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2016 IDAHOSPORTS.COM 5A BOYS’ STATE BASKETBALL AWARDS
By Gary Jones and Glenn Jones
Here are our awards for the 5A Real Dairy Shootout, which had games at the Ford Idaho Center and Columbia High School.
5A State Champs: Highland Rams (20-6) 65-55
The Rams had won four consecutive district titles until thisyear. The Madison Bobcats won league and district, and Highland entered state in 2016 as the second seed from Districts 5&6. After the dust settled, the Highland Rams had won their 5thstate title, and their first since Chris Frost guided them to the title in 1996. In 1970, Ron Kress coached theRams to their first title, and he repeated the feat in 1981. Chris Frost won his first in 1990, his second in 1996, and he waited 20 years for his third in 2016.
Conner Harding led the tourney with 57 points, and Mason Baker, the second leading scorer in the tourney with 53 pts, showed everyone how the point guard position should be played. Braydon West, Cameron Cook, and Hunter Eborn all had a fine tournament, as well.
The improbable meeting of these two arch rivals is what had the Ford Idaho Center a buzz after the two Friday evening games. Both eastern Idaho schools trailed for most of the game. They both won their games with just a few seconds left, and each game had the final score of 54-53. Zach Anderson’s tip is one of the most remarkable shots and endings to a game I’ve ever seen, and it made ESPN’s #1 play in their top ten count down. And Mason Baker’s silky smooth swish was clutch, something we’ve come to expect from him.
To put it simply, it seemed to be fate that these two long time rivals should meet for all the marbles. We feel very fortunate and honored to have had the opportunity of calling each of those thrilling shots, easily the most exciting in our career as broadcasters. The Ford Idaho Center was full for the 5A title game that night with an estimated crowd of over 10,000, the largest to have ever watched a basketball game there. When the best tourneys of all time are discussed, this one will definitely be in the discussion!
Runner-up: Madison Bobcats
3rd Place: Borah Lions
Consolation: Rocky Mountain Grizzlies
Sportsmanship: Madison Bobcats
Academic: Rocky Mountain Grizzlies 3.694 GPA
TheIdahosports.com All State Tournament Team (5A Only)
One requirement we have- we will pick at least one player from each of the 8 teams at state for this all state team. Also, these picks are based on their play at the state tournament. Some player may have an average regular season and then light it up at state to win a spot on this team.
MVP: Mason Baker, Senior, Highland Rams:
His tournament numbers: 53 pts; 26/32 free throws (81%); 9 assists; 13 rebounds; 4 steals; 5/14 three pointers; 1/1 three pointer for a state championship. You get the feeling watching Mason that he could turn it on and score whenever he wants. Instead, he only does it when his team needs him to do it. He runs the team like a great point guard should while awaiting the offense to deliver him a shooting opportunity.
He wins this award because of his clutch play. Obviously the game winner in the title game was awesome, but his second half in the opener against Mountain View helped get them to the second round. In that game, he was scoreless at the half and rallied for 17 second half points.
I’d like to add that Conner Harding could easily have won this award, as well, as he led the tourney with 57 points and played brilliantly in all three games. I hear that after a mission, he’s headed to BYU. Best of luck to you in your college career, Conner!.
First Team
Conner Harding, Senior, Highland Rams
Josh Crane, Senior, Madison Bobcats
DeAndre Jones, Senior, Borah Lions
Kolby Lee, Junior, Rocky Mountain Grizzlies
Trystan Bradley, Junior, Lewiston Bengals
Second team
Damen Thacker, Senior, Mountain View Mavericks
Taylor Wallick, Senior, Centennial Patriots
Jaxon Edelmayer, Junior, Madison Bobcats
Rylan Bergersen, Senior, Borah Lions
Kobe Terashima, Junior, Rocky Mountain Grizzlies
Third Team
Justin Saunders, Junior, Capital Eagles
Talon Pinckney, Senior, Centennial Patriots
Braedon Wilson, Sophomore, Lewiston Bengals
Braydon West, Highland Rams
Cameron Howard, Junior, Mountain View Mavericks
Honorable Mention
Nathan Webb, Junior, Madison Bobcats
Max Reitman, Junior, Borah Lions
Jacob Erickson, Junior, Rocky Mountain Grizzlies
Cameron Daron, Senior, Capital Eagles
Riley Way, Junior, Lewiston Bengals
6th Man
Ellis Magnuson, Freshman, Borah Lions
TheIdahosports.com “Coolest Names” of the Tournament
You can find out how many people in the U.S. have your name by clicking here. There are lots of people named Gary Jones, but these cool names in thetourney are unique and that’s what we like about them. We have come up with a new category besides“Coolest Names”. We have now added“Awesome Alliterations”
“Coolest”
First Team
Con Ball, Junior, Madison Bobcats
Bridger Truman, Junior, Snake River Panthers
Remington Chapman, Sophomore, Firth Cougars
Ridge Farr, Junior, Rockland Bulldogs
Slade Dill, Sophomore, Dietrich Blue Devils
Second Team
Reagan Good, Senior, Ambrose Archers
Theron Hawks, Senior, Rocky Mountain Grizzlies
Gunnar Condie, Senior, Capital Eagles
Miles Foote, Senior, Middleton Vikings
Holden Ray, Senior, Lakeland Hawks
Honorable Mention
Ace Christiansen, Junior, Burley Bobcats
Zane Paradise, Junior, Council Lumberjacks
Landon May, Senior, Clark County Bobcats
Reese Yancey, Junior, South Freemont Cougars
Kolmon Farnsworth, Sophomore, Highland Rams
“AwesomeAlliterations”
First Team
Max Mathews, Junior, Mountain View Mavericks
Couper Carson, Senior, Middleton Vikings
Tegon Tonge, Senior, Buhl Indians
Kobe Korrell, Sophomore, Clark County Bobcats
Riley Rigby, Senior, Raft River Trojans
Second Team
Logan Lloyd, Senior, Grace Grizzliies
Keith Kipp, Jr., Sophomore, Lapwai Wildcats
Trey Trappett, Senior, Melba Mustangs
Cameron Cook, Junior, Highland Rams
Dallin Dilworth, Senior, Carey Panthers
Honorable Mention
Kaden Kelsey, Freshman, Wendell Trojans
Brenan Barrett, Sophomore, Emmett Huskies
Hunter Hill, South Freemont Cougars
Calvin Condie, Junior, Parma Panthers
Cody Couch, Senior, Buhl Indians
Idahosports.comPep Club of the State Tournament:
If the Madison Bobcats make it to state, it’s a sure bet they are going to be tough to beat for this award. If any pep club wants to beat then they have to everything the Bobcat crew does: dress entirely in school colors, cheer in unison endlessly throughout the game, and display enough energy to power all of New York City for a week. Congrads, Madison, you guys do it right…especially the way you ALL wear school colors at a Bobcat game. As a teacher at New Plymouth High, that’s the one thing I told my kids to do when they came to a Pilgrim game. Be proud of those school colors and display them with pride!
TheIdahosports.com Mascots of the Tournament
We saw three teams dress up a mascot: Capital, Madison, and Mountain View. The big bull from Mountain View takes home the award this year. The awesome looking bull was also present at the girls’ state tourney, as well. Good job!!
TheIdahsoports.com pep Band of the Tournament
These bands that come to state are all so talented these days. The one that stood out to us thi syear was the Borah Pep Band. They had the largest band at state with over 100 students in the band, and they are outstanding to listen to. Way to go Lions!!
Coolest Thing We SawOn Super Saturday
We have all seen plenty of men who coach a girls team in high school. How many of us see a female coach with a boys’ team? Because of a gender bias, many people can’t envision this. Well, as Bob Dylan sang, the times they are a changin’. Rebecca Miles is the head coach for the boys of Lapwai, and she guided them to the state title game where they lost to an outstanding Ambrose team. In the 3A’s,Monique Jensen is the assistant coach for Scot Garrick and the Parma Panthers, who won their first state title in school history. I taught with Scot at New Plymouth for many years, and I was thrilled to see my good friend get a state ring. Way to go, Scot!!
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