Boise saw few challenges all year. It withstood plenty at district for back-to-back titles
The Boise High girls basketball team didn’t face many tense moments all season. But the Brave packed a season’s worth of drama into the past few weeks.
Boise fended off a late charge from Rocky Mountain on Thursday to hang on for a 49-47 victory in the 5A District Three Tournament championship at Idaho Central Arena. The win clinched Boise (21-2) back-to-back district titles and put to bed any questions about its late-game mettle.
Boise blew out every opponent it faced for two months until an upset from Rocky Mountain three weeks ago ended a 17-game winning streak. Add that lesson to a nail-biter in the district semifinals Saturday and Thursday’s nerve-racking victory, and Boise suddenly heads into next week’s 5A state tournament with plenty of late-game experience to rely on.
“We like those close games just because we know how to play in them,” Boise sophomore guard Avery Patricco said. “... It’s really important, especially for us going into state, because we’re obviously going to have close games there. It’s better that we have them now and know how to finish a game.”
Boise looked to run away with another blowout early Thursday. A 13-0 run to close the first half spotted the Brave a 12-point lead at the break. But Rocky Mountain (16-8) cut the lead to two points in the fourth quarter to fill the downtown Boise arena with a buzz.
Brielle Magnuson’s long putback made it 43-41 with 2:20 left. Averee Osterhout drained a 3-pointer with 0.1 seconds left for the final margin.
The Grizzlies never could get over the hump because Boise continued to find the answers that eluded it when the teams first met three weeks ago.
“That’s what you want in the little part here before districts, and then district play and moving into state,” Boise coach Kim Brydges said. “That gives you a lot of confidence in those tight-game situations.”
Avery Howell carried Boise again, racking up 24 points and 12 rebounds for her 15th double-double of the season. She had one of her worst shooting nights of the season, finishing 5-for-14 from the floor. But she made up for it by sinking 11-of-13 free throws, including the ones that mattered the most to hold off Rocky Mountain’s rally.
Howell and Patricco sealed the game at the free-throw line, going 6-for-6 in the final 90 seconds.
“She’s just such a beast,” Patricco said of Howell. “She’s a big part of why we’re so successful. Other than her scoring and rebounding, she’s just a really great leader and is always making sure everyone else is uplifted and is just super positive.”
Both teams already clinched their state tournament berths before Thursday. But Boise still stormed the court at the final buzzer.
The win gave the Brave their first repeat district title since 2002, when it won its third straight.
“There was a lot more momentum and fury going into this game,” Howell said. “I was super frustrated the last game we lost to them. So there was a little bit of extra intensity coming out this game. We just really wanted to get the win.”
Zoe Archibald scored 12 points to lead Rocky Mountain in its first district title game appearance. Magnuson added 10 points and six rebounds, and Anna DaBell finished with eight points and nine rebounds.
Seeding and first-round matchups for the state tournament won’t be set until after Saturday’s play-in games.
This story was originally published February 9, 2023 at 11:39 PM.
