12/20/2022

(University, Place, WA) The 2022 Curtis Winter Classic concluded on Saturday after 3 straight days of great basketball action and with several high profile match-ups including the Championship with Lake City, Idaho defeating the host team Curtis. It would not be surprising to see both teams win State Championships this year. It also would not be surprising to see a couple of other teams that competed in this tournament make strong runs at their titles with Mt Spokane in Washington 3A and Central Catholic in Oregon. It would be astounding to see 4 State Champions come out of this 8 team tournament.

The tournament was constructed exactly like state tournament’s quarterfinal round with teams advancing in both the winner’s bracket and consolation bracket. Lake City Head Coach Jim Winger told ESN this tournament is their exact State tournament format where only 8 teams advance so it was a great early season challenge.

There was an all-tournament top 5 and MVP awarded right after the Championship games and those awards were the MVP Lake City’s Kolton Mitchell with team mate Blake Buchanan named to the team. Curtis had Zoom Diallo and Tyce Paulsen. Timberline’s Brooklyn Hicks and Mt Spokane’s Ryan Lafferty were also named to the team.

The ESN awards consist of an overall MVP, an Offensive MVP, Defensive MVP, 1st team, 2nd team, Honorable mentions and a coaching staff of the tournament. Our awards are based on the independent votes of all 5 ESN broadcasters that watched all 12 games. Here we go!

Tournament MVP

Kolton Mitchell, Lake City

This was a unanimous choice as Kolton led the Timberwolves with 58 points, 17 rebounds and 6 steals. Mitchell balled out all three games not only leading in scoring but hitting big shots at critical times. Mitchell is a clear leader for the T-Wolves and his ball handling and defensive skills are just as big a part of his game as his ability to score. Offensively he can drive the lane, hit a mid range jumper and drain them from deep behind the arc. His all-around game stood out significantly from the pack.

Offensive MVP

Brooklyn Hicks, Timberline

Another unanimous choice as Brooklyn was held to 18 points in the Blazers opener against Central Catholic but Hicks exploded in the other 2 games first setting the individual scoring record with 42 breaking Richland’s Landon Ratlife’s mark of 38. Hicks then tied that 38 point former record on Saturday and he finished with 98 for the 3 games breaking the former 3 game total of 95 held by Curtis’ Aushanti Potts-Woods. 2 records made Brooklyn an easy choice.

Defensive MVP

Maverick Sanders, Mt Spokane

This was a split vote with Blake Buchanan of Lake City and Cinque Maxwell of Curtis also getting votes. But Maverick is a beast in the paint and thrives on battling down low. Sanders grabbed 19 rebounds and added 6 steals and 7 blocked shots by our count. He also added 39 points many on put backs off offensive rebounds. Sanders is truly a defensive force for the Wildcats and gets our nod as the Defensive MVP.

Coaching Staff of the Tournament

The Post Falls Staff

Head Coach Mike McLean and his staff of Brian Carlson, Jayson Ulrich and Kris Gravelle shined at the end in a tough place to do so. It’s hard to imagine how a team who got beat 82-26 in the opening game to Curtis could possibly be named coaching staff of the tournament. But when you factor in the Trojans came into the tournament winless, they get blown out and a running clock in game 1 but then come back on Friday and with no Seniors on the team push the 4th place team Kentridge to OT before falling short and then come back to win their 1st game of the season against Kamiak who had the 2nd highest scorer in the tournament on their team in Josiah Pierre with 73 which is now 10th all-time for the Winter Classic that is a heck of a coaching job.

1st Team All-Tournament

Zoom Diallo, Curtis

Zoom, was frankly a consideration in all 3 MVP awards and if not for Hick’s 2 records his 67 points and 18 assists likely would have gotten him the offensive MVP. Diallo is just a junior so next year he may take all 3 MVP’s himself.

Blake Buchanan, Lake City

Blake was another who was in the discussion for all 3 MVP’s with 48 points and 21 rebounds he was a force especially in the semifinal and finals. He admittedly got off to a little bit of a slow start in the opener but then the flood gates opened and showed why he is headed for the University of Virginia.

Ryan Lafferty, Mt Spokane

Ryan was a unanimous choice as well and is the spark plug for the Wildcats and filled up a solid stat line with 58 points, 14 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 blocks and 6 assists.

Marley Zeller, Central Catholic

Zeller bounced back quickly after a slow start on day 1 and finished with 48 points, 10 boards 6 steals, 4 blocks and a couple of assists to fill up his stat line. Just a very solid effort for Zeller that rose as the games got bigger.

Cinque Maxwell, Curtis

Senior Cinque Maxwell excels when the Vikings need it most. He routinely scores 12-15 points, grabs 6-10 boards records steals, blocks and assists and usually gets the defensive assignment of their opponents best inside player. At 6’1 Maxwell constantly plays much larger for instance had the assignment of guarding 6’11 Blake Buchanan in the title game.

2nd Team All Tournament

Tyce Paulsen, Curtis

Josiah Pierre, Kamiak

Neil McCarthy, Post Falls

Jamari Harris, Kentridge

Andrew Rayment, Mt Spokane

Honorable Mentions

Nathan Hocking, Lake City
Devin Whitten, Curtis
Nalu Vargas, Mt Spokane
Isaac Carr, Central Catholic
Nazier Paschal, Central Catholic
Alex Conner, Kentridge
Jalon Blackwell, Kentridge
Darrell Gipson, Timberline
Tyrus Blake, Post Falls
Jaytin Hara, Kamiak

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