5A Classification
No. 2 Mountain View @ No. 1 Timberline
6 p.m. Saturday

In a true clash of the titans, the Mavericks and Wolves will be on a SIC collision course Saturday afternoon, with the fate of the conference likely at stake. 

With Boise closely trailing both Mountain View and Timberline in third, the Wolves will need all the help they can get with just five games left in the season. Granted, Timberline hasn’t needed much help all year, with the state’s top team cruising on an 11-game win streak, bolstered by seven straight 50-point-plus performances. 

“We need to do a better job keeping them off the offensive boards; better closeouts on their shooters; limit turnovers,” said Timberline Head Coach Andy Jones. “They do a nice job crashing the boards, knocking down open jumpers and converting turnovers into points.”

Meanwhile, the Mavericks are a week removed from an impressive defensive showing a week ago, allowing just 26 points against a severely under matched Skyview. 

“The team is playing for consistency,” said Maverick Head Coach Connie Skogrand. “Our shooting percentage has improved and our turnovers have decreased.”

And if there’s one thorn in the side of No. 1 Timberline, it’s the ghosts of Mavericks past, as the Wolves have dropped every matchup against Mountain View since 2011. 

“(We’re) just trying to get over the hump and get a win against a team Timberline hasn't beaten in several years,” Jones said.

4A Classification
Lakeland @ Sandpoint
4 p.m. Friday

The Bulldogs own a commanding lead in the Inland Empire as the end of the season draws near, but with conference play about to open up this weekend, there still remains a sliver of hope for the 5-10 Hawks. 

Lakeland will close out the year with four alternating matchups against Moscow and Sandpoint before ending with a cross-classification game against Lewiston. And if the Hawks want to go into districts with any kind of advantage over their rival Bulldogs, they’ll need every upcoming matchup to swing in their favor. 

Lakeland has shown moxie this year, defeating 5A Coeur d’Alene in overtime to kick off 2020, and most of the team’s losses in 2019 came against out-of-state opponents.

Sandpoint hasn’t had an easy go of the season either, with just a two-point margin of victory to its name. In the north, anything can happen, so expect a blizzard of unpredictability Friday night. 

3A Classification
No. 4 Teton @ No. 1 Sugar-Salem
7:30 p.m. Saturday

Conference play is barely underway in the 3A Mountain Rivers, with Teton narrowly edging out the Diggers for first place after a win against South Fremont Wednesday. 

Sugar-Salem will look to reclaim their lead in the conference and build on its seven-game winning streak, highlighted by six consecutive 50-point-plus performances. 

But Teton holds an identical offensive streak, with just as many games scoring just as many points. Digger Head Coach Crystal Daley said in order to stay competitive, her defense will need a lights-out showing.

“They are very good outside shooters,” Dayley said. “Every girl on the team is a threat from the 3-point line.”

2A Classification
No. 2 Cole Valley Christian @ New Plymouth
3 p.m. Saturday

A fierce battle for second place in the 2A Western Idaho Conference is being waged between three teams: Cole Valley Christian, Nampa Christian and New Plymouth.

The Grims will look to make up their two-game deficit over the Chargers Saturday and rebound from their last ranked matchup, a 56-27 loss to No. 3 conference leader Melba.

Coming into Saturday, Cole Valley has a number of notable wins under its belt, including a 46-42 showing against Middleton and two games this season holding opponents to single digits. 

1ADI Classification
No. 3 Rimrock @ Riverstone
6 p.m. Friday

The 1ADI Western Idaho Conference is loaded with teams not familiar with losing. Between Notus, Greenleaf Friends and Rimrock, the conference’s top three squads have just four losses between them compare to 36 wins. 

On the outside looking in, Riverstone hopes to climb the ranks of the 11-team conference, with the Otters currently sitting at fifth. Riverstone has won three of its last four, but two outings scoring less than 35 points could spell trouble against a Rimrock team averaging 54 points per contest. 

1ADII Classification
Lighthouse Christian @ No. 1 Carey
4:30 p.m. Friday

With just three losses between them, Lighthouse and Carey’s Friday afternoon matchup will likely add to an already storied rivalry.

The Lions enter the matchup averaging 51 points per game, the highest among 1ADII Sawtooth Conference teams. 

The Panthers, on the other hand, have a lockdown defense on their side, allowing 29 points per outing, also a conference-best. But Carey has eclipsed 50 points just twice all year, a feat the Lions have pulled off an eye-popping eight times. Lighthouse has also held its last two opponents, Watersprings and Wendell, to 17 and 21 points, respectively.