Welcome to "What's On Tap This Week - The Second Half," where we'll highlight the best matchups around the state during the "Second Half" of the week (Thursday, Friday and Saturday.)  If there's a big game on tap, we'll break it down for you right here, each and every week.

Also be on the lookout for "What's On Tap This Week - The First Half," where we bring to you the best matchups from the "First Half" of the week (Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.)  

Thursday, Jan. 20th

Eagle at Mountain View (Boys Basketball)
7:30 PM
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Once upon a time, the Mavericks (6-5 overall, 4-3 in the Southern Idaho Conference) found themselves at the top of the league standings.  But a three-game losing streak to start the year has sent coach Jon Nettleton's team towards the middle of the pack.  Meanwhile, Eagle (11-2 overall, 8-1 SIC) picked up a quadruple overtime win over Owyhee in their conference opener back in December, and have stayed at the top of the SIC standings ever since.  Point guard Bayler Perrin keys the Mountain View attack, while Eagle is boosted by the inside presence of Donovan Jones.

Blackfoot at Shelley (Boys Basketball)
7:30 PM
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The winner of this contest will be in the driver's seat for second place in the High Country Conference standings.  It will be hard to catch first-place Hillcrest, but the Broncos (6-7 overall, 1-0 in HCC) and Russets (8-6 overall, 2-1 in HCC) appear to be evenly matched.  The Broncos boast great perimeter play with wing Ja'Vonte King, while Shelley has a formidable front line anchored by Cannon Vance.

Emmett at Middleton (Boys Basketball)
7:30 PM
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The Vikings (11-1 overall, 6-0 in Southern Idaho Conference) have rarely been tested this year.  First-year coach Nate Hartman has led the defending 4A champions through the regular season with tremendous skill and ability, and 6'7" senior Tyler Medaris has staked his claim as one of the state's best overall players.  Emmett (3-10 overall, 1-5 SIC) doesn't  have the size Middleton does, so senior forwards Caden Young and Michael Sowles will have to play their best if the Huskies want to steal a win.

Gooding at Kimberly (Girls Basketball)
7:30 PM
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Filer is running away with the Sawtooth Central Idaho Conference, but this district will receive 1.5 bids to the state tournament, which makes the race for second place intriguing.  Gooding (9-7 overall, 2-2 SCIC) is the clubhouse leader at the moment, but their lead is tight.  Kimberly (7-8 overall, 1-4 SCIC) has had bad luck, as evidenced by five losses by single digits (including a 61-58 loss to Gooding in their first matchup.)  


Friday, Jan. 21st

Gooding at Kimberly (Boys Basketball)
7:30 PM
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The Bulldogs (8-4 overall, 2-0 in the Sawtooth Central Idaho Conference) can't take any opponent lightly, as both Filer and Buhl are ready to pounce should the league leaders from Kimberly slip.  Gooding (3-11 overall, 0-3 in SCIC) has struggled to score this year, averaging 37 points per game.

Lake City at Coeur d'Alene (Girls Basketball, Boys Basketball)
5:30 PM, 7:00 PM
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This varsity doubleheader was supposed to mark the return of the annual 'Fight for the Fish' spirit competition between the crosstown rivals, but COVID-19 concerns have forced officials to cancel the festivities for the second year in a row.  Regardless, the action on the court will be fantastic, as each of these teams are in the top two in the Inland Empire League.  

The Coeur d'Alene girls (15-3 overall, 6-0 in IEL) turned heads with their 62-48 win over Lake City two weeks ago.  That loss was just the second of the season for the Timberwolves (16-2 overall, 6-1 in IEL), and a young Lake City squad is hoping for revenge.  In order to accomplish that goal, the Timberwolves will need to shoot better from the outside, and contain Vikings senior Skylar Burke.

The boys matchup favors Lake City (14-0 overall, 3-0 in IEL) and their formidable trio of Kolton Mitchell, Zach Johnson and Blake Buchanan.  Coeur d'Alene (9-3 overall, 3-1 in IEL) has picked up narrow wins over Post Falls and Lewiston, recently, and are hoping to keep the game a little closer than the first time these teams met (a 71-42 win for Lake City.)


Saturday, Jan. 22nd

Borah at Meridian (Boys Basketball)
6:00 PM
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The defending 5A champions from Meridian have been treading water while dealing with a rash of injuries to their team.  Meridian sits at 6-6 overall and 5-2 in the Southern Idaho Conference, just one game behind co-leaders Owyhee and Eagle.  If the Warriors want to maintain their pace in the SIC, they have to win the games they're supposed to, like Saturday's matchup with Borah (2-7 overall, 2-4 in the SIC).