Powerhouse program upset in 3A title game after dramatic season; Vander Esch record falls
Fruitland’s storybook season ended with a loss Saturday.
The top-ranked Grizzlies overcame off-the-court drama and injuries worthy of a Hollywood movie. But they couldn’t overcome an off shooting night and the tight defense of Sugar-Salem, falling 57-47 in the 3A state championship game at the Ford Idaho Center.
Fruitland (21-5) entered the season as the defending state champ and only graduated one senior from last year’s team. But the school suspended head coach Mike Fitch, who was entering his 20th season, after the first week of practice.
Prosecutors charged the Fruitland High principal with three misdemeanors last week for the alleged sexual assault and harassment of a school employee. But the whispers and rumors swirling around Fruitland never affected the Grizzlies on the court.
“I couldn’t be more proud of this team,” Fruitland senior forward Jake O’Neil said. “We fought through everything and did the best we could. To not come out on top sucks. But in five years, 10 years, we’re just going to remember these memories and how fun this group was and how hard-working we were.
“This loss doesn’t define us.”
Fruitland started the game 1-of-11 from the field and never could find its shooting touch. Sugar-Salem (18-9) held Fruitland to 34 percent shooting from the floor and 17 points below its season average, which led the 3A classification at 64.6 points per game.
Fruitland rolled through the opening two rounds of the 3A state tournament shooting 50 percent in the confines at Meridian High. But the hot hand didn’t translate to the Idaho Center.
“They are a totally different defensive team than any we’ve seen,” O’Neil said. “They were really up in you. They were really aggressive, unlike the first two teams we played. Hats off to them.”
The win earned Sugar-Salem its second title in the past three years, and it allowed the Diggers to complete a sweep of winter state championships. Sugar-Salem won titles in boys basketball, girls basketball and wrestling, the second Idaho school to accomplish the feat. The last was Meridian in 1983, according to the (Idaho Falls) Post Register.
No. 5-ranked Sugar-Salem also won state titles in football and boys and girls cross country this school year, and it finished second in volleyball and girls soccer.
Sugar-Salem coach Shawn Freeman said he didn’t want to become the one to break the Diggers’ winning streak. But his team put any nerves to rest as the upset-minded Diggers never trailed Saturday.
“I’m pretty nervous by nature, but I felt comfortable because our kids are playing at a different level,” Freeman said. “I felt comfortable because I don’t think anyone has seen a defense like ours when we’re functioning on all cylinders.”
Gerohm Rihari led a balanced Sugar-Salem lineup with 12 points. Kyler Handy added 11 points and seven rebounds, and Hadley Miller finished with eight points.
O’Neil paced Fruitland with 11 points, and Cole Eiguren chipped in 10 points and six assists. But both fouled out as Fruitland tried to extend the game at the free-throw line.
“We are all still really proud of the season we had,” Eiguren said. “I wouldn’t trade a trophy for any of the relationships I’ve built throughout the season or the experiences we got to have.”
1A Division II: Vander Esch record falls
Covy Kelly broke a Leighton Vander Esch record Saturday in the 1A Division II boys basketball state championship game, but the record wasn’t enough for Garden Valley, which fell short against Lighthouse Christian, 83-74.
Kelly, who is a sophomore, scored 38 points in the loss, breaking the classification’s record for most points scored in a tournament game. The record was 37, which was set by Vander Esch in 2014 — before the Salmon River product went on to star for the Boise State and Dallas Cowboys football teams. Kelly scored 90 points over the three-day tournament, falling three points short of another Vander Esch record for most points scored in a state tournament.
Garden Valley graduates one senior and returns seven sophomores next season as it continues it search for its first state title.
“I asked them just now, ‘How many of you guys thought you would be playing today?’ and there wasn’t a hand that was up,” Garden Valley first-year coach Joel Lafleur said. “Teams talk about going to state, but when the rubber meets the road, deep down, that belief inside themselves, we built on it early in the year.”
The state championship for Lighthouse Christian, the first in school history, concludes a historic season. The Lions are the first team in the 1A Division II classification to cap a perfect season (26-0) with a state title. Earlier in the year, Lighthouse won its first district title while playing in its first district championship game, and this weekend was the Lions’ first state tournament appearance in school history.
The 83 points scored by Lighthouse was four points shy of Dietrich’s 87-point record for most points scored in a state tournament game.
The difference in the game, according to Lafleur, was on the glass. The Lions outrebounded the Wolverines 49-26. Casper Block finished with 24 points and 15 rebounds, his second double-double of the state tournament, while sinking 14 of his 15 free throws. Tyler Munsee scored 19 points, Alex Shetler scored 14 and Collin Holloway finished with 11.
Kelly, who scored more than half of Garden Valley’s points, knocked down 15 of his 33 shots and finished with 10 rebounds. Joaquin Fuhriman finished with 11 points and was 3-of-4 from behind the arc. Devin Yearsdley had eight points and Corban Field had seven.
Neither team started a senior on Saturday.
“We didn’t quite have enough today, but the kids will be back,” Lafleur said. “We will be back. I told them not to hang their heads.”
4A: IDAHO FALLS KNOCKS OFF THREE-TIME CHAMP
Idaho Falls entered the state tournament with few, if any, outside expectations. But the Tigers (20-5) upset three-time state champ Preston 66-57 in overtime to win its first state title since 1988 and 11th overall.
It was also Idaho Falls’ first tournament trophy of any kind since 1999.
“We wanted this matchup,” Idaho Falls senior guard Kalvin Bowen said. “We knew we could dethrone them.”
Preston (24-3) trailed the entire second half and fell down by as many as nine points in the third quarter. But the Indians rallied to force overtime.
Bowen iced the game from there, scoring 11 of his game-high 23 points in overtime. Bowen got to the rim at will, sinking 13-of-17 free throws, including 8-of-10 in overtime. He also set a 4A state tournament record by making 28 free throws.
Idaho Falls dominated the boards, outrebounding Preston 43-24. Paul Wilson, a 6-10 senior, led the way inside with 14 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Braxton Ball, a 6-6 senior, added eight points and 12 rebounds.
2A: North Fremont wins in OT
North Fremont outscored St. Maries 10-2 in overtime for a 45-37 victory and its first state title. Garrett Hawkes scored 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting to cap a terrific tournament performance (75 points in three games). Blake Oberhansley added 10 points for the Huskies (20-6). Dan Howard scored 12 points for St. Maries.
1A Division I: Prairie wins with balance
Prairie placed four players in double figures in scoring to top Potlatch 59-51 in the 1A Division I championship game. Spencer Schumacher (16 points), Devin Ross (12), Damian Forsmann (11) and Sam Mager (10) gave the Pirates (22-7) impressive offensive diversity, and Schumacher added 11 rebounds. Connor Akins (16 points) and Brayden Hadaller (15) paced Potlatch.
Consolation games
▪ Rocky Mountain 64, Mountain View 49: Cooper Frith scored 20 points as Rocky won the 5A consolation trophy. Austin Smart scored 19 for Mountain View.
▪ Century 70, Vallivue 59: Max Rogers scored a 44 points for Century in the 4A third-place game. He was 19-for-24 from the field and also grabbed 12 rebounds, breaking the 4A tournament record for points in a game. Jayden Moran scored 21 for Vallivue.
▪ Twin Falls 74, Columbia 54: Mitchell Brizee scored 22 points and snagged 16 rebounds as Twin Falls won the 4A consolation bracket. Jaylen Alexander scored 16 for Columbia.
▪ Parma 47, Kellogg 43: The Panthers overcame a three-point deficit at the end of the third quarter to win the 3A consolation trophy. Braydon Jensen scored 18 points. Brennen Atkins scored 12 for Kellogg.
▪ Bear Lake 38, Marsing 31: Bear Lake shut out Marsing in the fourth quarter to win the 2A consolation trophy. Zack Peterson scored 13 points for Bear Lake. Enrique Quebrado scored 15 for Marsing.
▪ Ririe 80, Cole Valley Christian 65: Ririe got at least 19 points from three players, topped by Michael Ure’s 22, to win the 2A third-place trophy. Ricky Golenor scored 22 for Cole Valley.
▪ Ambrose 41, Liberty Charter 36: Ben Blythe scored 13 points to lead Ambrose to the 1A Division I consolation trophy. Cole Hinnenkamp scored 15 for Liberty Charter.
▪ Salmon River 65, Rockland 63: Randy McClure scored 28 points as Salmon River claimed the 1A Division II consolation trophy. Caleb Norwood scored 30 for Rockland.
This story was originally published March 2, 2019 at 5:23 PM.
