Last year Sugar-Salem left feeling it was the second-bestteam in the state tournament, only to lose to the best team in the first round.

No such dispute this season, as the Diggers won their fifthstate title in program history, winning the 3A Girls Real Dairy Shootout overTimberlake 40-33 on Saturday.

Abby Allen had 15 points to pace the Diggers, hitting threeof the team’s eight 3-pointers.

“Those 3-pointers were so important, because that makes abig deal on the scoreboard and makes it easier in the game,” said Allen. “Thischampionship is a big deal to us.”

Sugar-Salem never trailed in the game, pulling ahead by asmany as 11 in the second quarter. But Timberlake clawed back to tie the gamelate in the third quarter, though the Tigers never could get the go-aheadbasket.

The Diggers won their first title since 2011. Last year theylost to champion Filer on a late basket in the quarterfinals, but used themotivation to get back and finish at the top.

“We knew we were going to get here, it was just a matter ofwhen,” said Ta’Lee Rose. “It was a little scary out there for a while today,but we knew if we kept doing what we needed to do on defense, the offense wouldcome back, and it did.”

For the Diggers, Rose scored nine points, while Hannah Cranechipped in with 11 rebounds,

Allison Kirby had a game-high 21 points and added sixrebounds for the Tigers, who lost guard Keelie Lawler in the third quarter to afacial injury. She did not return.

Box score: www.idhsaa.org/sports/stats/1415/gbb/3A/3Agirlsgame14.html

Idaho Sports Player of the Game: Abby Allen, Sugar-Salem.