MERIDIAN — After a near two-week layoff, the Rocky Mountain basketball team returned to the court Friday night with a look of determination.

The Grizzlies forced 25 turnovers and held Timberline scoreless in the first and fourth quarters en route to a 59-13 victory.

Rocky Mountain can only hope the next seven days go as smoothly.

Heading into the final week of the 5A Southern Idaho Conference’s regular season, the Grizzlies must play five games in seven days.

One slip up in the remaining four games and the conference championship could end up going to another team.

“It’s going to be tough,” Rocky Mountain coach Emery Roy said.

Through Friday, the Grizzlies (14-2, 12-2) were a half-game ahead of second-place Meridian (14-3, 12-3) and Mountain View (13-4, 12-3), the only two teams to beat Rocky this season.

The winner of the regular season earns the No. 1 seed at the district tournament, and a comfortable spot on the opposite side of the bracket from Nos. 2 and 3.

Although this is the first time in school history that Rocky Mountain has owned the top spot in the 5A SIC girls basketball standings, it doesn’t come as a surprise.

The Grizzlies made their first state playoff appearance last season, and then lured longtime Centennial coach Roy away from the Patriots in the spring.

“It’s been pretty good. The girls have worked hard. They are very dedicated and they want to win,” Roy said. “They haven’t won a lot in the past, so they are excited to win and are putting in whatever time they need to to do that.”

Roy is pleased with his team’s progress, as they have had to learn a new offense, adjust to a new coach and weather the loss of guard Carson Pickett to an knee injury in one short season.

“They are always improving, which is nice. Every game we seem to get a little bit better,” Roy said.