ORDER GAME PHOTOS

After a convincing win over Owyhee a week ago, I posed this question: Can anyone in the 5A Southern Idaho Conference beat Boise?

Whoops.  Two days after I asked that question, Rocky Mountain answered with an emphatic "yes."  The Grizzlies defeated Boise by three last Saturday, 45-42.  With the loss, the Brave's regular season finale against Timberline last night became a must win in order to secure the regular season conference title.

After losing by three to Rocky Mountain, the Brave found reverse fortunes Tuesday night, defeating the Wolves by three, 48-45 to officially wrap up the SIC crown.

But it didn't come easy.  Boise led by 16 at one point in the second half, but Timberline refused to wither away.  The Wolves outscored the Brave 21-11 in the fourth quarter, and when Lauren McCall hit a step-back three with 15 seconds remaining, it cut the deficit to one.  

Leading 46-45, Boise's Avery Howell sank two free throws, and a final shot from Timberline fell short, giving the Brave the 48-45 win.

Howell led the Brave with 23 points, including an 11-of-12 performance at the free throw line.  She also pulled down 19 rebounds in an incredible effort.  Sophia Clark, Alison Turcke and Avery Patricco all chipped in seven points for Boise.

Timberline was paced by McCall's 17 points, five rebound and four assists.  Emma Heninger added 15 points.

Because of their recent string of tight games, Thunder Ridge has actually tied Boise for the first among 5A teams in our Idaho Girls Basketball Top 25 Daily rankings.  The Titans remain unbeaten at 20-0 and have one final showdown with Rigby upcoming.

Timberline, meanwhile, sits fourth in the 5A ranks after finishing their regular season at 16-4 overall and 8-3 in SIC play.  The Wolves will be the #5 seed at next week's District Tournament.

Here's the rest of the Top 25 Daily Girls Basketball Rankings:

CLASS 5A

T-1. Boise (18-2)
T-1. Thunder Ridge (20-0)
4. Rigby (17-3)
4. Timberline (16-4)
5. Lake City (15-3)

CLASS 4A

1. Shelley (17-2)
2. Bishop Kelly (15-3)
3. Mountain Home (16-4)

CLASS 3A

1. Parma (18-2)
2. Snake River (17-3)
3. Weiser (17-3)

CLASS 2A

1. Melba (20-0)
2. North Fremont (15-3)
3. Cole Valley Christian (16-4)
4. Soda Springs (15-4)

CLASS 1AD1

1. Lapwai (17-1)
2. Raft River (17-2)
3. Murtaugh (14-5)
4. Carey (14-3)
5. Oakley (15-4)

CLASS 1AD2

1. Mackay (15-3)
2. Rockland (17-3)
3. Dietrich (16-3)
4. Leadore (15-2)
5. Deary (12-1)

IN: None
OUT: None

Agree? Disagree? Join the conversation on The Boards, SportsBoards.com!