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Written by: Aaron McCree
5A
Mountain View 61, Highland 38
The Mountain View Mavericks played like a two-time defending state champion on Friday afternoon at the Ford Idaho Center. The Highland Rams came out of the gate shooting a high percentage, but could not maintain the hot shooting. The Mavericks scored early and they scored often, but, amazingly, the most impressive part of Mountain View’s blowout win wasn’t even their offense, it was their defense. They made a very smart and comfortable Highland team uncomfortable, forcing 19 turnovers which led to a smooth setup for Mountain View’s solid transition offense. The Mavericks will play Lake City tomorrow morning in the consolation championship.
Lake City 56, Kuna 39
The Kavemen from Kuna came into the season as the seventh ranked team in their own district, so their appearance at the state tournament was relatively surprising, but thanks to hot shooting, solid execution offensively and a couple of lucky bounces, they found themselves in the tournament. After a rough showing in their initial performance, the Kavemen’s struggles continued, as they shot 39% from the field, and only shot 50 percent from the line. Credit the Lake City Timberwolves, as for the second night in a row, they shot well from the free throw line and thanks to great shooting from the field from Nina Carlson and Bridget Rieken, the Timberwolves will find themselves in the consolation final against the two-time defending state champion Mountain View Mavericks tomorrow morning.
Eagle 57, Post Falls 54
Abby Mangum led the charge for the number one ranked team in 5A hoops in a comeback win that led to the Mustangs receiving a berth to the state championship game. Although the Post Falls Trojans led for a majority of the ballgame, championship teams seem to find a way to come back and win games, even when it seems that there is no way for them to do so. This Eagle squad put together a masterpiece of a comeback, and even down 11, they found a way to come away with their 25th win of the year. Now the Mustangs have a date with destiny tomorrow night, in the conclusion of the 2017 Real Dairy Shootout against the number two team in the state, the Centennial Patriots. Post Falls, after the heartbreaking loss, will drop to the third place game where they will face the Madison Bobcats.
Centennial 50, Madison 35
University of Utah commit Tori Williams showed why she received her scholarship with an emphatic performance, pouring in 22 points for the Patriots as they defeated the Madison Bobcats, 50-35. She shot 33 percent from downtown, knocking down 4 triples and shooting 40 percent from the field overall. Madison is typically known as a defensive stalwart, but there was little that the defensive scheme that the Cats brought to the table could do to stop Tori or her fellow Patriots from scoring at will. Ryan Tyler led the Cats with 10, but there just wasn’t enough support from her fellow Bobcats to make a difference against the juggernaut Pats. Centennial will look to atone for their shortcoming in last year’s title game, this time against SIC rival Eagle at 8 p.m. Madison will look to finish the year on a positive note with a green trophy tomorrow against the Post Falls Trojans.
4A
Minico 46, Sandpoint 35
When you knock down 100 percent of your free throws, it makes it really difficult to be beaten. Minico’s Saydi Anderson did just that, leading the charge in what would eventually be an 11-point victory, tallying 14 points of her own. She had help all over the floor from the likes of Taylia Stimpson, who added 14 points as well as 8 rebounds. Sandpoint’s Trinity Golder had another solid shooting performance, as she led her Bulldogs with 15 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the solid shooting that Minico exhibited. The Spartans will face off against Skyview in the consolation championship on Saturday.
Skyview 35, Century 34
The two-time defending state champions Century Diamondbacks will be headed to Pocatello a day earlier than they are used to, as the Skyview Hawks hung on in the final moments of the fourth quarter to come away with a one-point win over one of the most prestigious basketball programs in recent memory. Skyview’s Natalie Robinson was the Player of the Game, and with good reason, as she finished with 11 points. The aforementioned Hawks will have a date with the Minico Spartans tomorrow morning for the consolation championship.
Middleton 56, Preston 55
Zoe Moore had the game of her young and bright career tonight at Mountain View High School. The freshman had 29 huge points for the Middleton Vikings, but none bigger than a great finish at the rim with 5 seconds left, to send her Vikes off to the state championship matchup. Preston jumped out and ahead of the favored Vikings early on, by as much as 13 thanks to their fantastic 2-2-1 press, but eventually Preston would let off of the press, and the Vikings would crawl back into it, slowly, but surely. The Indians would surrender the lead late in the game as the two teams traded buckets and free throws, but it was all about Zoe Moore, finishing the game off in a way that only a freshman with all that potential could. Moore and the Vikings will face off against the Bishop Kelly Knights at 6:15 p.m. for the 4A State Championship. Preston will face the Twin Falls Bruins in the third place game.
Bishop Kelly 33, Twin Falls 30 (OT)
Although it was one of the lower scoring games of the entire second day of the 2017 Real Dairy Shootout, it was probably the most intense game of the tournament as well. The Knights led for a majority of the ball game, but Twin Falls crept back into it in the fourth quarter and tied things up in the final minute and a half, and from there, neither team could seem to buy a bucket down the stretch. Bishop Kelly created a turnover with very little time left and gave themselves the ball under their own basket after a serious Bruin miscue. They missed the shot at the buzzer, but they knocked down free throws in OT, and that’s all it took to send the perennial powerhouse back to the title game yet again. Bishop Kelly will play in the 4A state championship at 6:15 p.m. tomorrow night against the Middleton Vikings. Twin Falls will face the Preston Indians for the green trophy tomorrow morning.
3A
Priest River 42, Weiser 32
The Priest River Spartans will be playing on Saturday yet again, as they defeated the Weiser Wolverines to advance to the consolation final on Saturday morning, 42-32. Thanks to a stellar shooting performance from Melissa Krampert (20 points, 5-11 3-PT FGs), the Spartans were able to avoid any real danger and find themselves just one win away from bringing home another trophy to Priest River. As for Weiser, they were led by CJ Davis, who finished with 13 for the Wolverines, but it just wasn’t enough to get it done for a Weiser program that has struggled with so many different ailments this year. Priest River will face off against Teton tomorrow morning.
Teton 64, Marsh Valley 51
Marsh Valley’s attempt to get to Saturday for the second straight year was thwarted by the Teton Redskins today, as Jenna Abbott seemed determined, singlehandedly, to at least play for a trophy this year. She led the Redskins charge to victory from the opening tip, finishing with 24 points, to go along with 11 rebounds. Gabrielle Berry was huge in spurts for Teton as well, as she finished with 17 big points, but perhaps Berry’s greatest value today was in her ability to defend the basketball. She locked down Marsh Valley ball handlers for 32 minutes, and whenever the Eagles turned the ball over, it seemed like Berry was the one leading the transition offense as well. Teton will face Priest River in the consolation championship.
Sugar Salem 41, Kimberly 34
The highest scoring team in 3A tournament history toned it down just a little on the scoring side, but the most important thing is that they were able to come away with the semifinal victory over the Kimberly Bulldogs. Sugar will play for yet another state title, like the one that they won back in 2015 over their opponent, Timberlake, who, perhaps less than ironically, they will play on the Idaho Center floor once again tomorrow night. The Bulldogs struggled mightily from the field, and thanks to a solid defensive showing from one of the most dominant defenses in all of Idaho basketball, the Diggers, led largely by Savanah Crane, will be playing to put up yet another banner on the already chalk full wall at Sugar-Salem High School. Kimberly will face Parma in the third place game.
Timberlake 79, Parma 42
The Timberlake Tigers showed why they are the clear favorite in the 3A classification, as they steamrolled a solid Parma group this evening at Middleton High School. At one point in the third quarter, the Timberlake led the Panthers by 48 points. The Tigers were led in scoring by Allison Kirby and Keelie Lawler, who scored 17 and 15 points, respectively. Parma’s Madison Jackson led the Panthers with 17 tonight, but there’s not much that she could do to help keep pace with the defending champion Tigers. Timberlake will look to complete their title defense tomorrow at 3 p.m. against the Sugar-Salem Diggers. Parma will face the Kimberly Bulldogs for the green trophy and a third place finish on the year.
2A
Cole Valley 65, Marsing 56
Ace Hahs was huge for the Chargers, playing well on both sides of the basketball, finishing with 20 points, and 9 rebounds. Marsing made a valiant charge at a comeback, but they were unable to convert offensively in the last few minutes and couldn’t bring it closer than nine in the fourth quarter. The Chargers will face Melba tomorrow morning for the consolation title and Marsing will head home.
Melba 56, Declo 38
Melba came out of the gate firing on all cylinders offensively, thanks in large part to a big first half from Emma Clark, who would eventually finish the game with 16 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists. But the second half was an entirely different story, as the Mustangs got a heavy dose of scoring from Kori Pentzer, who finished with a game-high 17 points and 12 important rebounds down the stretch. Melba, historically speaking, has been a team that likes to spread the floor and look for the open jumper, but today it was all about the post play for the Mustangs, and now they find themselves one game away from going home with a trophy. As for the Hornets, they were led in scoring by the Ramsey’s, Mattie and Paige, who finished with 10 and 12 points, respectively. Melba will play Cole Valley Christian for that black trophy tomorrow morning at Bishop Kelly High School.
Ririe 69, St. Maries 53
The Bulldogs from Ririe High School are back in the State Championship Game for the third time for four years. Haddi Williams continued the legacy of the Williams family in Ririe, just a night after hitting 1,000 points for her career, by following up her career night with 20 points and 6 rebounds to lead the Bulldogs back to the Idaho Center. She had help from Cassidy Griffith who poured in 14 points as well on a near perfect shooting night from the field. St. Maries, on the other hand, was playing from behind for most of the contest, simply because they couldn’t knock down the easy shots, as they went 14-44 from the field. Ririe will face the Malad Dragons in the tilt for the blue trophy at 1:40 p.m. St. Maries will play for the third place trophy against the Soda Springs Cardinals tomorrow as well.
Malad 44, Soda Springs 37
The Soda Springs Cardinals had played the Malad Dragons four times earlier on in the year, and Soda knocked them off by at least 22 points in each of those matchups. But there’s a reason you play the game instead of looking at probabilities, and the Malad Dragons showed exactly why you play the game. The Dragons went down low early and often, and that was the kryptonite that knocked the Cardinals off. The fifth time was the charm, and now the Dragons will face the Ririe Bulldogs for a state title tomorrow at 1:40 p.m. Soda Springs will face St. Maries for the green third place trophy.
1AD1
Troy 53, Idaho City 27
The Troy Trojans showed up to Columbia High School on a mission, and are now one win away from bringing home a trophy to Troy High School. Thanks to a stifling defensive performance, and a solid offensive showing as well, the Trojans will find themselves playing for the consolation championship against the Valley Vikings tomorrow. The x-factor for both sides, without a doubt, was Abbey Blum, a forward for the Trojans, who finished with 14 big points and played a huge role in Troy’s efficient defensive performance in this one. As for Idaho City, the dream of a state tournament trophy comes to a close.
Valley 59, Liberty Charter 39
It was the Madisyn Kimmel show from Columbia, as she led the Valley Vikings to the consolation championship game with relative ease. She finished with 19 points on nearly a 50 percent shooting night, to go along with 9 rebounds, 6 of which were of the offensive variety. Kimmel wasn’t alone, and definitely didn’t have to do it alone, as she was helped in the scoring column by Brinley Reed and Kynsee Mussmann, who finished with 11 and 10 points, respectively. The Patriots kept the game relatively close in the first half thanks to a solid offensive performance by Hallie Ashton, who finished with a game high 24 points on 12-18 shooting, but it just wasn’t enough to overcome the 23 turnovers that they had. Valley will face the Troy Trojans in the consolation championship game at Columbia High School tomorrow morning.
Lapwai 50, Oakley 34
The Lapwai Wildcats are headed back to the state championship game for the fifth straight year. Lapwai was led this evening by one of the most impressive athletes the Wildcats have had in a long time, Koyama Young. She finished the night with 26 points and 7 rebounds as well. Oakley kept the game close for the first quarter and a half, but Lapwai showed the exact reason that no one has been able to keep them out of the state championship game for the last 5 years, and it was their incredible defense yet again. They forced Oakley, a team that is very smart with the ball and moved with relative ease in almost every other game, to commit 23 turnovers. The Wildcats will face the Prairie Pirates for the third straight year in the title game at 11:30 a.m. at the Idaho Center tomorrow. Oakley will face the Horseshoe Bend Mustangs in the third place game.
Prairie 54, Horseshoe Bend 37
Great ball movement, solid defense and knockdown shooting from mid-range from Angela Wemhoff led the Prairie Pirates to their fourth straight state championship game appearance. Although they didn’t make a single three (0-16), they shot fairly well from the field, and forced Horseshoe Bend to commit 29 turnovers. The Mustangs played solid basketball, especially Kate Renfro, who had 14 points to try and lead her team to a state title game, but it was to no avail as the Pirates had several key bench players toss in easy buckets and are now one win away from a state championship. Prairie plays against Lapwai at the Ford Idaho Center at 11:30 a.m.
1AD2
Butte County 63, Nezperce 24
The number two team in the state media poll, the Nezperce Indians, came into this one with the expectations of potentially earning a spot in the state title game, but the 23-0 Butte County Pirates had something to say about that. From the beginning, it was the hot outside shooting that really did the Indians in, seemingly from the moment the game began. The Pirates jumped out to a 20-6 lead in the first quarter, knocking down 6 three-point shots in the first stanza. From there, the Pirates only got hotter, eventually knocking down 14 of their 28 three-point attempts, shooting at a stellar 50 percent clip. The Pirates will make their first state championship game appearance since 2012, when they play the Salmon River Savages at 9:30 tomorrow morning. As for Nezperce, they will face the Genesis Prep Jaguars in the third place game.
Salmon River 66, Genesis Prep 51
Salmon River’s Chevelle Shepherd was the clear cut choice for Player of the Game, finishing with 29 points for the Savages, but perhaps her most impressive stat, 19-23 from the free throw line, as the Jaguars had to foul down the stretch in order to keep it interesting. Shepherd kept her Savages out ahead just like any veteran leader should. The Savages will face the Butte County Pirates at the Ford Idaho Center for all the marbles at 9:30 tomorrow morning and the Jaguars will conclude their first ever state tournament with a game against Nezperce for the green trophy.
Carey 38, Lakeside 33
It wasn’t much of a stat stuffing showing, but I bet if you were to ask the Carey Panthers, they don’t care, because they are playing for a trophy on Saturday. Carey had 6 players score between 5-8 points, and that was the recipe for success for the Panthers. Ball distribution ended up playing a huge role in the Panthers five-point win, and a hot start really helped keep Lakeside behind them for what ended up being almost the entire game. The Knights didn’t go away easily, but free throws and solid defense down the stretch in the final two minutes is exactly what the doctor ordered. Carey advances to play for a consolation title tomorrow where they will face Castleford.
Castleford 54, Rockland 41
In a game that featured two of the top five teams in the State at one point earlier on in the season, it was a close ball game for about three quarters. But after the third period closed, the Wolves put their foot down on the accelerator. Haddee Reynolds led the charge in the fourth and final stanza for Castleford, as they knocked down important free throws and finished around the rim with a high percentage, and that’s all the Wolves needed to down a talented Rockland Bulldogs program and send them home packing early. Castleford will play tomorrow against the Carey Panthers for the consolation title.
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