Take it to the bank: Here’s who will win Idaho boys basketball state championships
The global coronavirus pandemic threatened Idaho’s winter high school sports, making its presence felt with quarantines, rescheduled games and forfeits throughout the season.
But Idaho will cap its winter season this week with its premier event — the boys basketball state tournaments — in all six classifications around the Treasure Valley.
Crowds will be smaller than in years past, and masks are required at all times in every venue to limit the spread of the virus. But six teams still will fulfill the dream of bringing home a championship banner at the end of an odd season.
I handicapped the field from 5A to 1A Division II, naming the prohibitive favorites, as well as their top threat, below.
CLASS 5A
THE FAVORITE: Meridian (17-1) hasn’t won a first-round game at state since 2003. But the Warriors went wire-to-wire as 5A’s top-ranked team thanks to an experienced lineup, and the state’s best offense (65.2 ppg) and second-toughest defense (44.3 ppg).
A talented senior class led by Browdy Rowbury, Joe Mpoyo and McKay Anderson has lifted the Warriors back from the cellar of the 5A ranks. They’ve yet to take the next step with a run at the state tournament, but this looks like the year the stars align.
THE CONTENDER: Madison (19-4) mounted a run to win the district title in the High Country Conference, which was packed with three state title contenders in the Bobcats, Rigby and Thunder Ridge.
It will try to continue that run with its trademark defense (46.3 ppg), but the Bobcats can also get out and run with anybody (61.4 ppg). A potential semifinal matchup with Meridian looms on Friday.
THE DARK HORSE: Rocky Mountain (15-3) built itself into a threat once again with an entirely new lineup. The Grizzlies didn’t return a single starter from last year, instead relying on breakout seasons from 6-8 sophomore Drew Fielder (13 ppg, 6.4 rebounds) and senior guard Blake Munk (11 ppg, 4.0 assists).
Rocky Mountain won 15 straight games before falling to Meridian in the district championship game last week. The Grizzlies could get another shot at Meridian on Saturday.
CLASS 4A
THE FAVORITE: No. 1-ranked Middleton (20-4) owns perhaps the state’s most impressive resume in any classification, going 6-0 against state qualifiers, including a sweep of district champs Lake City (5A), Preston (4A) and Fruitland (3A).
The Vikings’ size — three players over 6-6 — creates matchup problems. They field a deep backcourt. And junior Tyler Medaris (15.5 ppg, 9.8 rebounds) gives Middleton a true go-to option.
Middleton won its first 4A state tournament trophy last year, finishing third. But it has its eyes set on a bigger prize this year.
THE CONTENDER: Preston (17-7), winner of four of the past five state titles, doesn’t field a juggernaut like in recent years. But the Indians got hot at the end of the season and enter as winners of eight of their past nine games.
Preston may have nearly as many losses this year (seven) as in the past four years combined (eight), but it knows how to find its way to the Idaho Center — and how to win.
THE DARK HORSE: Bishop Kelly (16-5) boasts 4A’s second-toughest defense (44.0 ppg) and a deep roster, with five players averaging more than seven points per game.
That formula makes for a dangerous team come tournament time.
CLASS 3A
THE FAVORITE: Fruitland (16-6) doesn’t enter with the most sparkling record or a No. 1 ranking. But while the rest of Idaho’s 3A teams beat each other up all season, the Grizzlies challenged themselves against Treasure Valley 5A and 4A programs.
That strength of schedule and a deep roster led by Hyrum Lindsey (20.3 ppg, 12.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists) paid off as Fruitland won 11 straight games before state. All 11 of those wins were against 3A opponents.
THE CONTENDER: Marsh Valley (19-6) hasn’t won a state tournament trophy since 2005. But the Eagles finished the regular-season ranked No. 1, then continued their dominance over No. 3 Snake River to win the district title.
That resume and a balanced lineup make them a threat to bring home not just a trophy, but a championship banner.
THE DARK HORSE: Second-ranked Teton (18-5) returns to state for the first time in 21 years. With a potent offense (63.9 ppg), the Timberwolves dethroned two-time state champ Sugar-Salem in the district tourney and are looking to make more noise at state.
CLASS 2A
THE FAVORITE: Riding a 28-game winning streak, two-time defending state champ North Fremont (20-0) enters with possibly its most powerful team yet.
The Huskies field 2A’s top defense (39.0 ppg). Junior guard Jordan Lenz is the reigning 2A All-Idaho Player of the Year. And they’ve shown they can win all kinds of games, including those in the 60s, 50s, 40s, 30s and even the 20s.
THE CONTENDER: St. Maries (20-1) looms as a possible semifinal hurdle for North Fremont.
A perennial state qualifier, the Lumberjacks finished second in the state media poll, just behind the favorite. And their only loss this year came to 1A power Lapwai.
THE DARK HORSE: Ambrose (19-2) lost its district championship game to Melba (19-4). But the outcome benefits the Archers with an easier — at least on paper — draw on the bottom half of the bracket.
Ambrose returns four starters from its 1A Division I state title team last year, including three who average 10 or more points.
CLASS 1A DIVISION I
THE FAVORITE: Perennial power Lapwai (17-4) spent the entire season ranked No. 1 thanks to the state’s most potent offense in any classification (76.9 ppg).
Junior point guard Titus Yearout (23.8 ppg), a first-team All-Idaho pick last year, leads the way. But a host of Wildcats can catch fire at any time.
THE CONTENDER: Oakley (19-3) fell in the first round before rallying to win the consolation title last year. The Hornets look to end their tournament this year at the Idaho Center.
Oakley dominated the Twin Falls-based Snake River Conference, spending the entire season ranked No. 2 behind Lapwai.
THE DARK HORSE: Lakeside (14-4), the reigning 1A Division II champ, didn’t slow down as it moved up to Division I this year. But the Knights lost one of their top players, Darren “Day Day” Higgins, to a knee injury days before the district championship.
Can Lakeside rally and repeat for Higgins? Or will his loss be too much to overcome?
CLASS 1A DIVISION II
THE FAVORITE: Garden Valley (21-1) went wire-to-wire as the classification’s No. 1-ranked team. The Wolverines likely were already the favorite with Covy Kelly, the 1A Division II player of the year in 2019. Then they added Mountain View transfer Josh Gillespie in the offseason, building a juggernaut.
The two form a pick-your-poison duo averaging a combined 44.3 points. And the Wolverines have plenty of surrounding talent to survive an off night from either of them.
THE CONTENDER: North Gem (21-2) features the classification’s top offense (76.1 ppg). They’ve topped 100 points twice, and scored 98 in a third game.
Senior guard James Bodily set a state scoring record last year, averaging 31.3 points. He gives North Gem a player who can strap the team on his back at any given moment.
THE DARK HORSE: Dietrich (18-5) gave Garden Valley all it could handle in January, falling by five points in Garden Valley. And the Blue Devils have their own elite talent in Brady Power, the reigning 1A Division II All-Idaho football player of the year, who has more than 1,500 career points.
This story was originally published March 2, 2021 at 4:21 PM.
