|
|
Written by: Gary Jones and Glenn Jones
By Gary Jones and Glenn Jones
Before I list the awards, let me explain something that has come up in the comments before. Glenn and I sit at the Idaho Center for the entire state tourney. On Thursday and Friday, we watch the 5A teams, and then on Super Saturday we watch the six state title games. These awards are only based on the teams we see at the Idaho Center. There may be an awesome pep club, for instance, that did a great job but never made it to the Idaho Center. Since we never saw them, they could not be listed on this awards page. Some people don’t like the fact some teams or players are excluded, but our purpose for doing these awards is to give some teams and players some recognition and we can only recognize the teams and players we see. So, with that said, here goes……
5A State Champs: Capital Eagles (26-0!) 63-53:
This game had two teams chasing history. Capital was trying to win a state title for the first time since 1978. That year, they had just completed a four peat, and they wouldn’t win another title for 36 years. Borah was the defending back to back champs, and they were trying to three-peat, which is something they had never done. The Lions have enjoyed back to back titles five times in their long history, but it eluded them again. With a perfect season behind them now, there is no disputing that the best team in the state won the title. The Eagles had talented players across the board, and their “team play” showed they were the best team at any level in 2014. This is the 6th title for Capital and the first for Coach Paul Rush.
Runner-up: Borah Lions
3rd Place: Lake City Timberwolves
Consolation: Highland Rams
Sportsmanship:
Academic: Madison Bobcats 3.692 GPA
4A Champs: Twin Falls Bruins (22-4) 46-29:
Century made it to the title game and was obviously better than their 14-10 record indicated. They were after their second state title and first since 2002. They ran into a buzz saw, however, in the Twin Falls Bruins. They were a solid team from top to bottom, and could have given Capital a run for its money. They won their fourth title and their second in the 4A division. Coach Matt Harr now has three rings with the Bruins: 2006, 2010, and 2014.
Runner-up: Century Diamondbacks
3rd Place: Bonneville Bees
Consolation: Nampa Bulldogs
Sportsmanship:
Academic: Bishop Kelly 3.719 GPA
3A Champs: Buhl Indians (24-1) 59-56:
This game was a fantastic championship game with a terrific and heartbreaking ending, depending on who you were rooting for. Homedale led for most of the game, but Buhl hit a three for the lead with under a minute to play. Down by three, a Homedale player launched a shot from the backcourt that banked in….but it was ruled to be after the buzzer. And it clearly was the correct call. Buhl now has three state titles and their first since 1979. Coach Dan Winn has his first.
Runner-up: Homedale Trojans
3rd Place: Filer Wildcats
Consolation: Sugar-Salem Diggers
Sportsmanship: Buhl Indians
Academic: Snake River Panthers 3.588 GPA
2A Champs: Firth Cougars (22-4) 59-48:
Since 2007, the Cougars have won 5 out of the last 8 state titles. How’s that for consistency? After winning four in a row from 2007-2010, they took three years off before winning again. Coach Scott Adams now has his fifth ring or “one for the thumb.” The Declo Hornets were trying to win for the second time since they won in 1998 during the greatest basketball game I have ever seen. They tied that game with a buzzer beater three that banked in, and then beat Kimberly in overtime with a buzzer beater that banked in from around the foul line in the backcourt. Rick Reilly of Sports Illustrated back then wrote an article on that game. Many people said the Hornets were lucky to win, so in a pep assembly at Declo the next week, the player who made the shot, Mike Christiansen tried it again from the backcourt and made it! So much for the luck theory……….
Runner-up: Declo Hornets
3rd Place: Grangeville Bulldogs
Consolation: North Freemont Huskies
Sportsmanship: Declo Hornets
Academic: Valley Viking 3.669 GPA
1AD1 Champs: Prairie Pirates (24-1) 78-43:
The Pirates took away all doubt in this game about who the best team was. They dominated from the start and won their 3rd state title with an impressive victory over Challis. Coach Teel Bruner won his second ring, both of them coming in the 1AD1 division. The Pirates first title first came back in 1982 under Coach Alan Feigenhauer when they were a 2A school. Challis was in search of that elusive first state title.
Runner-up: Challis Vikings
3rd Place: Genesee Bulldogs
Consolation: Glenns Ferry Pilots
Sportsmanship:
Academic: Kamiah Kubs 3.695 GPA
1AD2 Champs: Salmon River Savages (23-2) 63-59:
Even though many of the games that followed this first one were very good, this may have been the most entertaining game of the 6 title games. A plethora of three pointers rained down all morning long from both teams, some waayyyy beyond the arc. The lead changed hands many times and the game was close throughout…everything one wants in the final game. The Savages prevailed and won back to back titles under Coach Charlie Shepherd. Ambrose, in only its second year of eligibility with the IHSSAA, did very well reaching the title game with a very young squad. Watch out for them in 2015.
Runner-up: Ambrose Archers
3rd Place: Kendrick Tigers
Consolation: Carey Panthers
Sportsmanship: Summit Academy Patriots
Academic: Summit Academy Patriots 3.550 GPA
The Idahosports.com Players of the State Championship Games:
5A: Hunter Young (Senior) Capital Eagles: Hunter had a monster game when it counted most. He finished with 26 points on 8/11 from the field and 6/9 from beyond the arc. He also had 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and played more minutes, 29:38, than any other Eagle.
4A: Casdone Jardine (Senior) Twin Falls Bruins: Casdone had 13 points on 4/14 from the field, 1/3 on threes, and 4/4 from the free throw line. He alaso had 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 blocked shot, 1 steal, and he also led his team in minutes played with 31:09.
3A: Kade Crossland (Senior) Buhl Indians: Kade had 25 points and also hit the go ahead 3 pointer late in the 4th quarter. He also had 6 boards, 3 assists, and 1 block shot.
2A: Conner Burkhart (Sophomore) Firth Cougars: An underclassman won this award with 16 pts on 5/7 from the field, 1/1 on threes, and 5/6 from the foul line. He also had 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, and played 31:54 minutes.
1AD1: Lucas Arnzen (Junior) Prairie Pirates: Lucas led his team with 20 points on 9/13 from the field and 2/6 from the charity stripe. He also had 11 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 block shots.
1AD2: Leighton VanderEsch: (Senior) Salmon River Savages: This MVP pick was as easy as tying Velcro shoes. Leighton had 37 points on terrific shooting: 11/16 from field, 6/8 inside arc, 5/8 outside arc, and 10/11 from the free throw line. He played the entire 32:00 minutes.
The Idahopsorts.com All State Tourney Team (5A only)
First Team:
Derrick White (Junior) Capital Eagles
Isaiah Wright (Senior) Borah Lions
Stefan Gonzalez (Junior) Highland Rams
Gibson Berryhill (Junior) Timberline Wolves
Jake Vetsch (Senior) Lake City Timberwolves
Second Team:
Conner Harding (Sophomore) Highland Rams
EJ Boyce (Senior) Rocky Mtn Grizzlies
DeAndre Jones (Sophomore) Borah Lions
Kyle Guice (Senior) Lake City Timberwolves
Mason Baker (Sophomore) Skyline Grizzlies
Honorable Mention:
Corey Koski (Senior) Post Falls Trojans
Keegan Hansen (Junior) Capital Eagles
Zach Bennett (Senior) Skyline Grizzlies
Justin Pratt (Senior) Lake City Timberwolves
Rylan Bergersen (Sophomore) Borah Lions
MVP
Hunter Young (Senior) Capital Eagles: It was difficult picking an MVP on such a talented team, and with their team oriented style of play. Hunter’s final game put him over the top and made him our MVP choice for the state tourney. Here are his numbers from the 5A tournament: 41 total points, a perfect 10/10 from the charity stripe, 9 three pointers, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, and only 3 turnovers.
The Idahosportss.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 the tourney 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”
First Team
Buzz Toffelmier (Senior) Rocky Mtn Grizzlies
Telly Davenport (Junior) Bonneville Bees
Talon Freelove (Senior) Homedale Trojans
Cabbage Sandoval (Senior) Wendell Trojans
Hazen Weber (Senior) Dietrich Blue Devils
Second Team
Lewis Jolley (Junior) Firth Cougars
Tagg Jeppesen (Senior) North Freemont Huskies
Boston Webb (Senior) Declo Hornets
Mackinley Quast (Junior) Burley Bobcats
Britin Cunningham (Sophomore) Bonneville Bees
Honorable Mention
Hunter Eborn (Sophomore) Highland Rams
Terran Peery (Sophomore) Prairie Pirates
RedSky Chimburas (Senior) Lapwai Wildcats
Noah Arnzen (Freshman) Summit Academy Patriots
Landon Jones (Junior) Twin Falls Bruins
“Awesome Alliterations”
First Team
Kevin Kennedy (Junior) Skyview Hawks
Glen Gosse (Junior) Moscow Bears
Tegon Tonge (Sophomore) Buhl Indians
Kade Keller (Senior) Snake River Panthers
Kody Kitchens (Senior) Challis Vikings
Second Team
Mitch Mingo (Sophomore) Rockland Bulldogs
Dallin Dilworth (Sophomore) Carey Panthers
Dawson Dayton (Senior) North Star Charter Huskies
Cody Couch (Sophomore) Buhl Indians
Trey Trappett (Sophomore) Melba Mustangs
Honorable Mention
Conner Carter (Sophomore) Homedale Trojans
Carter Cannon (Junior) Shelley Russets
Conner Coombs (Freshman) Cascade Ramblers
Cris Coutts (Sophomore) North Star Charter Huskies
Caleb Currier (Sophomore) Summit Academy Patriots
Idahosports.com Pep Club of the State Tournament:
What we look for in pep clubs are these traits: Turnout, wearing school colors, energy, cheering, mascots, the kind of characteristics one sees in good ones. These pep clubs stood out: Capital, Borah, and Ambrose. Borah is always one of the most energetic and colorful pep clubs. The Eagle students were out in force to watch their team win for the first time in 36 years. Yet, little Ambrose is winning the pep club of the year award based on how many students showed up versus how many they actually have. I guarantee you this: over 90 % of their student body was there in person. Small town pride is alive and well at the Real Dairy Shootout!
Idahosports.com Pep Band of the State Tournament:
The Lake City Pep Band traveled a long road to perform fort us, but every mile they traveled was well worth it. These folks were an A+ band. From their rendition of the Star Spangled Banner to the energy and fun they exhibit while playing is tremendous. Thanks for enduring the long ride to perform for us. We really appreciate it!
Idahosports.com Mascot of the State Tournament:
Since we only had two mascots dressed up in 2014, I’m not splitting the tie. The Borah Lion was there again, and I new one for the first time- The Homedale Trojan. They both did a fantastic job!
States & Countries That Shouted Us Out:
Montana/Washington/Idaho/California/Colorado/Oregon/Pennsylvania/Minnesota/Arizona/Michigan/North Dakota/Utah/Ohio/Massachusetts/Indiana/Wyoming/Japan/South Africa/ Tonga/The Phillipines
|