‘We’re not done.’ Owyhee rolls to another basketball state title. It may not be the last
The juggernaut kept rolling Saturday.
Owyhee routed Timberline 57-36 in the 5A boys basketball state championship game Saturday at the Ford Idaho Center, capturing a second title for the third-year program.
But the Storm (24-3) didn’t merely earn another championship. Owyhee bullied its way through the tournament to cap off a season for the history books. And with only one senior, don’t expect this team to cool off anytime soon.
“We’re not done,” Owyhee junior Boden Howell said. “This program isn’t going anywhere.”
Top-seeded Owyhee (23-4) built a super team this season, returning all five starters from a year ago before adding sophomore point guard Logan Haustveit, a first-team all-state selection, and Howell, a prolific scorer from Oregon.
All that talent showed as the Storm finished the season 21-0 against Idaho teams, beating their in-state opponents by 27.7 points per game. Owyhee’s only losses came to teams from California, including two of the state’s best in its open division.
But all that talent also forced sacrifice. There’s just one ball on the floor. So decorated players who starred elsewhere had to accept lesser roles, or risk implosion.
The Storm found a formula. And the rest of Idaho could only sit back in amazement.
“We had guys that started every game last year that didn’t start this year,” Owyhee coach Andy Harrington said. “We had guys that were scoring 25, 30, 40 (points). We had guys scoring 50 last year. We had guys that were a pain in the butt for Owyhee to guard down there.
“All these guys sacrificed. It’s the most unselfish team I’ve ever coached, the best team I’ve ever coached. But 100%, these guys all bought into their roles, and the future is very bright.”
No. 3 Timberline (22-5) threatened to turn the tables early in its third shot at the Storm this year. Bryce Elder banked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer to force a 15-15 tie to end the first quarter, and the Wolves succeeded in slowing the game down to their favored pace.
But it was all Owyhee the rest of the way.
The Storm held Timberline to two points in the second quarter, and the Wolves could muster only a single field goal in the second and third quarters combined as Owyhee pulled away.
“I think that everyone gets caught up in all the flash with the amount of points we score,” Harrington said. “These three guys can make some crazy, crazy shots. But defense travels, and defense wins. And they’ve bought into that all year.”
Owyhee junior Jackson Rasmussen recorded his second straight double-double Saturday, posting 13 points and 10 rebounds. Howell added 11 points, and Haustveit chipped in 10.
USC signee Liam Campbell capped his high school career with eight points and seven rebounds while shooting 4-for-12 from the field. But the Storm’s deep roster allowed him to exit the program with another championship ring.
“This isn’t a one-man sport,” Campbell said. “It’s a team sport. So it’s great to see guys step up, especially when I’m not shooting the best, playing the best. That’s what is just so special about our team. We just have so much more depth.”
Harrington credited Campbell for setting the sky-high standard for the Storm’s fledgling program. His fingerprints remain on every victory and every trophy Owyhee has captured so far. And his impact will remain long after he puts on a USC uniform.
“He is a very special player, on and off the court,” Harrington said. “His demeanor in the gym, his laser sharp focus, is something I’ve never seen before. The dude is just locked in all the time. He takes every rep like it’s the NBA Finals.
“When your best player and the face of your program is so easy to coach, everyone has to fall in line.”
TIMBERLINE FINISHES SECOND
The loss wrapped up Timberline’s best season in decades. The Wolves reached the state finals for the second time in program history and the first time since 2000. They also tied the program’s single-season record for wins (22) set in 2002-03.
“Our guys are hurting,” Timberline coach Travis Noble said. “I told them the sun will come up tomorrow. We’ll look back at some point and this will be a very special season. There’s not very many teams playing today.”
Reece Elder led the Wolves with nine points. Alex Ko added seven points, and Bryce Heinz had six points and nine rebounds.
4A STATE TOURNAMENT
POCATELLO 73, HILLCREST 67: Julian Bowie laid writhing on the ground and let out a blood-curdling scream just before halftime. But the Boise State signee returned after the break and scored 16 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter to carry the Thunder (22-5) to their first state title since 2000.
Bowie hurt his hip after soaring over Hillcrest’s Isaac Davis on a pump fake and hitting the hardwood. He said he felt a shooting pain through his legs for 10 seconds. Like everyone else in the arena, he was worried his night was over.
“The first three minutes, I thought I was done,” Bowie said. “I couldn’t walk at all. I couldn’t do anything. But then I got back to the locker room and my trainer — shout-out to Bryce — he numbed it up with a Cortisone patch, and it felt a little bit better.
“I just battled through it.”
Bowie tried to work his hip loose on the sideline through much of the third quarter. But even with a hobbled leg, he took over the final eight minutes.
He drained a 3-pointer with 6:38 left for his first points of the half, giving Pocatello a 55-53 lead. The Thunder never trailed again as he sank 9-of-9 free throws and 3-of-4 field goals. His only miss came on a 40-foot heave as Pocatello ran out the clock, and he finished his final high school game with 20 points, 12 rebounds and four assists.
“The kid, he’s a stud,” Hillcrest coach Dave Austin said. “He is who he is. He loves the game, and he’s gonna give it everything that he’s got.
“... He’s got a heart of gold.”
Senior Drey Contreras led Pocatello with 22 points, and Kesler Vaughan added 18 points as the Thunder avenged losses to Hillcrest in each of the past two championship games.
Davis, a BYU signee, carried Hillcrest (19-7) with 23 points and 13 rebounds, and Ike Sutton added 18 points.
BISHOP KELLY 59, RIDGEVUE 45: The Knights forced 22 turnovers and pulled away from a tight game in the fourth quarter to end their season with the third-place trophy.
Four Bishop Kelly (20-6) players finished in double figures. Will Green led the way, scoring 16 points and shooting 6-for-7. Rakeem Johnson had 13 points and nine rebounds. Owen Kane added 10 points and five steals, and Mason Suboh-Meuret also scored 10 points as the Knights avenged a loss to Ridgevue in the district finals a week ago.
Tucker Tiddens recorded a double-double of 16 points and 13 rebounds for Ridgevue, which finished 16-9 for the first winning season in program history.
3A STATE TOURNAMENT
BONNERS FERRY 54, TETON 47: The Badgers made a late run in the fourth quarter to hold on for the first state championship in program history.
Bonners Ferry (22-3) brought home the hardware despite an off game from junior Asher Williams, the reigning 3A All-Idaho Player of the Year. Williams battled foul trouble all afternoon and still led the Badgers with 15 points. But Brody Rice added 11 points, Thomas Bateman chipped in nine points and seven rebounds, and Trey Bateman finished with six points and nine rebounds as the Badgers showcased their depth.
Tyson Brown nearly willed Teton (18-8) to its first 3A title, erupting for a game-high 27 points on 12-for-15 shooting. But after digging out of a 10-point deficit in the third quarter, the Timberwolves ran out of gas.
This story was originally published March 2, 2024 at 11:30 PM.
