Boise entered state as one of the favorites. It showed why with a dominant first-round win
Boise High knew what to expect from Owyhee on Thursday — a string of 3-pointers and wild momentum swings.
But the Brave rode out the streaks, dominated the rebound category and received another monster game from Avery Howell to run away with a 59-47 win in the first round of the 5A girls basketball state tournament at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa.
“When you play against teams like that, you just kind of have to continue doing the same thing over and over,” Boise coach Kim Brydges said. “And that is play good defense, make sure they only get one shot and finish your plays with box-outs.”
No. 4 Boise (22-2) advances to face No. 1 Coeur d’Alene (22-2) in the semifinals at 2 p.m. Friday at the Idaho Center. Boise out rebounded Owyhee 39-23, limiting the damage the Storm (19-5) could do. Junior guard Avery Howell led the rebound battle yet again, racking up 25 points and 18 boards for her 16th double-double of the season.
“Rebounding, it’s kind of an art,” Brydges said. “And it’s something where not only are you timing your jump, but you’re also understanding where the most likely flight of the ball is coming to. And she just has a knack for it.”
Boise took control of the game early, using an 11-0 run to grab a 22-8 lead early in the second quarter. Owyhee caught fire and responded with a 10-0 run to cut the lead to four. But Boise answered right back with an 8-0 run to close the half.
Sophomore guard Avery Patricco then strapped the Brave on her back, scoring the team’s first 10 points in the third quarter to stretch the lead to 16 points. Owyhee never got closer than 10 the rest of the way.
“She came out in the second half and she was ready to go,” Howell said. “Her first half was not her best. But I think she took it as a serious challenge, and she just proved herself in the third quarter.
“That’s what we needed for our team, and she just stepped up and did it.”
Patricco finished with 13 points, and Kaity Haan added 12 points as three Boise players finished in double figures.
Riley Beck led Owyhee with 20 points, including 15 in the fourth quarter as the Storm tried to mount a comeback. Mikale Roy added 12 points and six rebounds.
Owyhee drops into the consolation bracket, where it will face Eagle at 7 p.m. Friday at Timberline.
EAGLE’S UPSET BID FALLS SHORT
The No. 8 Mustangs led by 10 points midway through the third quarter. But No. 1 Coeur d’Alene rallied for a 63-50 victory to advance to the semifinals Friday.
Wyoming signee Madison Symons powered the Vikings (22-2), posting a double-double of 24 points and 15 rebounds. And junior point guard Teagan Colvin poured in 23 points, including 15 in the fourth quarter.
Coeur d’Alene outscored Eagle 28-12 in the final quarter and 35-12 in the final 11 minutes, 30 seconds.
“They’re so good,” Eagle coach Jeremy Munroe said. “Once they had that going, it’s like a boulder downhill. How do you stop that?
“The girls battled. Our girls fought hard, and they did everything they could. So I was really proud of them.”
Eagle junior Paige Cofer nearly willed the Mustangs (14-13) to the biggest upset in a day full of them. The Utah Tech commit racked up 28 points on 11-for-16 shooting, leaving her tied for the program’s single-season scoring record with 439 points.
“She’s been phenomenal all year,” Munroe said. “She carries (us), helps us. She does everything the right way — hustles back on ‘D’, rebounds, great attitude, great kid.”
This story was originally published February 16, 2023 at 9:03 PM.
