ROUNDUP: Area teams suffer, score huge Day 1 upsets, post 9-5 record

BOISE — Of all Thursday’s upsets winers — and there were several — none was more surprising than the Grace Grizzlies, who handed the Valley Vikings their first loss of the season.

The Madison Bobcats, one of the favorites to take home the 6A banner, was knocked out in the first round by a 12-14 Boise Brave team. And the Watersprings Warriors, who for much of the season looked unbeatable, fell to the Challis Vikings in overtime.

As Boise head coach Manny Varela — like so many before him — said after his team’s upset win, the games are played on the court, not in the record book.

Here is a rundown of how the District 5-6 schools fared in Thursday’s opening round of the Boys Basketball State Championships.

6A

THUNDER RIDGE

The seven-seed Titans got a big performance from sophomore McKay Scoresby, who had team-highs in points (17) and rebounds (6). But it was the two-seed Lake City Timberwolves who came away with the 63-48 victory.

Thunder Ridge and Madison will face off at 5 p.m. Friday, at Centennial High School, with the winner moving into the consolation finals and the loser eliminated form the tournament.

5A

HILLCREST

The three-seed Knights overcame a second-half surge from the six-seed Columbia Wildcats to earn a 46-37 win.

They were led by Titan Larsen, who scored a team-high 14 points. Tyson Sweetwood added 10 points, and contributed some very stout defense after Columbia snatched a lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Hillcrest will now face Twin Falls, who knocked off Lewiston 66-49, Friday at 5 p.m. inside the Ford Idaho Center.

4A

SUGAR-SALEM

The three-seed Diggers were yet another upset victim, falling to the six-seed McCall-Donnelly Vandals by a score of 48-47.

Sugar-Salem shot 26% from the field as a team, with Ace Clark going 0-for-6. They were paced by Riley Williams, the only Digger to make more than three baskets — going 6-of-13, 5-of-11 from 3.

The Diggers will now face Filer in the consolation bracket, with tip-off scheduled for noon at Eagle High School.

Thunder Ridge’s Kyler Sparks drive against the defense of Lake City’s Cason Miller. | Photo courtesy Tony Blakeslee

3A

FIRTH
The Cougars jumped out to an early lead and never trailed in the tournament opener on the way to a 58-49 win over Marsing.

Brycen Anderson scored 20 points and added eight rebounds and Michael Adams scored 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds for Firth.

No. 2 Firth will face No. 3 Wendell in the semifinals at Capital High at 5 p.m. Friday.

SODA SPRINGS
The Cardinals came charging back in the fourth quarter but a 14-3 run wasn’t enough in a 56-54 loss to Ambrose.

Cooper Thompson led Soda Springs with 25 points and 11 rebounds.
The No. 5 Cardinals will play Orofino in the consolation round at 2 p.m.

2A

GRACE
No. 7 Grace had to win a play-in game to advance to the state tournament and made the most of their opener, downing the No. 2 Valley Vikings 43-34.

Eight different players scored for the Grizzlies with Branden Kimball leading the way with 12 points.

Grace faces No. 3 Kendrick in Friday’s semifinals at 5 p.m. at Vallivue High.

1A

CHALLIS
Challis needed overtime, but the Vikings upended No. 3 Watersprings in their tournament opener 58-56.

Jacen Farr finished with 24 points and Brayden Ollar added 12 for the Vikings.

It was Farr who hit the game-winner in overtime after Watersprings hit a buzzer beater of its own to force the extra time.

Korbin Nelson led Watersprings with 22 points and Ryan Demkowicz and Titus Driver each scored 15 points. Driver also grabbed 18 rebounds.

Challis plays No. 2 Rockland in Friday’s semifinal at noon at Caldwell High.
Watersprings plays Nezperce at 5 p.m. in the consolation round.

ROCKLAND
The Bulldogs jumped out to a 49-16 lead at the half and didn’t look back on the way to an 83-40 win over Nezperce.

Ten difference players scored for Rocklanbd, Xavier Parrish scoring 16 points, Woodrow Lowder scoring 14, and Aidan Radford and Iver Hendrickson each adding 10 points.

Rockland shot 49% for the game while Nezperce struggled with just three field goals in the first half.
Rockland will face Challis in Friday’s semifinal at noon at Caldwell High.