NAMPA — For the fourth year in a row, the buzzer sounded at the end of the 4A District Three championship game and the Middleton High girls basketball team rushed to center court to exchange hugs.
The Vikings (23-0) held off a late charge by Skyview (17-6) in the final 3 minutes of the fourth quarter to earn a 38-34 victory Thursday night at Skyview High and the district’s No. 1 seed at next week’s state tournament.
It was the 46th consecutive victory for the Vikings and the 60th in a row against a 4A Southern Idaho Conference opponent.
As the two-time defending state champions and winners of three of the last four 4A titles, the Middleton program is the closest thing the Treasure Valley high school scene has in the way of a dynasty in girls basketball.
“We think it’s pretty cool. It’s pretty neat that this gets to happen for us,” Middleton senior point guard Taylor Simmons said. “We are just honored to be in this position to continue the tradition.”
Simmons’ older sister, Samantha, led Middleton to a state championship in 2008. The younger Simmons currently plays alongside sophomore D’Rae Tullock, who also had a sister, Kalika, on the 2008 team.
“I don’t think the kids think about being undefeated. I don’t think they really think about the streak,” Middleton coach Andy Jones said. “You always think that as we win they should start feeling the pressure, but I don’t think they really think about it.”
The pressure was certainly intense Thursday night.
Middleton had a 31-21 lead going into the fourth quarter and led by eight with less than 4 minutes to play, but the Hawks wouldn’t give up.
Skyview cut Middleton’s lead to two points or less on three occasions, including a putback by sophomore Leah Bonner with 40 seconds left that brought the Hawks within 35-34.
Skyview was forced to foul with time running out, and Middleton extended its slim lead by making the front end of a pair of one-and-one free-throw attempts by Allison Cossins and Mattaea Cooper. Alyssa Foreman added another made free throw in the final seconds to finish off the win.
“It was really intense, but I thought it was really good for us to be in that situation,” Simmons said. “We have a lot of tough games coming up, so it’s definitely good to get prepared now.”
Middleton opens the state tournament next Thursday at 3 p.m. at Timberline High against the loser of a Saturday game between Rigby and Madison.
Skyview — which is back at state for the first time since the 2007-08 season — opens against District One-Two champion Moscow (11-10) at 6:15 p.m.
“I saw a ton of perseverance from my team. We were down 10 at the start of the fourth quarter,” Skyview coach Cindy Pasta said. “I saw my team just come alive. They wanted it, but we just missed some baskets at the end. That’s all it comes down to.”
BISHOP KELLY 45, MOUNTAIN HOME 34
Megan Rebholtz had 10 points and Randi McReynolds and Mikaela Murgoitio added eight points apiece to help the Knights eliminate the Tigers on Thursday night at Skyview High.
Bishop Kelly (19-4) takes on Burley (14-12) for a spot in next week’s state tournament. Their state play-in game tips off at 1 p.m. Saturday at Mountain Home High.
The Knights are trying to advance to state for the third consecutive season.
Mountain Home, which was led by Teresa Fredell with 11 points in the loss, finishes the season with a record of 8-14.
