Cole Valley didn’t just win a state title. It took its place in the record books
Cole Valley Christian struggled behind the 3-point line in the first two rounds of the 4A boys basketball state tournament, but the Chargers found their stroke Saturday at the Ford Idaho Center.
Cole Valley buried 5-of-8 3-pointers to start the 4A state championship game, and the Chargers finished 10-for-23 behind the arc on the way to crushing Bonners Ferry 71-35.
The 36-point victory stands as the largest in state history in a 4A championship game. It’s also tied for the second-largest margin of victory in a title game in any classification, behind Lapwai’s 42-point win in 2022 in 1A.
Junior forward Cooper Kollmann led the onslaught, draining 5-of-6 3-pointers on his way to a game-high 21 points. Junior guard Madden Compton came off the bench to hit 4-of-9 long-range shots and score 18 points for the Chargers (22-4).
“We knew it was coming,” Cole Valley Christian coach Leif Karlberg said. “I think what I was most pleased about in Round 1 and Round 2 is we found different ways to win.
“... It was only a matter of time for Cooper to pop off like he did tonight, and Madden as well.”
Bonners Ferry (15-9) coach Greg Kissee said the Badgers rotated through a slew of defenses looking for a solution, turning to man, presses and zones. None could slow down the Chargers on their way to their first state title in 14 years.
Kollmann and Compton traded 3-point daggers in the second quarter, fueling a 17-3 advantage for Cole Valley Christian in the quarter to build a 21-point halftime lead. The Chargers, the No. 2 seed, stretched their lead to as many as 42 points before Bonners Ferry scored the game’s final six points.
The dominating performance came with CVC’s leading scorer, 6-foot-7 junior forward Soren Fraas, battling foul trouble all night. He spent just 18:19 on the floor to score nine points. But the rest of the Chargers picked up the slack, and the team finished 27-of-53 (51%) from the floor.
“Anybody can step up,” Fraas said. “Cooper, Madden did a great job doing what they always do. I think our whole team is capable of playing at state.”
The Meridian private school closed the season on an 18-game winning streak for a title in just its second year in the 4A classification. Karlberg said that after a disappointing performance at state last season, the Chargers sought a tougher nonconference schedule to get ready this season.
A trip to Alaska and early-season losses to Capital, a 6A state qualifier, and Bishop Kelly, the newly crowned 5A state champion, left Cole Valley Christian with a 4-4 record entering the new year. But Karlberg said those hard-earned lessons paid off this weekend.
“We went 0-2 at state last year, and we felt like we left some meat on the bone,” Karlberg said. “We had most of our team coming back, and a couple injured guys from last year that were back healthy. So we wanted to make sure that we were battle tested early to kind of get tougher and learn more about ourselves.
“We definitely came back from that (Alaska) trip a different team — a tougher team, for sure — and more connected.”
Bonners Ferry returned to the finals for the fourth straight season as the tournament’s No. 5 seed. But the two-time defending champs couldn’t keep up Saturday, finishing 0-for-14 behind the arc and trailing throughout the championship game.
Junior forward Peyton Hinthorn paced the Badgers with 14 points, and Sulay Abubakari added 11 points and six rebounds.
IDAHO 3A BOYS BASKETBALL STATE TOURNAMENT
ST. MARIES 50, WENDELL 43: The Lumberjacks built a 15-point lead early in the fourth quarter and held on for their first state championship since 2021 and the program’s second in the past 66 years.
Isaiah Gustaffe led three Lumberjacks in double figures with 13 points, and JJ Yearout and Xavier Sloper each added 11 points for top-seeded St. Maries (21-3).
Reigning state player of the year Jonathan Swainston scored a game-high 16 points for No. 2 Wendell (24-3), last year’s champ.
RIRIE 64, NEW PLYMOUTH 60 (OT): Senior guard Cooper Brown sank a game-tying 3-pointer at the end of regulation to force overtime, and the Bulldogs rode that momentum to the third-place trophy with a win over the Pilgrims.
New Plymouth (19-9) was led by senior center Cohen Evans, who finished 7-for-10 from the floor with 18 points, nine rebounds and eight blocked shots. Senior point guard Carter Ziemer (15 points), junior guard Ethan Meyer (13 points) and senior Josiah Gustin (10 points) also scored in double figures for the Pilgrims.
IDAHO 2A BOYS BASKETBALL STATE TOURNAMENT
LAKESIDE 60, KENDRICK 47: Four-year starter Tyson Charley poured in a game-high 25 points, and Hallah Peone added 18 points as the two reigning all-state guards carried the Knights to their third state championship in the past seven years.
Second-seeded Lakeside (22-2) forced 13 turnovers to feed its all-class leading offense, which finished 22-of-48 (46%) from the floor.
Ralli Roetcisoender topped No. 1 Kendrick (22-4) with 14 points and seven rebounds.
PRAIRIE 43, NORTH STAR CHARTER 42: Trailing by one with 8.5 seconds left, the Huskies had a look at a potential game-winning 3-pointer. But it was off the mark, allowing Prairie (20-7) to take home the third-place trophy.
North Star Charter (18-6), which was making its first state appearance since 2014, got a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds from junior Logan Ellis. Sophomores Gage Shannon and Paul Cougher added nine points each.
IDAHO 1A BOYS BASKETBALL STATE TOURNAMENT
ROCKLAND 70, GARDEN VALLEY 67: The top-seeded Bulldogs won their 21st consecutive game to hoist the state championship trophy Saturday at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa.
Junior guard Brayzen Gibbs went 17-for-20 at the free-throw line and totaled a game-leading 23 points for Rockland (25-2). Junior guard Xavier Parrish (18 points) and senior guard Woodrow Lowder (16 points) also scored in double figures for the Bulldogs.
Garden Valley (22-3), which led 30-25 at the half, got 19 points apiece from junior guard Cody Perrin and senior guard Maxon Yearsley. Senior guard Madix Miller chipped in 12 points and five rebounds.
The Wolverines knocked down nine 3-pointers between four different players.
GREENLEAF 51, TIMBERLINE 39: The Grizzlies held the Spartans to just 28% shooting from the field to win the consolation title. It marked the first state tournament trophy for Greenleaf (19-10) since finishing second in 2007.
Sophomore Zane Fillmore totaled 14 points, six rebounds and three blocked shots for the Grizzlies, while senior Jake Miller contributed 12 points, seven assists, two rebounds and one blocked shot.
This story was originally published March 7, 2026 at 7:10 PM.
