Coeur d’Alene uses its ‘invaluable’ junior guard to fend off Boise in double overtime

Few high school girls basketball teams have figured out how to stop Boise this season.

Friday afternoon, Coeur d’Alene found its answer in Teagan Colvin.

The junior guard scored a game-high 28 points, leading the No. 1 Vikings to a 51-50 double-overtime victory over the No. 4-seeded Brave in the 5A girls basketball state tournament semifinals at the Ford Idaho Center.

Coeur d’Alene (23-2) heads to Saturday’s 5A state championship game, where the Vikings face No. 7 Rocky Mountain (18-8) at 8 p.m. at the Ford Idaho Center.

“They shot the ball well when they needed to shoot the ball,” Boise coach Kim Brydges said. “Teagan’s a good player, and I think we gave her a couple of opportunities down the stretch.”

The Brave (22-3) used free throws from junior forward Avery Howell to extend their lead to 41-36 with 50 seconds left in regulation. That forced Colvin to drive down the lane for a quick layup, cutting the deficit to 41-38. And after two missed free throws from Boise sophomore Maizy Kluksdal, Colvin sank a game-tying triple to send the contest to overtime.

Boise and Coeur d’Alene could only find two points each before heading to a second overtime, where Colvin drove to the basket and extended Coeur d’Alene’s lead to 47-46 with 90 seconds remaining.

Howell had the chance to respond, but three straight misses in the paint gave the possession back to the Vikings. That resulted in a foul from Boise junior Sophia Clark, helping Colvin knock down a pair of free throws for a 49-46 lead.

Boise and Coeur d’Alene traded baskets inside the final minute before the Brave settled for a two-pointer from forward Kaity Haan in the last second. Colvin proceeded to chuck the basketball high into the sky on the final inbounds pass, sending the Vikings to their first state title game since 2014.

“It was a fun game,” Coeur d’Alene coach Nicole Symons said. “These girls always keep it interesting for us. (Assistant coach Chris Colvin) said, ‘We’re the best closing team in the state.’ We get ourselves in predicaments, and we figure out a way (to win).”

The District One-Two champions had few predicaments early on. A sky-hook from senior forward Madison Symons gave the Vikings a 13-8 lead midway through the second quarter. And a steal and triple from Colvin had Coeur d’Alene ahead 20-16 at the half.

Howell and Haan scored all 16 points for Boise in the first half, with all other Brave players shooting 0-for-5.

Avery Patricco broke the streak in the third quarter, using a left-handed layup to put Boise in front 23-22 with 5:05 left in the quarter.

Neither side led by more than three points until Howell’s free throws with 50 seconds remaining in regulation, setting up Colvin’s heroics and the double-overtime thriller.

“(Teagan) is a gamer,” Nicole Symons said. “When the game is on the line, she wants the ball in her hands. She’s a true point guard. She understands pace, she understands when to push and when to pull it back. She’s invaluable.”

Wyoming signee Madison Symons provided 12 points, eight rebounds and a block for the Vikings.

Howell led the Brave with 25 points and 24 rebounds, securing her 17th double-double of the season. Haan added 21 points. They combined for 46 of Boise’s 50 points.

The Brave will head to the third-place game to take on No. 6 Timberline (21-6) at noon Saturday at Ridgevue.

This story was originally published February 17, 2023 at 7:44 PM.