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5A Consolation - Hillcrest vs Boise
Both teams lost their loser-out game by a score of 49-43. Hillcrest had a great season, and are still playing at the end of February, something they haven't done since 2008. Boise ended Rocky Mt's undefeated season during districts, but faltered in their opening-round game against Lewiston 45-40. If the Braves can beat Rocky Mt, they can beat pretty much anyone else if they play well. I give this one to Boise.
Boise over Hillcrest 49-43 (how cool would that be)
5A 3rd Place - Mt View vs Lewiston
This could have very well been a state championship game, and it would have been a great one. Lewiston barely got by Boise 45-40 Thursday and then lost in a thrilling come from behind game against Rocky Mt Friday night 44-41. I think that game took a lot out of Lewiston and it will be very tough to come back ready to play at a high enough level to beat a Mt View that is home sleeping in their own comfy beds right now.
Mt View over Lewiston 52-46
5A State Championship - Coeur d'Alene vs Rocky Mt
Say what you want about how bracketing is done in Idaho, the 5A state championship will feature the undisputed #1 and #2 teams in the state. CDA seems to be clicking on all cylinders after easily beating Mt View 69-54 Friday night. In the 4th quarter of their semifinal game against Lewiston, Rocky Mt showed why they almost went undefeated this year by scoring 23 points to win 44-41. If CDA can get an early lead, this one will be all over. They are just too talented.
CDA over Rocky Mt 62-54
4A Consolation - Nampa vs Burley
Nampa lost their first round game to Twin Falls (the #2 team in the state) on a last second shot after being up 42-28 going in to the 4th quarter. Burley lost to #1 ranked Skyview on Thursday and then barely squeaked by Sandpoint on Friday 48-47 with a last second 3pt buzzer-beater by Chelsea Baker. Nampa just brings too much to the table in this one.
Nampa over Burley 48-29
4A 3rd Place - Middleton vs Pocatello
Both teams have something in common - they got put in the 3rd place game by very good team. Middleton lost to #2 Twin Falls 47-28 and Pocatello lost to #1 Skyview 49-37. Skyview beat Middleton both times during the regular season. I didn't go to math college, but I'm pretty sure that equals one last win for the Middleton girls.
Middleton over Pocatello 38-30
4A State Championship - Twin Falls vs Skyview
You have to beat the best to be the best and one of these teams will do just that tomorrow night at the Ford Idaho Center. This is going to be the best game of the day, any division. Maybe even overtime. In the end, the state media will be proven right once again and Skyview will bring home their first-ever state championship in girls basketball.
Skyview over Twin Falls 56-53
3A Consolation - Sugar-Salem vs Teton
Sugar-Salem beat Teton by 10pts each time they played in the regular season and by 18pts in the district tournament. They came in to the tournament as the #1 team in the state, but lost to the #2 team in the opening game by just 2 points. Teton sneaked in to the tournament as the only team with a losing record. Just playing the odds here Redskin fans...nothin' but love for all of you, but Sugar-Salem is taking home the Consolation trophy.
Sugar-Salem over Teton 48-38
3A 3rd Place - Priest River vs Homedale
Both teams are district champs, but this is state. Homedale brought back all five starts from last year's tournament team and that experience will come in to play Saturday.
Homedale over Priest River 48-37
3A State Championship - Filer vs Timberlake
Filer hung out at #2 in the state most of the year, getting a few #1 votes every week. Then they beat the team voted #1 ahead of them by two points in the opening game of the tournament. Look for Filer's Katie Hughes to dominate this one, exploiting some of the youth on Timberlake's team.
Filer over Timberlake 56-50
I will apologize ahead of time to the 2A, 1AD1 and 1AD2 teams. The hour is late (about 2:00am) and I need to be back at the Ford Idaho Center in the morning in about 5 hours. I need my beauty sleep.
2A Consolation - Valley over Grangeville 29-22
2A 3rd Place - Melba over Cole Valley 46-39
2A Championship - Ririe vs Firth
Both teams come from the Nuclear Conference in Eastern Idaho. Rirle ended the year ranked #1 in the state and Firth #3. Ririe beat Firth twice in the regular season, but Firth beat Ririe twice when it counted in districts.
Ririe over Firth 58-54
1AD1 Consolation - Hagerman over Challis 53-32
1AD1 3rd Place - Grace over Genesee - 45-28
1AD1 State Championship - Lapwai vs Prairie
They split the regular season, but Lapwai won the rubber match at districts 51-44. Both are very good teams with very good records. This will be a great game that will come down to an even better finish, mark my words.
Lapwai over Prairie 58-53 OT
1AD2 Consolation - Kendrick over Nezperce 41-37
1AD2 3rd Place - Rockland over Lighthouse Christian 32-25
1AD2 Championship - Dietrich vs Mackay
The Blue Devils are lucky to even be in the championship game at all after only beating Rockland with a last second 3pt shot by Larson, 35-34. Look for head Coach Acey Shaw and his assistant to have their team ready to play early at the Ford Idaho Center.
1AD2 State Championship - Dietrich over Mackay 36-29
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