3A 1-seed Malad overcomes early nerves to seal first win on road to potential state championship

BOISE — The Malad Dragons, unable to find any offensive rhythm, leaned heavily on their defense in the first quarter of their first round game Thursday. And after eight minutes of play, they found themselves leading North Fremont, 7-1.

The Huskies bounced back in the second to head into the half trailing by just four. But a 13-3 third from Malad all but put things away for the 3A tournament’s top seed as the Dragons secured a 49-31 victory at Bishop Kelly High School to open their Girls Basketball State Championship run.

Asked what he thought about his team’s overall performance, Malad head coach Trevor Jones took a moment and a deep breath before saying he was happy his team “weathered some storms.”

“That definitely wasn’t our best basketball,” Jones said. “When you come to State, there’s a lot of jitters — it’s our first time at State, none of our girls have been here. It’s good to get up here and definitely get pushed, North Fremont is a great team.”

He went on to describe the game as a rollercoaster ride. But added that, with an inexperienced team, it is to be expected — though maybe not to the extreme he experienced Thursday.

The Dragons couldn’t score in the first quarter. Then in the second, when they started finding some offense, they let North Fremont get loose offensively as well, surrendering 15 to their own 13.

But on a night filled with ebbs and flows, Malad put it all together in the third. Behind junior center Olivia Nelson, the Dragons outscored the Huskies 13 to three. Jones said that it was his team’s defense that helped the offense begin to gel.

“Our defense really stepped up … and we were able to get some offense off of our defense,” the coach said. “That’s been our team this year — defense, we made it a priority.”

Nelson finished the game with eight points, five rebounds and two steals.

Jones referred to her as a walking double-double on a normal night.

“She’s even-keel out there, awesome attitude, not gonna get frustrated,” he said. … “And defensively, she’s just such a pressence out there.”

Malad’s Brynnlee Jones led all players with 10 points, while Grace Heiner paced North Fremont with nine points and eight rebounds before fouling out in the fourth quarter.

North Fremont’s Grace Heiner shoots during Malad’s victory, Thursday. | Kalama Hines, EastIdahoNews.com

As the game went on, particularly during their dominant third quarter, Jones said he noticed his Dragons grow more relaxed — slowly overcoming those jitters that come with state tournaments.

He said a key was applying the pressure defensively, rather than sitting back and trying to repel pressure from the Huskies.

Jones hopes his players’ nerves continue to calm. In fact, he had the girls sit together and watch the final 3A game of the night, between Ririe and Grangeville — which Grangeville won, 51-43.

Malad will now face Grangeville in the semis Friday afternoon.

Jones said that he and his coaching staff would also be watching the game, and taking “some really good notes.” But when it’s time to take the court, regardless of who is on the other bench, his team will have to do what they do — not worry about what the other team is doing.

“We’re just going to play Dragon basketball,” Jones said. “No matter who we play, we’ve got to play our game. … I think, if we do that, we’ll be alright.”