Wrap up of yesterday's action
Sugar 60 Timberlake 26: The Diggers turned what was a fairly competitive game into a complete laugher, outscoring Timberlake 32-4 in the 2nd half.
Kimberly 57 Parma 55: I had a feeling this would be the best game of the day, and the fans who were there certainly got their money's worth. Came down to the final shot.
Marsh Valley 64 Kellogg 52: Marsh Valley advanced to the semifinals for the first time in many years with a double digit win over Kellogg.
Fruitland 64 Snake River 43: When was the last time a Coombs coached team lost by 20 at the state tournament? Fruitland certainly was the favorite coming in, but this matchup tends to be fairly competitive, though Fruitland typically ends up winning.
Today's action
Timberlake vs Parma: This should be the easiest pick of the day. Parma is a better team than Timberlake, period, end of story.
Kellogg vs Snake River: Snake River isn't used to losing, and certainly isn't used to getting blown off the court. Kellogg has become a regular at the state tournament, but this isn't their best team they've brought. Snake should win comfortably.
Sugar vs Kimberly: It's a rubber match and the reward is a trip to the Idaho Center! Both teams are very well coached and this should be a very entertaining game. I'll take the Diggers in a very close contest.
Marsh Valley vs Fruitland: Marsh Valley certainly got a better tournament draw than Snake. However, they are going to have their hands full with a deep and athletic Fruitland squad. Marsh Valley lives and dies by the 3ball. Fruitland is also a solid 3ball team, however, they also have a very good interior game. Fruitland is the better team on paper and had a much more impressive win yesterday. Fruitland rolls by 20 again.
Grizz I miss the 3A tournament. Even though Meridian is old, hot, and muggy its a great venue for basketball and brings many good memories.
This years tournament looks to be Fruitland's to lose. Sugar has been an up and down team this year, taking second in conference play but winning districts. I haven't seen Kimberly this year. They graduated a lot of good players from last years team, but must have reloaded. i'm going with Kimberly in that one for a rematch of last years final. Snake Consolation champs and Sugar 3rd. Wish I was there. Good luck to you Grizz
That was not the result I was expecting. Sugar played very well, keeping Fruitland out of an offensive rhythm and got them into foul trouble as well. You can win a game with foul trouble or poor shooting, but both? Probably not, unless the other team is doing the same as well, which Sugar was not.
If we look at the last 10 champions in 3A, there have been only 2 instances in which the favorite/top ranked team ended up winning the enchilada.
09-10: Priest River came in ranked 1 and won the tournament
10-11: Fruitland ranked 3. Beat 2nd ranked Priest River and top ranked Weiser.
11-12: I can't remeber who was number 1 coming in, but I believe Snake River had the best team on paper that year and was upset by Fruitland in the title game.
12-13: Shelley was the top ranked team and lost to Snake in the title game.
13-14: Top ranked Buhl beat 2nd ranked Homedale in a thriller.
14-15: South Fremont got hot at the right time and upset top ranked Buhl in the title game.
15-16: A Parma team, comprised of mostly freshman and sophomores came completely out of left field, blowing out top ranked Buhl in the semis and then following that with a win over Fruitland who beaten 2nd ranked Snake and defending champ South to get there.
16-17: Sugar Salem got hot at the right time, and beat Snake who 2 days prior had ran a 1 loss Weiser team out of Meridian.
17-18: A scary young Fruitland team beat defending champ Sugar, that year's favorite Snake, and then blew out Kimberly, who the night before had throttled a very long and athletic Shelley squad.
18-19: Sugar got hot at the right time and hand tournament favorite Fruitland their 1st loss to a 3A school in 2 years in the title game.