This one’s for grandma. Senior star leads Melba to 2A state basketball championship
Melba senior Joe Reiber couldn’t help but give in to all the emotion.
In the final game of his high school career Saturday, Reiber led the Mustangs past St. Maries in the 2A boys basketball state championship game at the Ford Idaho Center, securing Melba (24-2) its first title since 2011.
It might have meant more to Reiber, who scored 22 points in the 59-50 victory, than anyone else. Two days after the season began, Reiber’s grandmother, Donita Olsen, passed away. To honor her, Reiber said he made it his mission to end the season with the blue Idaho trophy.
“I told myself that I’d get it for (her),” Reiber said. “It feels really good to finally get it, and I know she’s watching.”
Reiber’s outstanding game, which included seven rebounds and two steals, came as no surprise. The reigning 2A WIC Player of the Year guided the No. 4 seed to a 15-game winning streak to finish the season.
“We knew he was special and could step up,” Melba coach Spencer Trappett said. “He’s been on varsity for four years and he’s a special player. He’s a player that’s gotten better each and every year.”
The Lumberjacks (20-4), the No. 3 seed, had an early second-quarter lead after a 3-pointer by junior guard Greyson Sands. But a deep triple from the Mustangs’ Kaden Dayley put Melba on top, and St. Maries would not see the lead again. A steal by Reiber turned into a drive down the court and a euro-step for a score that gave the Mustangs momentum, and they were on their way.
While Reiber generated the Melba offense, sophomore post Cache Beus provided the defense. Late in the third quarter, a St. Maries drive ended with Beus ripping the ball away, the fourth of his game-high six steals. He set up a score by sophomore guard Tucker Lowber to extend Melba’s lead to 15.
“Cache is a monster,” Reiber said. “There’s nobody like him, and you can always count on him.”
Beus finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds, while junior guard Braden Volkers added 14 points for the champs.
“One of the quotes that I came up with is that you’re only as good as the current game you’re playing,” Trappett said. “That helps us focus on just the game that we’re playing, and that helped out a ton.”
A 12-3 run by St. Maries cut Melba’s lead to seven, but there was less than a minute left in regulation by that point. Volkers hit key free throws to stop the rally and give Melba its second state title in program history.
Reiber couldn’t hold on to the trophy long enough. The state title run, after he dedicated the season to his grandma, left him feeling amazing, he said.
“It’s unreal ending my career like this,” Reiber said. “I’ve always wanted to do it, and we had the team to do it. And this year we did it.”
North Fremont 63, West Side 50: The top-seeded Huskies salvaged their trip to state with a 63-50 win in the third-place game. Two-time 2A All-Idaho Player of the Year Jordan Lenz had 23 points, seven rebounds and six assists for North Fremont (22-3).
Bear Lake 46, Ambrose 37: The Bears (14-13) held Ambrose to 30% shooting from the floor to win the consolation trophy. Hudson Hughes scored 14 points to lead Ambrose (21-6).
1A DIVISION I STATE TOURNAMENT
LAPWAI CAPS UNDEFEATED SEASON: The Wildcats (27-0) put on another show Saturday, crushing Whitepine League rival Kamiah 88-46 to finish a perfect season, repeat as state champions and bring home the 12th title in program history.
Only Borah, with 13, has won more boys basketball championships in Idaho history.
Idaho signee Titus Yearout capped his career with 21 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals. He topped 2,000 career points in Thursday’s first-round win.
Teammate Kase Wynott scored a game-high 30 points, and Kross Taylor added 20 points as Lapwai finished 34-for-53 (64%) from the floor. David Kludt led Kamiah (20-7) with 11 points.
RIMROCK GETS TROPHY: The Raiders shot 56% from the floor to top Oakley 51-38 in the consolation final. Gus Black led Rimrock (19-5) with 15 points. Ronaldo Gomez added 11 points and nine rebounds, and Aden Aquiso had eight points and 14 rebounds.
Grace (20-6) edged Logos 34-33 in the third-place game.
1A DIVISION II STATE TOURNAMENT
ROCKLAND WINS FIRST TITLE: Brigham Permann drained a pair of free throws with 8 seconds left to break a tie and lift the Bulldogs (23-3) to a 53-51 win over Camas County and the first state championship in program history.
The free throws capped a 22-point morning for the junior guard, and sophomore Teague Matthews added a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds. Senior Breken Clarke led Camas County (22-4) with 23 points and 11 rebounds.
COUNCIL TAKES THIRD: After dropping its first game to a 1A Division II opponent in the semifinals, the Lumberjacks bounced back to top Carey 63-55 in the third-place game.
Council (20-5) junior Porter McLinn scored 19 points, and senior Thatcher McClinn added 17 points and nine rebounds.
North Gem (19-6) won the consolation title with an 85-37 rout of Kendrick.
This story was originally published March 5, 2022 at 6:18 PM.
