Pocatello High School honors its girls basketball team — the first to win a state championship

POCATELLO — The past 12 months have brought, perhaps, the most successful run of Pocatello High School girls sports in the school’s more than 130-year history.

The Thunder softball team won its first state championship in 2024, as did the girls soccer team. And just last month, the girls basketball team claimed the first banner in its program’s history.

During a Monday morning ceremony inside “The Pit” — the school’s gym — the basketball team was honored for its dominant run through the 2024-25 season, which culminated in that first state championship. Head coach Sunny Evans, while addressing a gym filled with parents, faculty, staff and students, lauded the work of her team.

“I couldn’t be more proud of a group of kids that came together — they were gritty and they were resilient, and they were absolutely incredible when they needed to be,” the coach said.

The Pocatello High School girls basketball unveils the "2025," forever honoring the program's first State Championship.#idpreps #highschoolhoops pic.twitter.com/OySaTtazok

— Kalama Hines (@HINESight_2020) March 18, 2025

The team, Evans said after the ceremony, set goals, both statistical and intangible, that they thought would help drive them to a state title.

“They just didn’t waver — if games were hard, they didn’t waver, and if we won win, they didn’t get cocky. They just stayed the course,” she said.

Among the players singled out for their success were senior team captain Kenna Garza — who finished her high school career with over 1,000 points and more than 1,000 rebounds — and junior Abby Lusk — who reached the 1,000-point mark this year.

Seniors Hailee Pool, Alivia Marshall and Taylee Rogers, and junior Oakley Hirschi are also worthy of special recognition, for their parts in ending the title droughts in the other two sports. Pool and Marshall were both part of this year’s state champion girls soccer team, while Rogers and Hirschi played for last season’s championship-winning softball team.

The Pocatello girls basketball team holds its 2025 state championship banner moments after unveiling the “2025” on the wall symbolizing the program’s first state championship. | Kalama Hines, EastIdahoSports.com

The Thunder went 24-2 on the season, including their 3-0 run through the state tournament in which they outscored their opponents 175-153. Their losses came against 6A Eagle High School and Westlake (Utah).

They earned their state berth by winning the 5A District 5 tournament — outscoring Preston 135-85 in two games.

The goal of winning the school’s first championship was set four years ago, by this year’s senior class of Marshall, Pool, Rogers, Garza, Adrie Johnson, Tessa Hargraves, Saige Hagler and Trelawna Hargraves. According to Garza, many of the girls had been playing together since second grade, so they were aware of their capabilities.

“We knew that we were good enough to compete, and it was just showing that, if we worked for these four years, it was bound to happen,” Garza told EastIdahoSports.com

The Thunder unveil their everlasting mark on the championship wall inside The Pit. | Courtesy photo

During the ceremony, Evans thanked the school administration, singling out Athletic Director Robert Parker.

“Without Mr. Parker, these things just don’t happen,” she said. “Anytime I needed anything, he always came through for us. … Mr. Parker may have cried more than I did when we won this, and that’s because he’s invested in (this team) right here.”

She then told the student body how proud it should be of the girls.

“They were the absolute best group of kids to represent you, you should be incredibly proud of them,” Evans said, noting the players’ respect, commitment, courage and perseverance.

The courage, she said, came when the girls put themselves out there for criticism and critique; the respect was shown when, win or lose — more of the latter this season — they were humble and professional; the commitment came when, at the beginning of the season, the girls made it a goal to have their number painted on the championship wall inside The Pit; and finally, the perseverance shown through when they dealt with adversity in achieving that goal.

Pocatello players celebrate the program’s first state title. | Pat Sutphin, EastIdahoNews.com

After the ceremony, Evans told EastIdahoSports.com about the atmosphere in the Thunder locker room before the Feb. 22 5A state championship game against a Middleton Vikings team many believed would offer Pocatello its toughest test.

The coach said she could feel an air of calm. She described the feeling in the locker room as being almost eerie, with the team at the highest level of locked in it had been in all season. She knew they were ready, and they proved her right, beating Middleton 62-46.

“They just got better and better (all season), and we just kept saying, ‘We’ve got to be our best on February 22,'” Evans recalled. “And they were absolutely at their best on February 22, they were so good. … Their pressence and their focus was just off the charts. It was so fun to be a part of.”