Defending champion Spartans fall at state
NAMPA — A 28-8 offensive rebounding edge led to 24 second chance points for the Fruitland Grizzlies, who knocked-off the top ranked and defending state champion Priest River Spartans Thursday with a 72-61 win to start the 3A state tournament at Meridian High School.
“We played a really tough Fruitland team and just got beat on the glass,” Spartan coach Ryan Bodecker said after the game. “I wish we could have came out and played a better game, but you have to give all the credit to Fruitland.”
Priest River (17-6) struggled to catch an offensive rhythm in the first half, shooting 10 of 39 from the field and 3 of 14 from the three-point line for the normally hot shooting Spartans.
The Spartans picked-up their offensive production in the second half, shooting 17 for 33 from the field, but failed to slow down the Grizzlies on the defensive end.
Seniors Max Salesky and Eric Holbrook, named Intermountain League Co-MVP’s, scored 22 and 17 points respectively in the loss for Priest River.
Jaden Barrett hit five of his eight three-point tries to score 17 points for the Spartans, who can now place as high as fourth and face Kimberly (17-6) today at 12:15 p.m.
“Kimberly is big and all the teams down here are athletic,” said Bodecker. “We’ll just try to bounce back and put our best foot forward the rest of the tournament.”
Fruitland (17-6) shot 22 for 54 from the field and 10 of 26 from the three-point line for the game. The Grizzlies were led by Travis Holt and James Livingston, who scored 18 and 17 respectively.
Fruitland 12 14 20 26 — 72
Priest River 9 14 16 22 — 61
PRIEST RIVER — Barrett 17, Douglas 4, Bach 0, Salesky 22, Peterson 0, Holbrook 17, Mortenson 0, Bradbury 1.
FRUITLAND — Nattress 5, Holt 18, Neeley 0, Wright 0, Martarano 6, Livingston 17, Graves 11, Johnson 5, Crim 10.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Class 5A State Tournament First Round
- Centennial 61, Timberline 48
- Coeur d’Alene 59, Eagle 41
- Mountain View 60, Idaho Falls 55
Class 4A State Tournament First Round
- Madison 51, Bishop Kelly 49, OT
- Minico 57, Rigby 44
- Skyview 56, Moscow 42
Class 3A State Tournament First Round
- Kimberly 55, Snake River 52
- Priest River 72, Fruitland 61
- St. Maries 50, Sugar-Salem 44
Class 1A Div 2 State Tournament First Round
- Carey 59, Meadows Valley 36
- Nezperce 41, Castleford 33
- Salmon River 56, Rockland 55
- Murtaugh 50, Kootenai 48.