Girls state basketball: Two Treasure Valley teams will play for a state championship
The Idaho high school girls basketball state tournaments crowned its first champions Friday, and eight more teams punched their ticket to the finals.
Below is a recap of all Friday’s highlights.
You can also view all the latest state tournament brackets, scores and matchups here.
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHUPS
The following games are Saturday at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa.
- 5A: Thunder Ridge (21-4) vs. Mountain View (19-2), 7 p.m.
- 4A: Century (18-5) vs. Blackfoot (21-7), 4:30 p.m.
- 3A: Sugar-Salem (24-1) vs. Timberlake (22-2), 2 p.m.
- 2A: Bear Lake (13-12) vs. Melba (21-4), 11:30 a.m.
STATE TOURNAMENT HEADLINES
Mountain View will defend title: The Mavericks (19-2) routed Rigby 73-64 to return to the state finals for the third straight year. A win Saturday would give Mountain View back-to-back titles for the second time in the past seven years.
Melba gets another shot at first title: The Mustangs (21-4) beat 2A WIC rival New Plymouth 46-34 to make the finals for the second time in three years. Melba will need to beat upstart Bear Lake for its first state championship banner.
Tri-Valley wins first championship: The Titans (20-3) beat Kendrick 54-48 to win the 1A Division II state title. It’s Tri-Valley’s first title in program history. Our full story.
No. 1s go two-and-out: Top-ranked Middleton (4A) and Cole Valley Christian (2A) both went home far earlier than expected, falling in their consolation games Friday.
FRIDAY’S TOP 5 PLAYERS
Naya Ojukwu, Mountain View: The junior recorded a double-double for the second straight night, finishing with 21 points and 11 rebounds on 7-for-11 shooting as the Mavericks returned to the 5A championship game.
Jaleesa Lawrence, Meridian: The senior racked up 29 points, eight rebounds and four steals in a consolation round loss to Boise. She averaged 27.5 points per game at the tournament.
Maniah Clegg, Grace: The senior center dominated again, posting a double-double of 16 points and 17 rebounds to lead the Grizzlies to the 1A Division I state title. She shot 6-of-9 from the floor and added four blocks.
Josey Jones, Tri-Valley: The finished with game highs in points (19) and steals (six) to lead the Titans to their first state title.
Kylie Wood, Carey: The senior racked up 32 points to lead the Panthers to a 48-40 win over Rockland in the 1A Division II third-place game. She finished 16-of-19 at the free-throw line with five rebounds and four steals.
5A STATE TOURNAMENT
Mountain View 73, Rigby 64: The Mavericks raced out to a 16-1 lead in the first quarter and led by as many as 28 points midway through the fourth to steamroll their way into their third straight championship game.
Rigby (20-4) came out in a 1-3-1 zone trying to contain Mountain View junior forward Naya Ojukwu. But the Mavericks hit three early 3-pointers, finishing 7-for-17 behind the arc. And they created early turnovers and easy transition buckets to put the Trojans in a deep hole.
“We’ve been working on zones because people try to play us zone in our league because of Naya,” Mountain View coach Connie Skogrand said. “Our zone offense worked well, and they kids were hitting outside. We didn’t have to rely on Naya inside.”
Ojukwu still finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds. But she had plenty of help as four other Mavericks finished in double figures.
D’Nia Williams scored 15 points on 5-for-7 shooting behind the 3-point line. Trinity Slocum added 12 points and seven assists. Sierra Grizzle chipped in 12 points off the bench. And Millie Brunner finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Rigby senior Tylie Jones scored a game-high 24 points and added 10 rebounds for the Trojans, who were trying to make their first 5A championship game in program history.
Meanwhile, playing in the finals has become a tradition for Mountain View. The Mavericks will play in the final game Saturday at the Idaho Center for the fifth time in seven years. They are 3-1 in their previous four trips.
“It’s extremely tough,” Skogrand said. “We’re ecstatic to be back. Nothing is ever given to you. You’ve got to work for it.
“We’ve just been fortunate to even be playing in these championships with COVID. In December, I said I didn’t know if we’d even be playing in January or February.”
Thunder Ridge 53, Coeur d’Alene 39: The Titans rolled into their first state championship game in program history.
Sierra John scored 12 points, and Aspen Caldwell and Lauren Davenport each added 11 for Thunder Ridge, a third-year school from Idaho Falls. The Titans are the only team to beat No. 1 Coeur d’Alene (19-2) this year, following a December win with Friday’s victory.
Thunder Ridge is the first team from East Idaho to make the 5A championship game since Pocatello in 1995.
Boise 56, Meridian 44: The Brave (10-5) jumped out to a 20-5 lead early in the second quarter, and Meridian never recovered in a loser-out game.
Ashley Banks led a balanced Boise effort with 15 points and nine rebounds. Allison Ross added 14 points and five assists. And Avery Howell contributed 12 points and 11 rebounds as Boise out rebounded Meridian 34-22.
Meridian senior Jaleesa Lawrence poured in 29 points with eight rebounds and four assists before fouling out.
Timberline 46, Post Falls 39: The Wolves (12-3) rallied from a nine-point, second-half deficit by outsourcing Post Falls 14-2 in the fourth quarter.
Timberline junior Sophie Glancey recorded a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds to go along with three blocks. Lauren McCall added nine points, and Piper Davis finished with eight.
The Wolves face Boise for the consolation title at 10 a.m. Saturday at Ridgevue.
4A STATE TOURNAMENT
Century 44, Sandpoint 25: The Diamondbacks return to the state finals for the fourth straight year behind a strong defensive and rebounding effort.
Century held the Bulldogs to 25% shooting while out rebounding them 33-23.
Ashton Adamson scored 12 points, Tenleigh Smith added 11, and Taylor Smith and Taylor Bull each had nine for the Diamondbacks.
Blackfoot 47, Burley 30: The Broncos needed to win a play-in game just to qualify for the state tournament. Now, they’ll get a shot at a championship banner.
Blackfoot shot 57% from the floor and its defense kept Burley star Amari Whiting relatively in check. The sophomore finished with 14 points on 7-for-14 shooting a night after setting a 4A tournament record with 37 points.
Kianna Wright scored 13 points, and Hadley Humphreys and Esperanza Vergara each added 11 points for Blackfoot, which advanced to the second state title game in program history.
Skyline 68, Middleton 35: The Vikings (17-4) went two-and-out at state for the second straight year as Skyline shot 53% from the floor.
Mattie Olson poured in a game-high 20 points with eight rebounds, and Sophia Anderson added 17 points for Skyline (18-8).
Four Middleton players finished with six points: Cassidy Fried, Sheridan Mortensen, Kate Wilson and Macy McPherson.
Mountain Home 45, Columbia 43: A second straight double-double from Columbia senior Mia Nottingham (15 points, 10 rebounds) couldn’t keep the Wildcats from an early exit in their first trip to state in program history.
Columbia closes the first winning season in its 15-year history at 13-12.
Maddie Keener scored 17 points, and Reece Floyd added 11 points for Mountain Home (17-8).
3A STATE TOURNAMENT
Timberlake 40, Parma 30: The Tigers forced 17 turnovers and held Parma to 25% shooting to return to the Idaho Center.
Taryn Soumas led the way with 14 points, and Brooke Jessen added 13 points and nine rebounds for the defending state champs.
Parma’s Grace Jackson scored a game-high 16 points while adding nine rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks. The Panthers (17-6) will face Filer in the third-place game Saturday.
Sugar-Salem 40, Filer 36, OT: The Diggers rallied from an 8-0 deficit and survived 25 turnovers to return to the finals for the fourth time in five years.
Kennedy Gillette and Mardee Filmore each scored eight points for Sugar-Salem, which held the Wildcats to 26% shooting.
Ella Fischer recorded a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds for Filer (17-11).
Consolation games: Snake River won a defensive battle over McCall-Donnelly 35-26, and Marsh Valley raced past Bonners Ferry 71-62. McCall-Donnelly (6-6) went two-and-out in its first state tournament appearance since 1993.
2A STATE TOURNAMENT
Melba 46, New Plymouth 34: The Mustangs finished behind New Plymouth in the 2A Western Idaho Conference’s regular-season conference standings. But they got the last laugh Friday, racing out to an 18-point lead in the first half to advance to the state finals for the fourth time in program history.
Northwest Nazarene signee Kate Clark scored a game-high 19 points for Melba, which is 3-1 vs. the Pilgrims this year. Hallie Arnold added nine points, and Brooklyn Dayley finished with eight points and nine rebounds.
Alyssa Christensen paced New Plymouth (17-7) with 11 points and eight rebounds, while Eboni Shaw added 10 points.
Bear Lake 45, Grangeville 32: The Bears continued their underdog run, knocking off the No. 3-ranked Bulldogs a day after upsetting No. 2 Ririe.
Bear Lake’s defense suffocated Grangeville, holding it to 22% shooting to take the opening lead and never surrender it.
Hailey Humpherys scored a game-high 16 points, and Kalisha Parker added 11 points and 12 rebounds for Bear Lake, which shot 47% from the floor.
Consolation games: Ririe knocked off No. 1 Cole Valley Christian 50-36, and Soda Springs routed Valley 59-28. The two will meet for the consolation final Saturday.
1A DIVISION I STATE TOURNAMENT
Grace wins title: The Grizzlies (21-3) rallied in the fourth quarter to top perennial power Prairie 46-37 and win their first state championship since 1986.
Grace senior center Maniah Clegg recorded her third straight double-double of the tournament, racking up 16 points and 17 rebounds. She also had four blocks.
Grace trailed 33-29 entering the fourth quarter before outscoring the Pirates 17-4 in the final 8 minutes.
The Grizzlies also won a state volleyball title last fall.
Lapwai rebounds for third: The Wildcats (22-1) routed Lighthouse Christian 71-37 to win a trophy for the 15th straight year, the longest active streak in Idaho.
Rimrock captures trophy: The Raiders (21-3) won their first state tournament trophy since 2006 by beating league foe Liberty Charter 39-34 in the consolation final.
Rimrock senior Sintia Varela scored a game-high 22 points while adding five rebounds and three steals. She finished the three-day tournament averaging 22 points.
1A DIVISION II STATE TOURNAMENT
Tri-Valley crowned: The Titans won their first state title in program history. You can read our full coverage here.
Carey finishes third: Reigning state player of the year Kylie Wood racked up 32 points, five rebounds and four steals to lead the Panthers (11-2) to a 48-40 win over Rockland.
Mackay earns trophy: Riley Moore poured in 20 points, and Trinity Seefried had a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Miners (18-3) to a 56-37 win over Camas County in the consolation final.
This story was originally published February 19, 2021 at 10:12 PM.
