't be terribly upset if Timberline wins.
And just to add more to the mix, I will definitely be rooting for Lewiston as well.
Casey, I know how you feel about wanting to be there. My son and I enjoyed last years tournament immensely (the first for both of us). We did see Jack Wombolt and John Cuthbert at the Idaho Center while we were watching one of Lewiston's games. I had planned to be leaving for the tournament tomorrow. I had our room booked and time off from work; it was all set.
*sigh*
Nope, still not over the disappointment.

Gwen, I know very well what it is like to have the rooms booked for the State Tournament etc. then not making it to State. This happened my Soph. year, 1994. We won the league title outright, but lost two games at Districts and didn't make it to State. I remember all of our parents, fans etc. had many rooms booked down in Boise, but had to cancel them the weekend before the State Tourney. It was very disappointing :>(

Hopefully the Cats boys will make it next year as they seem to have a solid group coming back and I am going to try to make it down there for the State Tourney. I have only participated in State Tournaments and I have never just watched one (although I was at the KHS 1981 State Championship game at Post Falls High School, but was too young to remember). I would love to go down there as a spectator. Hopefully next year.

Well the voters got it right--Timberline just beat CDA 72-63 in overtime. The Wolves were up 8 at halftime, but CDA stormed back in the third quarter. The Vikings were up by four points with just under two minutes left, and I was plenty nervous. But we managed to tie it up, and then dominate the over time 13-4. Whew!

I have to say, and I know that my brother would agree, this is one of those times when we are reaping the benefit of the ridiculous state seeding system (or non-system). Our half of the bracket is unquestionably easier than the other one. Mountain View and Madison play in the first semi-final tomorrow night, and based on their records and schedules, they definitely should have had the opportunity to play in opposite brackets. On the other hand, Timberline will play either Borah or Highland, who were 11-9 and 10-10, respectively. Again, good for Timberline, but it's not the way to set up a tournament.

LR,

Thanks for the more detailed update. I wanted to watch the webcast, but I had a golf parent meeting. Your description sounds like the game lived up to the hype. Good call on the bracketing too. That would be great for David to be in the Championship Game again!

Go Wolves.

Just a final word on the Timberline Wolves and their trip to state. Sometimes I think God created state tournaments to break my heart...but I'm fine, really. Last night we lost to Borah in the semi-finals. They were the fourth seed from our district, and we'd split with them during the season. Unfortunately we were cold, cold, cold offensively. It was a close game until they started to pull away at the end of the third quarter.

Fortunately the third place game provided some needed consolation this morning. We took on Mountain View. They were the number one seed from our district. They'd only lost two games all season, and they'd beaten us three times, including a big win in the district championships. They dwarf us, with a seven footer, and another three of four guys who are all taller than our 6'4" post. They were beaten by Madison in the semis. We had stayed close to them in our two season meetings, but today we put it all together. We pretty much led throughout and pulled away in the fourth quarter to win the third place trophy 56-43. Coach Roberts ends his debut year at Timberline with a third place state trophy, a 19-8 record, and lot of kids coming back next year.

Thanks for the update Laurie. A third place finish in state is a tremendous honor... Like you said, maybe next year could be the year to win it all.

Congratulations to Coach Roberts and the Timberline Wolves!
I agree with you Laurie, about state tournaments breaking hearts. One day, though we may still know the thrill of winning the big one.
In the 1A tournament, the north had a strong showing with Genessee winning the big game, CDA Charter Academy taking the third place slot and Troy winning the consolation championship (5th). Not bad, three North teams in the top five!

Moscow took third in the 4A tournament and Bonners Ferry was 5th in the 3A tournament. Over all, a fairly strong showing for the north.

That is really good to see when teams from the north win some games and place down there. I remember a stretch in the 80's/early 90's where the two north teams in A-2 anyways, went 2 and out for numerous years in a row...

Congrats Coach Roberts! Third place at State 5A, or any classification for that matter, is a tremendous accomplishment. Keep up the good work, you have lot's of fans out there.

Well, it's that time of year again, and it is the 30th anniversary of my first attendance at a state basketball tournament. The year was 1978, and my family made the trek to Pocatello to see the Cats play. I think maybe we had this conversation on previous bulletin board, but I am wondering if Mr. Kellogg Trivia (that's you Mr. Fisher) or any of your other readers can tell me how many times the Kellogg boys have qualified for the state tournament in the last 30 years. I have a guess, but honestly, I have lost track of the last five or six years. I am pretty solid on 1978-1996, but I could use some help.

I am sad to say that I had to make a difficult choice this year. The Cats and my school's Wolves play at the same time. There isn't much that would keep me from watching Kellogg at state--and it causes me great distress to have to choose--but I had to go with my family this time around. Hopefully both teams will win two and I'll watch them both in the finals on Saturday.

Hey Laurie. Glad to see you back on here. I'm sure I will miss one or two in the 70's and 80's, and am not 100% sure on the teams in the 2000's. But here goes my list of KHS boys basketball teams that went to state in the past 30 years, along with if they placed in state. Please add in the years I miss:

1978
1981 - 2nd Place
1989
1993
1995 - 4th Place
1996 - 3rd Place
1997 - 5th Place
2000
2005 - 4th Place
2007

And just to clarify for confused folks like me...
It was actually spring 1981 when K lost (by 1, if I recall correctly) in the last seconds to Madison (the only state tournament I attended until two years ago). So...I think it was actually 2006 (4th place) and 2008. The boys did not make a state tournament appearance last year.

We did go to state in 1979 and 1980, but we didn't finish with any hardware those years. Otherwise you are right about the 70s and 80s. Kellogg won in 1964 and then had a 14-year drought, before going four years straight, from 1978 through 1981. Thanks for your input. It's good to be back.

Thanks for the input you two. Gwen, I actually meant 2008, when I put 2007. I'm still not used to it being 2008 yet. LOL. And I'm pretty sure that it was the 2005 team that got 4th, not 2006, but I could be wrong. Anyways, here is an updated list:

1978
1979
1980
1981 - 2nd Place
1989
1993
1995 - 4th Place
1996 - 3rd Place
1997 - 5th Place
2000
2005 - 4th Place
2008

You're correct about the 4th place being in 2005...but the boys did go to state in 2006 as well. It was Fink's first year and they lost two straight.