Vallivue boys get blocked in semifinals; Garden Valley, Fruitland earn title shots
All that stood in Vallivue’s way for a second trip to the state championship in three years was an inspired team that hadn’t been in that spot since before any of the Falcons were born. That, and a very tall roadblock.
The matchup for the Falcons on Friday in the 4A boys basketball state semifinals was not a great one, as the Idaho Falls Tigers boasted six players 6-foot-4 or taller compared to Vallivue’s three. And only one of those three played.
Sure enough, Idaho Falls’ height was a factor all night in a 56-45 win, controlling the lane, redirecting shots and sitting inside as Vallivue’s shots did not fall.
“Our 3-point shot wasn’t falling. … We were trying to get into the inside and they have a 6-10 dude just sitting under the basket, so it was hard for us,” Vallivue senior guard Amoro Lado said.
Idaho Falls (19-5), which is headed to the state title game for the first time since 1999, had a 42-26 rebounding advantage and a 28-14 edge in paint points. Senior center Paul Wilson, that 6-10 dude, was a major factor, with 10 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and six blocks.
Not helping the cause for Vallivue (15-11) was a shooting night that would be generously considered “off.” The Falcons were 6-of-28 from 3-point range. Lado had 25 points on 7-of-24 shooting and the rest of the team was 8-of-29 from the field.
“When you can’t keep them honest by making those shots, he can continue to sit in the paint and contest all our stuff at the rim,” Vallivue coach Ryan Lundgren said.
The Tigers led from the start, scoring the game’s first 11 points. Vallivue was able to get within five at halftime, but Idaho Falls hit the first two field goals of the third quarter and kept the Falcons at arm’s length the rest of the way.
Vallivue, which beat Moscow 63-58 on Thursday, said fatigue became a factor in the second half as the team couldn’t claw back into contention. The Tigers had balance on their side, with senior guard Kalvin Bowen putting in a game-best 17 points and senior guard Cameron Conrad scoring 11 points off the bench.
Still, the Falcons’ defense was solid. They trailed 36-26 after three quarters — but shooting 21 percent up to that point was far too much to overcome.
“If you’d have told me before the game they’d have 36 points a minute into the fourth quarter, I would’ve felt pretty good we’d have won the game,” Lundgren said. “We hit a wall, couldn’t make open shots that we normally make.”
▪ Preston 65, Century 49: The three-time defending champions put all five starters in double figures, with Riley Parker and Cooper Hobson scoring 14 points each. The Indians shot 62.5 percent from the field and were 6-for-11 from behind the arc. Century was 4-for-30 from 3-point range. Deshun Harwell scored 12 points.
3A
▪ Sugar-Salem 57, Kimberly 52: Tanner Harris scored 16 points to lead the Diggers to the championship game in a semifinal that was decided in the final minute. Dawson Cummins scored 22 for Kimberly.
▪ Fruitland 58, Marsh Valley 44: The Grizzlies went on a 15-0 run and led by as many as 26 points on their way to the championship game, where they’ll face Sugar-Salem. Cole Eiguren scored 16 points and Jake O’Neil added a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Jacob McNabb scored 11 for Marsh Valley.
2A
▪ North Fremont 59, Cole Valley Christian 40: The Huskies clamped down defensively in the second half, holding the Chargers to 12 points on 28.6 percent shooting. Garrett Hawkes scored 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting for the Huskies. Dylan Krogh scored 22 points for the Chargers.
▪ St. Maries 42, Ririe 34: The Lumberjacks handed the Bulldogs their second loss of the season to reach the championship game, where they’ll take on North Fremont. Jackson Pritchard scored 13 points for St. Maries. Michael Ure countered with 15 for Ririe.
1A Division I
▪ Potlatch 45, Valley 41: The Loggers built a 12-2 lead in the first quarter and hung on the rest of the night. Brayden Hadaller scored 15 points and Connor Akins added 14 for Potlatch. Zane Mussmann scored 11 for Valley.
▪ Prairie 59, Lapwai 42: The Pirates rode a dominant first half to the championship game, where they’ll meet Potlatch. Prairie led Lapwai 28-13 at the half and put the game away with 20 fourth-quarter points. Spencer Schumacher scored 20 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. Titus Yearout scored 18 for Lapwai.
1A Division II
▪ Garden Valley 54, Logos 48: The Wolverines built a 14-point halftime lead and hung on to earn a trip to the championship game. Covy Kelly was 7-for-9 from the field for 18 points and Devin Yearsley added 15 points and seven rebounds. Isaac Blum scored 14 points for Logos. Garden Valley (21-5) will meet Lighthouse Christian (25-0) in the championship game.
▪ Lighthouse Christian 56, Genesis Prep 53: The Jaguars led by one going into the fourth quarter but the Lions were able to continue their undefeated season. Tyler Munsee scored 24 points and grabbed eight rebounds and Casper Block added 11 points and nine rebounds for Lighthouse Christian. Kon Ajang scored 23 points for Genesis Prep.
Championship schedule
(all games at Ford Idaho Center in Nampa)
9:30 a.m.: 1A Division II: Garden Valley (21-5) vs. Lighthouse Christian (25-0)
11:30 a.m.: 1A Division I: Potlatch (19-6) vs. Prairie (21-7)
1:40 p.m.: 2A: North Fremont (19-6) vs. St. Maries (19-7)
3:50 p.m.: 3A: Sugar-Salem (17-9) vs. Fruitland (21-4)
6 p.m.: 4A: Preston (24-2) vs. Idaho Falls (19-5)
8 p.m.: 5A: Madison (25-3) vs. Borah (23-3)
This story was originally published March 1, 2019 at 4:08 PM.
