Five Boise-area teams battle back for trophies in Idaho girls basketball state tournament
Saturday marked an odd day for Treasure Valley girls basketball.
No District Three team made the state championship round for the first time since 1995. But five teams still left the tournament with hardware, battling back and ending their seasons with victories in the third-place games and consolation bracket finals.
[Related: State tournament scores, brackets]
HOWELL POWERS BOISE TO THIRD PLACE
One of the most decorated high school careers in Idaho basketball came to a close Saturday. And Avery Howell put on one last show.
The second McDonald’s All-American in state history racked up 30 points and 11 rebounds to lead Boise to a 53-48 win over Rigby in the 5A third-place game at Bishop Kelly.
The USC signee shot 8-for-13 from the floor en route to her 18th double-double of the season for top-seeded Boise (24-2). She finished with 86 points at the state tournament, one shy of the 5A tournament record set by Mountain View’s Naya Ojukwu in 2021.
“We’ve had a lot of great players come through our program,” Boise coach Kim Brydges said. “She’s definitely one of the greatest, if not the greatest.”
Boise suffered a heartbreaking loss to Coeur d’Alene in the semifinals for the second straight year. But Howell said the Brave weren’t willing to give up Saturday.
“It’s a matter of one team is going to end up waving the white flag,” Howell said. “Having me and Sophia (Clark) as captains, we were not even allowing that to be a thought in anyone’s head.
“This game is mainly about pride, and that’s what Boise High has.”
Boise junior guard Avery Patricco added nine points and six assists, and junior forward Kaity Haan chipped in five points and five rebounds.
Boise never won a state title in Howell’s four seasons. It did win a state tournament trophy each year, including back-to-back third-place finishes. But she’ll leave a larger impact at Boise than any trophy can capture.
“It’s just the work ethic, the discipline and the accountability,” Brydges said. “Those are things that I think sometimes today’s generation, and the teenage generation, is lacking.
“She’s willing to do those things for our end goal. It’s not just for selfishness and her skill level. She wanted to do every single thing. She left all sorts of things out there on the floor, including blood, sweat and tears. She gave her all.”
Sophomore Kinzley Larsen led Rigby (23-4) with 18 points, and BYU signee Kambree Barber added 13 points.
OWYHEE WINS FIRST STATE TROPHY
The Storm mounted a 14-2 run in the third quarter, turning a three-point halftime deficit into an insurmountable lead and a 43-37 victory in the 5A consolation final at Bishop Kelly.
The come-from-behind win earned Owyhee (18-9) the first state tournament trophy in program history. The Storm lost in a state play-in game two years ago — its inaugural season — and fell in the consolation final last year.
“There is a progression there,” Owyhee coach Jordan Ax said. “There’s growth. I’m super excited.”
Owyhee junior Riley Beck scored a game-high 16 points on 7-for-10 shooting. Junior point guard Josie Davis added 11 points. And Sydnie Rordiguez, the lone senior who played Saturday, finished with 10 points.
Ax credited his team for the way it responded after a first-round loss to Rigby.
“Everything was just put on their shoulders,” Ax said. “That’s what tournament time is about. Coaches have very little say. It’s all about the players.”
Rocky Mountain junior Logan Sailors led the Grizzlies (18-8) with 15 points, and senior center Anna DaBell added 11 points and eight rebounds.
BISHOP KELLY WINS 4A CONSOLATION
The Knights (20-5) brought home a trophy for the second straight year, topping Jerome 58-40 for the 4A consolation title at Timberline.
Bishop Kelly senior center Addy Labile recorded her second straight double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Brooke Hutchingson added 15 points, and Keira Lizama chipped in 10 points.
Bishop Kelly outrebounded Jerome 38-28 and outscored the Tigers 33-20 in the second half.
COLE VALLEY FINISHES THIRD
The Chargers (19-7) bounced back from a horrendous shooting night in the semifinals to take down top-seeded Grangeville 49-38 in the 2A third-place game at Kuna.
Hadley Fraas capped her career with 15 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 7-for-15 from the floor. Sophomore point guard Trinity Holsinger added 14 points and three assists, and Tessa Orcutt and Natalie Wetzel each added six points.
MELBA CAPTURES 2A TROPHY
Last year’s state champs earned some more hardware Saturday, edging Soda Springs 50-45 in the 2A consolation final at Kuna.
Melba (18-7) drained 7-of-15 3-pointers to stave off the Cardinals. Ellie Johnson led the barrage, sinking 5-of-10 3-pointers and scoring a game-high 17 points. Tariah Carter added 14 points, and Brooklynn Dayley scored 11 points.
This story was originally published February 17, 2024 at 4:52 PM.
