Two familiar foes will square off on Wednesday when Troy and Genesee battle for the Idaho Class 1A Division I District II volleyball championship.
The traditional powers moved into the title round during Saturday's opening round of the tournament at the Lewis-Clark State Activity Center. By virtue of making it that far, both clubs have already clinched berths in the state tournament.
"Genesee's a very familiar opponent," Troy coach Tera Stoner said of a team her squad unseated last year to claim a state title.
Both teams are assured a trip to State, but with a history of challenging each other for the league crown, "we know we're going to have to play our best to claim the district title," Stoner added.
After a first round bye on Saturday, Troy (19-1) defeated Lapwai 25-21, 25-15, 25-18 behind Molly Swanger's 12 kills, Leah Bafus' eight kills, Brittany Hosley's 24 assists and Madisen Yockey's 20 digs and six aces.
The title match is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at LCSC's arena.
- Trailing two games to one to a team that had beaten them earlier in the week, the Genesee Bulldogs gritted their teeth and battled to a victory that earned them a trip to State.
Genesee outlasted Prairie 25-13, 23-25, 23-25, 25-17, 15-13 in the semifinals of the district tournament at the LCSC Activity Center. Earlier in the day, the Bulldogs dropped Clearwater Valley of Kooskia 25-14, 25-9, 25-9.
Genesee (27-5) had a sizable lead in the second game against the Pirates, but the Cottonwood team rallied to win, then took the third set to go up 2-1.
"Prairie has improved so much," Bulldogs coach Pete Crowley said. "The fact they beat us ... it put some mental pressure on us and probably gave them some confidence."
But Genesee rallied behind setter Karli Bennett, who established a school record with 55 assists. Holly Carter committed just one error while tallying 15 kills and four blocks, and Sammy Sperber hammered 23 kills.
- Prairie defeated Potlatch 25-19, 25-22, 25-22 in both team's district tournament opener, but Potlatch bounced back to eliminate Clearwater Valley 27-25, 25-17, 25-18.
Makayla Moore had seven kills, Jenny Sapp added five kills and Megan Alexander tallied three blocks for Potlatch (9-11), which will face Lapwai Monday at the Activity Center at 6 p.m. for the right to face the winner of the Prairie-Kamiah contest earlier that day at 4:30 p.m.
The winners from those two games will meet on Wednesday in the consolation championship, with the winner receiving a play-in opportunity at St. Maries.
5A DISTRICT I-II
TOURNAMENT
- At Lewiston, the Bengals dove into the postseason with a vengeance, ripping Post Falls 25-8, 25-14, 25-18 in the Idaho Class 5A District I-II tournament at Booth Hall.
With the win, Lewiston advanced to Tuesday night's district title match. The Bengals will play host to Coeur d'Alene at 7 p.m., with the winner advancing to State.
"The girls, there was no hesitation in them today," Lewiston coach Kelly Harwick said.
The Bengals' balanced offense got 11 kills from Emilee Schlader, eight from Brett Hastings and six apiece from Klaree Hobart and Madison Lang. Hastings, a 6-foot sophomore middle blocker, also tallied nine blocks, which is likely a season-high for Lewiston.
The Bengals (25-4) also got 16 digs apiece from Schlader and Taylor Caldwell. Makayla Wilson registered 19 assists and six aces while Kendra Hill added 13 assists.
One reason Lewiston's offense ran so smoothly, Harwick said, was the passing and serve receiving of Hobart.
In Saturday's other first-round contest, Coeur d'Alene beat Lake City.
The Bengals advanced to State three consecutive years before coming up short last season. They can punch their ticket on Tuesday, and are asking fans to wear black shirts in an attempt to "blackout" the gym, Harwick said.
1A DIVISION II DISTRICT I-II TOURNAMENT
- At Lewiston, the only speed bump for Deary came in the second set of the semifinals, when Timberline handed the Mustangs their sole loss of the day.
After that, top-seeded Deary blew through the Idaho Class 1A Division II District II volleyball tournament Saturday at the Lewis-Clark State Activity Center. The Mustangs beat Timberline of Pierce-Weippe 25-20, 21-25, 25-4, 25-15 in the semifinals and swept Nezperce 25-22, 25-21, 25-19 in the title tilt to punch Deary its first ticket to the state tournament since 2007.
The Mustangs improved to 15-3 and "couldn't stop saying, 'We're going to State,' " Deary coach Dani Jones said of her players, who will open the state tournament Oct. 26 at Twin Falls.
Nezperce and Timberline are both still alive and will face each other in the second-place match at 7:30 p.m. Monday at LCSC's arena. The winner of that will advance to a play-in contest.
Coral Knerr led the Mustangs in the district finale with 11 blocks while Nadine Rudiger registered 10 digs. The Mustangs were extremely balanced on offense: five players - Chelsea Hufford, Morgan Batey, Knerr, Kaia Cannon, Brooke Swanson - each tallied three kills for the Mustangs.
Against Timberline, Swanson led Deary with nine kills while Hufford tallied seven assists and Rudiger served up an impressive 12 consecutive points.
"It was fantastic," Jones added of winning the district title. "The girls wanted it, they never let down."
- At Lewiston, after losing twice to Kendrick during the regular season, Timberline claimed its revenge at the best possible time, knocking off the Tigers in an elimination match in the 1A Division II District II tournament at LCSC.
The Spartans claimed a 25-16, 21-25, 25-21, 15-25, 15-9 win over Kendrick to advance them to this tournament's second-place match against Nezperce on Monday.
Timberline (6-8) started the day with a 25-20, 25-22, 25-19 win over Highland of Craigmont, then lost to top-seeded Deary 3-1.
The Spartans' offense was productive throughout the day, with Aspen Jared leading the way with 27 kills. They also got points from Mattlyn Brouwers (15 kills), Keianna McIntosh (14), Morgan Willett (eight) and ShyAnnah McCollum (seven).
Timberline setter Tori Skiles connected on 95 percent of her serves.
CENTRAL IDAHO LEAGUE
- At Orofino, Grangeville split a pair of matches in its final regular-season action before the Idaho 2A District I-II tournament.
The Bulldogs (23-12, 4-2) began the Central Idaho League tri-match by defeating Couer d'Alene Charter with scores of 25-9, 25-17, 25-15. Junior outside hitter Chantel Key was perfect with all 21 of her serves and tallied six aces. She also had 10 kills and four digs.
In the second contest, St. Maries swept Grangeville with scores of 25-21, 25-16, 25-12.
Grangeville now looks to the district tournament where it will take on No. 3 seed Orofino at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Bear Den in Moscow. St. Maries is the No. 1 seed and it will play No. 4 seeded Coeur d'Alene Charter at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Bear Den.
2B BI-COUNTY LEAGUE
- At Davenport, Colfax swept Davenport 25-8, 25-11, 25-12 in a 2B Bi-County match to remain undefeated in league.
Taylor Larsen paced the Bulldogs (20-2, 6-0) with 13 kills, four blocks and seven aces while Amelie Bruya added 22 assists.
Amara Huber was impressive, scoring more points in the third set (12) than the entire Davenport squad (11). Huber also registered nine digs and three aces while Nicole Sheer scored 10 kills and tallied three blocks for the Bulldogs, who face one more regular-season foe Oct. 23 when they visit St. George.
JV - Colfax def. Davenport 25-15, 25-17
MOUNTAIN CHRISTIAN LEAGUE
- At Moscow, Logos took on all comers as it defeated the Kootenai Thunder Sports Incorporated (a collection of home-schooled students from the Sandpoint) 25-20, 14-25, 25-14, 12-25, 15-12 and Christian Center School of Coeur d'Alene 25-12, 25-15, 25-22 in a pair of Mountain Christian League contests.
Logos improved to 11-2 in league and 14-6 overall behind Morgan Schlect's 37 assists and seven aces, Noami Miller's 14 kills and seven aces and Abigail Lundgren's 17 kills.
Logos gears up for another doubleheader Thursday against Grace Bible Academy and North Idaho Christian in Hayden.
SWIMMING
Moscow dominates dual meet
Buoyed by a pair of sophomores and a pair of seniors, Moscow High made a splash as it won 16 of 22 events en route to triumphs over Lewiston and Sandpoint in a dual meet at the Asotin County Family Aquatic Center in Clarkston.
Moscow drubbed the Bengal boys 133-22 and defeated Lewiston's girls 78-68. Against Sandpoint, the Bears sunk the Bulldog boys 120-42 and girls 83-56.
Senior Jackie Himmelberger helped pace the Bear girls, winning the 100 yard butterfly and 500 freestyle, while fellow upperclassman Hailey Johnson claimed the 200 individual medley and 100 backstroke.
For the Bear boys, sophomore Bowen Anderson claimed the 100 freestyle and 100 breaststroke while Wyatt Jager was another double winner. Jager, also a sophomore, took first in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke.
Lewiston's Taylor Mack won the girls' 200 freestyle while the Bengals' Thomas Pearson won the boys' 200 IM and 500 free.
Moscow dives back into competition Oct. 20 at the northern Idaho district meet at the University of Idaho Swim Center.
Dual Meet TEAm Scores
Boys - Moscow 133, Sandpoint 22; Lewiston 65, Sandpoint 42; Moscow 120, Lewiston 42
Girls- Moscow 78, Sandpoint 68; Sandpoint 86, Lewiston 52; Moscow 83, Lewiston 56
Event scores (top two finishers)
*denotes district qualifier
GIRLS
200 medley - 1, M (Himmelberger, Billington, Barnard, Johnson), 2:01
200 free - 1, Taylor Mack, L, 2:08*; 2, Cheyenne Barnard, M, 2:19*
200 IM - 1, Hailey Johnson, M, 2:19*; 2, Amanda Ard, L, 2:28*
500 free - 1, Madison Contor, S, 0:26*; 2, Kara Billington, M, 0:27*
100 butterfly - 1, Himmelberger, M, 1:04*; 2, Alex Krames, S, 1:15*
100 free - 1, Barnard, M, 1:01*; 2, Kathryn Thomson, M, 1:07
500 free - 1, Himmelberger, M, 5:33*; 2, Ard, L, 5:47*
200 free - 1, M (Himmelberger, Barnard, Billington, Johnson), 1:46; 2, S, 1:55
100 back - 1, Johnson, M, 1:05*; 2, Shanna Crayne, S, 1:08*
100 breast - 1, Contor, S, 1:16*; 2, Mack, L, 1:17*
400 free relay - 1, S, 4:14; 2, L (Ard, Schug, Shoemaker, Mack), 4:36
BOYS
200 medley - 1, M (Jager, Ruck, Anderson, Billington,), 1:47; 2, L (Pearson, Blazzard, Halsey, Gedrose), 1:54
200 free - 1, John Billington, M, 1:58*; 2, Jacob Sweezy, S, 2:15
200 IM - 1, Thomas Pearson, L, 2:11*; 2, Fitsum Wudneh, M, 2:31*
500 free - 1, JP Ruck, M, 25.48*; 2, Shea Gedrose, L, 25.62*
100 butterfly - 1, Jager, M, 0:56*; 2, Connor Halsey, L, 1:00*
100 free - 1, Bowen Anderson, M, 0:50*; 2, Z Wudneh, M, 0:57*
500 free - 1, Pearson, L, 5:17*; 2, JP Ruck, M, 5:47*
200 free - 1, M (Leonhardy, Z Wudneh, F Wudneh, Stevens), 1:51; 2, M (Gang, St Pierre, Dixon, Vaughan), 1:53
100 back - 1, Jager, M, 0:56*; 2, Halsey, L, 1:02*
100 breast - 1, Anderson, M, 1:08*; 2, Jacob Sweezy, S, 1:19
400 free relay - 1, M (Ruck, Billington, Anderson, Jager), 3:30; 2, L (Pearson, Halsey, Blazzard, Gedrose), 4:01
CROSS COUNTRY
Bulldogs win boys' invite
POTLATCH - Grangeville's boys and St. John-Endicott's girls won the Potlatch Cross Country Invite.
The Bulldogs' Kaleb Bass won the boys' 5K race in 17:48.
GIRLS
Girls team scores - 1, St. John/Endicott 24; 2, Grangeville, 51; 3, Kootenai, 56; 4, Troy, 89
Medalist - Heather Siegel, 20:16, SJLW
Grangeville individuals - 2, Kaleala Bass, 20:28; 9, Emily Kaschmitter, 22:27; 14, Corinne Thomas, 25:20; 16, Alex Summers, 25:36; 19, Jenni Forsmann, 26:30
Kamiah individuals - 6, Sara Willis, 21:26
Potlatch individuals - 7 ,Cayla Smeltzer, 21:36
Troy individuals - 15, Christen Bailey, 25:34; 20, Carissa Kruger, 27:28; 21, Sidney Halseth, 27:37; 23, Hannah Smith, 30:05; 24, Ashley Bull, 30:27; 25, Danielle Yama, 30:33; 27, Bonnie Dunworth, 32:17; 28, Erica Case, 37:10
BOYS
Boys team scores - 1, Grangeville, 19; 2, Kootenai, 53; 3, Potlatch, 87; 4, Kellogg, 93; 5, Troy, 124
Medalist - Kaleb Bass, GRNG, 17:48
Grangeville individuals - 2, Quaid Blankenship, 18:00; 3, Diego Barela, 18:03; 6, Danny Paluh, 19:28; 7, Jordan Lambert, 19:29; 8, Xavier Barela, 19:35; 17, Drew Kelley, 20:20; 22, Gavin Lewis, 20:59
Troy individuals - 9, Jesse Wallace, 19:44; 29, Colton Manwaring, 22:23; 31, Gabe Wright, 22:49; 37, John Dunworth, 24:03; 39, James Zillinger, 25:45
Deary individuals - 10, Wyatt Kelley, 19:54
Potlatch individuals - 15, James Huggins, 20:10; 19, Andrew Richards, 20:26; 21, Tyler Westbrook, 20:38; 24, Keith Humphries, 21:04; 25, Tannim Delozier, 21:10; 26, Caleb Richards, 21:48; 30, Josh Gottschalk, 22:41; 34, Will Riley, 23:37; 35, Casey Grady, 23:42; 38, Todd Marshall, 24:44; 41, Cory Shattuck, 35:52
