Agree or disagree? These six teams are ready to win Idaho girls basketball state titles
Forty-eight teams qualified for the Idaho high school girls basketball state tournaments. But only six will be left holding championship trophies Saturday at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa.
We broke down the favorites, contenders and dark horses in all six classifications.
[Related: Scouting reports on all 48 teams | State tournament brackets, scores]
6A STATE TOURNAMENT
THE FAVORITE: Owyhee (22-2) lost in the 6A District Three Tournament semifinals — its only loss to an Idaho team this season — but that may prove to be all the motivation the Storm need to refocus for a title run.
The Storm feed off their state-leading defense (35.9 ppg), which helped them go wire-to-wire as the No. 1-ranked team in the media poll. They have a balanced attack, with four players averaging 8 or more points, and return four starters from last year’s state consolation-winning team.
THE CONTENDER: Boise (21-3) has been one of the most consistent programs in recent years, becoming the 6A District Three’s first four-time champion in 29 years when it beat Eagle for the title last week.
The Brave enter state on a 12-game winning streak and have finished hoisting the third-place trophy each of the past two seasons. They’ve also qualified for state eight years in a row, which is the longest active streak in 6A.
THE DARK HORSE: Eagle (19-5) is the only Idaho team that can claim a win over top-seeded Owyhee this season, beating the Storm 50-46 in the district semifinals.
But the Mustangs will need to be at their best, which means consistently sinking 3-pointers. Eagle attempts 20.5 3-pointers per game, making six to shoot 29 percent as a team. When the Mustangs defeated Owyhee, they went 8-for-19 from deep (42.1 percent), and sophomore standout Berkley Jones knocked down 5-of-8 for a team-leading 22 points.
5A STATE TOURNAMENT
THE FAVORITE: Middleton (23-1) may have received the No. 3 seed, according to the MaxPreps rankings, but the Vikings have been No. 1 in the state media poll six straight weeks and enter on a 19-game winning streak.
Middleton’s only loss this season came at the hands of Owyhee, the No. 1 team in 6A, and the Vikings have also beaten 6A qualifiers Madison, Eagle and Boise. They boast the classification’s top scoring offense (69 ppg) and defense (26.4 ppg). Their guard-heavy lineup is quick in transition and can turn over teams with ease.
THE CONTENDER: Pocatello (21-2) is the favorite, according to the computer rankings, and the Thunder rank just behind Middleton in scoring offense (59 ppg) and defense (26.4).
The Thunder are headlined by a pair of Division I recruits in junior forward Abby Lusk (15.8 ppg, 7.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists) and senior forward Kenna Garza (14.5 ppg, 9.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists), a Boise State signee. Pocatello finished third at state last season, and its only losses have come to 6A qualifier Eagle and Westlake, which is among the top teams in Utah.
THE DARK HORSE: Mountain Home (19-4) hasn’t had success at state in a long time, last winning a first-round game in 2002. But the Tigers ended a district championship drought this season and enter state on a nine-game winning streak. Mountain Home has just two seniors and is led by sophomore guard Lexi Longhurst, who averages 17 points, 3.6 assists and 3.9 steals per game. The Tigers are also 4-0 against the tournament field, including wins over Jerome and Bishop Kelly.
4A STATE TOURNAMENT
THE FAVORITE: It’s hard to argue with perfection, and both the media and computer rankings agree unbeaten Sugar-Salem (23-0) is the team to beat. Sugar also owns eight state championships.
The Diggers are winning by an average of nearly 25 points and have the top scoring offense in the classification at 58.5 points per game. They’re balanced, with three players averaging double-digit scoring — senior Nika Nead (14.4 ppg, 6.3 rebounds), sophomore Andee Petterson (10.2 ppg, 7.2 assists) and senior Ashlyn Harris (11.5 ppg, 6.4 rebounds).
THE CONTENDER: Bear Lake (20-3) broke through last season for its first state championship in 25 years and just posted back-to-back district titles for the first time in program history. The Bears are on the opposite side of the bracket as Sugar-Salem, a team they lost to twice this season, which could set up a tricky third meeting in the title game. Bear Lake has the No. 2 scoring offense (56.3) and defense (32.9) in the classification.
THE DARK HORSE: Timberlake (19-3) has a wealth of tournament experience, qualifying for state for the 14th time in the last 17 seasons. The Tigers have won four championships, their most recent in 2021, and placed third in the 3A bracket a year ago. They’ve made the state finals nine times in the past 14 years.
3A STATE TOURNAMENT
THE FAVORITE: Although Malad (22-1) qualified for state for the first time in six years, the Dragons were the wire-to-wire No. 1 team in the state media poll. They’ve posted 22 straight wins, and their only loss this season came against 4A state qualifier Bear Lake, which the Dragons later avenged. Malad has the second-best offense (55.9 ppg) and defense (33.0 ppg) in the classification.
THE CONTENDER: With a record of 6-1 against 3A state qualifiers, District Three champion Parma could have the best shot at unseating Malad. The Dragons beat the Panthers 56-40 at Malad way back on Nov. 23. Since then, Parma’s only loss is to 5A qualifier Bishop Kelly.
The Panthers are at state for the ninth straight season and boast the classification’s stingiest defense at 30.2 points per game. They’ve also got a balanced roster, with three players averaging double-figure scoring — senior guard Rylie Calkins (15.5 ppg, 7.9 rebounds, 3.8 steals), senior guard Kaidance Kaiser (13.8 ppg, 5.1 rebounds, 7.1 steals) and junior guard Aarey Harris (11.8 ppg, 9.1 rebounds).
THE DARK HORSE: District 1-2 champion Grangeville (16-6) qualified for state for the seventh year in a row, and the Bulldogs have eight state championships in program history. At 57.1 points per game, Grangeville has the top scoring offense in the classification.
2A STATE TOURNAMENT
THE FAVORITE: Oakley (21-1) started the season 19-0 before losing 60-57 to Valley on Jan. 29. The Hornets avenged that loss two weeks later in the district championship game to earn top billing heading into state. Oakley was a state runner-up in 2023 and lost in the third-place game a year ago. Many of the girls on the team helped the volleyball program to a runner-up finish at state in the fall.
THE CONTENDER: Prairie (20-2) proved it is a contender by ending Lapwai’s run of 12 consecutive district titles. The Pirates took third at state last season and have nine state titles in program history. Prairie owns the classification’s No. 1 scoring offense (65.1 ppg).
THE DARK HORSE: Valley (19-5) is the only team that can claim a win over top-seeded Oakley.
The Vikings also have the second-best offense in the classification at 61 points per game.
1A STATE TOURNAMENT
THE FAVORITE: Genesee (20-1) has won 10 straight games since a 63-52 loss to 2A qualifier Lapwai on Jan. 14. The Bulldogs average 59 points per game, which is No. 1 in the classification. They also ended a pair of droughts, winning their first district title in 21 years and advancing to state for the first time in five seasons.
THE CONTENDER: Rockland (18-5) spent the first half of the season ranked No. 1 in the state media poll. Behind a classification-leading defense (26.4 ppg), the Bulldogs qualified for state for the seventh year in a row. They have won eight of their past nine games and took home the consolation trophy a year ago.
THE DARK HORSE: Salmon River (16-6) is hitting its stride at the perfect time, avenging two regular-season losses to Tri-Valley with a victory in the district championship game to qualify for state. Junior guard Rylee Walters is one of four returning starters after earning second-team All-Idaho honors last season. She averages a team-best 20.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 6.0 steals and 1.4 blocks per game.
This story was originally published February 19, 2025 at 2:49 PM.
