Underdog no more: Capital basketball surges to 15-3. ‘We’ve put a few people on notice’
A single shooter poses a problem.
A team full of them? That creates a nightmare.
The Capital High boys basketball team tormented rival Borah behind the 3-point line all night Friday, riding a hot hand to a 73-54 home victory in the annual Griffin Cup rivalry.
The No. 5-ranked Eagles (15-3, 6-2 6A SIC) started the night sinking 11 of their first 18 shots from behind the arc, building a 24-point lead in the third quarter before eventually settling into a 12-for-29 (41%) night from long range.
That may sound like a lot. But that’s just par for the course for the Eagles, who set the 6A Southern Idaho Conference record with 189 made 3-pointers last season and are threatening to break it again with 170 through 18 games.
“This was definitely one of our better shooting nights,” Capital senior David McNamara said. “But I would say we’re the best shooting team in the league. I feel like every person can knock it down.”
McNamara got the party started with a 3-pointer from the wing for Capital’s first points, and then the floodgates opened. Marcellus Clay, Jack Smith, Quincey Clay all sank a triple as the Eagles mounted a 19-2 run to build a 19-point edge early in the second quarter.
The barrage continued after halftime with the Clay brothers leading the way. The well briefly ran dry, allowing Borah (8-9, 3-5 6A SIC) to cut the lead to nine points midway through the fourth quarter. But Capital maintained its cool, and McNamara, a four-year starter, lifted the Eagles out of a 3-minute scoring drought by sailing over two defenders for a layup.
That bucket kick started a 13-0 run that saw Capital break loose for several fast-break layups and ended when Quincey Clay delivered the final dagger with a 22-foot 3-pointer from the top of the key.
“It’s just about relying on each other and being able to trust,” Marcellus Clay said. “We feel like no team can guard us with our athleticism, our speed, and being able to drive and kick and trust our teammates to knock down open shots.”
Quincey Clay, a freshman and Capital’s leading scorer, finished the night with a game-high 23 points on 9-for-18 shooting. He scored 16 of those points in the second half as he regularly sliced through the paint at will.
“He’s got two older brothers, and they both beat him up for most of his life, obviously,” Capital coach Blas Telleria said. “... He comes in with a swagger that you don’t see in very many freshmen.
“He is, in my opinion — and I’m totally biased — but he’s probably the best freshman in the state.”
McNamara chipped in 19 points, five rebounds and seven assists. And Marcellus Clay, another four-year starter, added 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Friday’s win continued a breakout year for Capital, which is off to its best start since the Eagles went 26-0 and won the state title in 2013-14.
Capital started the season picked seventh out of 12 teams in the 6A SIC’s preseason coaches’ poll despite making the state tournament a year ago. Yet it climbed back into the state media poll rankings this week and sits in second place with three regular-season games remaining.
“Like any high school team, we have our ups and downs,” Telleria said. “But we felt that we were going to be pretty strong this year. The preseason coaches’ poll, they put us at seven and now we’re sitting at 15-3.
“I think we put a few people on notice.”
Hendrix Castro topped Borah’s stat line with 10 points and six rebounds, while Yohanes Mina added eight points, nine rebounds and four assists.
GIRLS: BORAH 31, CAPITAL 30
Amayah Defares sank a momentum-swinging 3-pointer with 43 seconds left to break a tie, and the No. 3-ranked Lions (17-4, 9-2) hung on for the win in the 6A SIC regular-season finale.
Kya Davis led Borah with 11 points and six rebounds, and Rylee Hale added seven points off the bench as the Lions forced 19 turnovers.
Mckenna Chavez topped Capital with seven points and 10 rebounds.
Capital (9-11, 4-7) finished eighth in the 6A SIC regular-season standings and hosts No. 9 Mountain View in the district tournament play-in round Tuesday. Borah finished as the No. 3 seed and received bye into the first round Thursday.
FRIDAY’S GAME BALLS
Schools are encouraged to submit scores and stats nightly by emailing sports@idahostatesman.com
Quincey Clay, Capital (boys basketball): Sank 9-of-18 shots, including 4-of-8 3-pointers, to score 23 points while adding seven rebounds in a 73-54 win over Borah.
Carson Huegerich, Timberline (boys basketball): Scored 19 points on 9-for-10 shooting in a 63-41 win over Kuna to keep pace with Capital in second place in the 6A SIC standings. He also had four rebounds and five assists.
Landon Starnes, Mountain View (boys basketball): Drained 4-of-8 3-pointers to rack up 20 points while adding four rebounds in a 59-46 win at Eagle.
Addy Bayne, Columbia (girls basketball): Racked up 21 points, 15 rebounds and two steals in a 48-32 victory over Nampa.
Zoey Blackwell, Middleton (girls basketball): Finished with 20 points, four rebounds and three steals while shooting 8-for-13 from the field, including 4-for-8 behind the 3-point line.
Blake Shepherd, Salmon River (boys basketball): Scored a game-high 25 points thanks to six 3-pointers in a 49-26 win at Highland (Craigmont).
BOISE-AREA HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL SCORES
Friday, Jan. 31
Boys basketball
Timberline 63, Kuna 41
Mountain View 59, Eagle 46
Capital 73, Borah 54
Riverstone 41, Liberty Charter 38
Victory Charter 62, Notus 53
Salmon River 49, Highland-Craigmont 26
Girls basketball
Borah 31, Capital 30
Middleton 59, Emmett 27
Vallivue 47, Caldwell 19
Bishop Kelly 53, Skyview 18
Columbia 48, Nampa 32
Victory Charter 44, Notus 24
Salmon River 48, Highland-Craigmont 32
This story was originally published January 31, 2025 at 11:18 PM with the headline "Underdog no more: Capital basketball surges to 15-3. ‘We’ve put a few people on notice’."
