Prep basketball recap: Parma cruises to district title. Borah, Owyhee clinch state berths
Melba’s girls basketball team scored the opening basket of the 3A District Three Tournament championship game Tuesday night. But it was all Parma the rest of the way.
The No. 2-ranked Panthers pounded No. 3-ranked Melba 51-21, triggering the running clock mercy rule before cutting down the nets in Parma’s first season back in the 3A Western Idaho Conference.
Parma took control of the game early with its 3A-leading defense and responded to Melba’s early bucket with a 19-0 run. The Panthers (20-2) forced 24 turnovers through the first three quarters alone and led by 14 or more points the rest of the way.
“We’ve played this way for so long, and as long as we don’t turn the ball over, we’re really dangerous in that style of play,” Parma coach Michael Calkins said. “It’s fun. It’s fun to coach. It’s fun to watch. And the girls love playing that style of basketball.”
[Related: 6A to 1A girls basketball district brackets, scoreboard]
Melba (17-5) never found an answer for Parma’s stifling defense as the Panthers pressured the ball in the backcourt, lived in the passing lanes and pushed the Mustangs deep outside the 3-point line with their trademark 1-2-2 zone.
Parma held Melba scoreless for stretches of 8 minutes, 6:29 and 3:06 before triggering the 30-point mercy rule early in the fourth quarter for its seventh district championship in the past nine years.
Melba’s 21 points marked its lowest scoring total since it finished with 15 in a loss to Parma in December, and the 30-point victory was the largest blowout in a District Three championship game in any classification since 2011, when Notus beat Greenleaf 49-14.
“We just work so hard, we talk and we fly around,” said Parma senior Rylie Calkins, a four-year starter. “We’re a defensive team, and our defense pushes our offense.”
Meanwhile, junior forward Aarey Harris led Parma on the offensive end of the floor, finishing with a game-high 20 points while adding six rebounds. She controlled the paint on both ends but dominated the offensive boards, scoring six points on putbacks during the Panthers’ 19-0 run in the first quarter.
“She played phenomenal,” Michael Calkins said. “She has grown so much in the last two years. She went from being a player that we could count on for five to eight points and six rebounds. Now she’s averaging a double-double this season.
“She has grown so much and played great all season. She just showed how good of a basketball player she is tonight.”
Parma’s Rylie Calkins added 10 points and eight rebounds, and Kaidance Kaiser racked up nine rebounds and seven steals. Melba’s Darby Lowber led her team with 10 points
Both teams already clinched their state tournament berths for a ninth straight year before Tuesday’s district championship. The state won’t officially release its seeds until Sunday. Melba must wait to see if it holds onto the No. 3 seed in the MaxPreps rankings. But Parma all but clinched the second seed with the blowout win.
Parma has never won a state title, making its only finals appearance in 2019. But Rylie Calkins said this might be the Panthers’ year.
“We’ve been playing as a team since we were in, like, third grade,” Rylie Calkins said. “We’ve been waiting for our moment and to make it to Idaho Center Boulevard.
“We’re ready to go win a state championship.”
TUESDAY’S GAME BALLS
Schools are encouraged to submit scores and stats nightly by emailing sports@idahostatesman.com.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Kya Davis, Borah: Racked up 21 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals as the Lions clinched a 6A state tournament berth with a 56-52 win over Timberline.
Aarey Harris, Parma: Scored a game-high 20 points on 8-for-14 shooting and added six rebounds in a 51-21 blowout of Melba in the 3A District Three Tournament championship.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Bryant Bigelow, Eagle: Sank 6-of-10 field goals to finish with 17 points and five assists in a 63-55 win over Ridgevue.
Landon Starnes, Mountain View: Made his presence felt all over the box score with 16 points, five assists and three steals in a 69-53 victory against Borah.
Xander Wilson, Vallivue: Recorded a double-double of 13 points and 13 rebounds as the Falcons upset No. 4-ranked Middleton 61-46.
BOISE, IDAHO, HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL SCORES
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Borah 56, Timberline 52
Owyhee 54, Capital 38
Cole Valley Christian 49, Payette 30
New Plymouth 55, Marsing 40
Parma 51, Melba 21
Council 48, Vision Charter 32
Garden Valley 60, Greenleaf 9
Cascade 38, Horseshoe Bend 26
BOYS BASKETBALL
Meridian 66, Boise 46
Eagle 63, Ridgevue 55
Mountain View 69, Borah 53
Bishop Kelly 67, Nampa 34
Owyhee 73, Rocky Mountain 42
Vallivue 61, Middleton 46
Columbia 63, Emmett 45
Skyview 95, Caldwell 47
Victory Charter 52, Compass Charter 44
Notus 72, Gem State 50
This story was originally published February 11, 2025 at 11:24 PM.
