Friday’s prep recap: Borah sophomore erupts as Lions continue best season in years
Centennial’s Annie Stinar put on a show Tuesday night, setting several program records and surpassing 1,000 career points. But Friday belonged to Borah’s Sydnie Rodriguez.
The sophomore sank seven 3-pointers and poured in a game-high 28 points, outdueling the 5A SIC’s leading scorer in a 65-48 win that extended one of the best starts in years for Borah (13-5, 10-3 5A SIC) in girls high school basketball.
Centennial (8-11, 5-9) took a 6-5 lead after two 3-pointers from Stinar midway through the first quarter. But in the span of four minutes, Rodriguez had four 3-pointers to spark a 13-2 run by the Lions.
“I did my part, but we’re a team and we all did our part,” Rodriguez said. “I just did what I could do.”
After a 14-point first quarter, the point guard continued to lift the Lions. Another pair of 3s put the home side up 30-17 late in the first half, which made for a proud father and head coach on the sideline.
“She did it in the flow of the offense,” Borah coach George Rodriguez said. “She puts in all the work, and what’s important to me is that it was done in the selflessness of our team.”
The Patriots found a spark early in the third quarter with five quick points by Stinar. The Wyoming signee had a program-record 41 points Tuesday and looked to put together a comeback. But an and-one bucket by senior forward Jayden McNeal kept the Patriots at bay.
“I’ve been with Jayden for a long time,” Sydnie Rodriguez said. “She brings great energy, but it’s not just her. It’s everyone, and it’s a squad that I’m never going to forget.”
Despite an 11-point third quarter from Stinar, the Lions stayed in control. After two scoreless possessions by the Patriots, a pair of solo drives by Sydnie Rodriguez and McNeal had Borah up by as many as 24 points late in the third quarter.
“Program wise, we don’t shy away,” George Rodriguez said. “We’re a man-to-man, toughness team, and it’s not on one person. It’s a collective effort, and they do a great job of supporting each other.”
Stinar finished the night with 25 points, but Sydnie Rodriguez’s explosive night and McNeal’s 14 points led Borah to a season-high 65 on the scoreboard. After winning five of their past six games, the Lions sit comfortably in third place in the 5A SIC standings heading into the final week of the regular season.
The top four teams receive byes at the district tournament.
“They’re playing together, they understand what’s at stake and they understand the ceiling,” George Rodriguez said. “They have the potential to go as far as they want to go.”
FRIDAY’S PREP STANDOUTS
- Lauren McCall, Timberline (girls basketball): Had a hand in everything with eight points, seven assists and seven steals as the No. 1-ranked Wolves routed Skyview 50-16 to improve to 18-1 and 14-0 in the 5A SIC.
- Marli Reed, Rocky Mountain (girls basketball): Sank five 3-pointers and scored 19 points as the Grizzlies (9-10, 7-7 5A SIC) stayed in the hunt for a first-round bye at the district tournament with a 55-50 victory at Meridian.
- Cadence Mann, Kuna (girls basketball): Scored 16 points and added five rebounds as the Kavemen (4-15, 2-12 5A SIC) upset defending state champ Mountain View (9-9, 7-6) 37-30.
- Jennabelle Reece, Liberty Charter (girls basketball): Racked up 10 points, 12 rebounds and six steals in the Patriots’ 54-32 win at Riverstone.
- Joe Reiber, Melba (boys basketball): Finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds, five steals and three assists to lead the Mustangs (12-2, 7-1 2A WIC) to a 65-59 road win at Nampa Christian.
GIRLS BASKETBALL SCOREBOARD
BOYS BASKETBALL SCOREBOARD
This story was originally published January 22, 2022 at 12:50 AM.