MERIDIAN - The Earth had spun itself around more than 800 times since Middleton's girls basketball team found itself on the losing end of a game.

On Thursday, the Twin Falls Bruins sent the 4A state tournament bracket spinning with a stunning 42-36 win over the Vikings at Mountain View High.

Middleton's 72-game winning streak, the nation's longest, and its run of three straight state titles, came to an end.

"I don't think it was the streak of 72 that got to them, I think it was the streak of three (straight state titles)," Middleton coach Andy Jones said. "That pressure probably got to us a bit."

Twin Falls' win sets up a semifinal matchup with Century, which defeated Nampa 48-36. In the other 4A semifinal, it will be Bishop Kelly facing Pocatello.

The Bruins, who lost 56-46 to the Vikings in Middleton on Dec. 28, opened up the game with a 7-0 run. They scored the first five points of the second half following a 17-16 halftime deficit and sealed the game with the contest's final four points after the Vikings got within 38-36 with less than a minute to go.

"People said 'aren't you upset you're pulling Middleton in the first round?' I said I'd rather face them with fresh legs," Twin Falls coach Nancy Jones said. "My girls really believed they could win, and I think that made a big difference when it dipped a little bit."

Maddie Watkins had nine points off the bench to pace Twin Falls, while post Mikayla Harris had nine points and 10 rebounds. Junior D'Rae Tullock, the only player on Middleton's roster the last time the Vikings lost, on Nov. 16, 2010, had game-highs of 12 points and 13 rebounds.

"It was bound to happen sometime, we just weren't expecting it to be today," Tullock said.

The Vikings lost guard Maya Ah You to a knee injury in the second quarter - she was averaging 14.4 points per game, but left after playing 9 minutes, 34 seconds with one point. Ah You had 20 points against the Bruins back in December.

"It definitely hurt us," Tullock said. "It's hard playing without a starter, especially one of our better players."

Middleton had 18 turnovers and was 7-of-18 on free throws. Twin Falls was 15-of-28, making all 15 in the second the half, on 24 attempts.

"The streak didn't throw the ball away or miss any free throws," Andy Jones said. "We did some uncharacteristic things.

"I would rather have the streak end at 71 and start a new one today."

Twin Falls will next take on Century, which opened the second half with a 9-0 run against Nampa after leading 21-20 at the half, a run that kept the Bulldogs at arm's length.

"Certainly, I would've expected to be playing Middleton, but Twin Falls brought it," Century coach Chris Shuler said. "Coming off a team that won 72 straight, they'll be fired up. It definitely changes everything."

Both the Diamondbacks and Bruins are seeking their first girls basketball state titles, while Middleton will not be in the state championship game for the first time since 2007.

"We lost to them by 10 when we played them earlier, but to open up and upset them, I'm still in shock," Harris said. "It showed what we're capable of, and we know we have work to do."

Dave Southorn: 377-6420, Twitter: @IDS_southorn