Girls basketball ends season, 4 players make all league team
(Photo By Victor Corral Martinez) Freshman Senior Sierra Hill, Senior Holly Ansley, Asha Abubakari, Freshman Avery Bayer and coach Travis Hinthorn.
The Lady Badgers dropped two games at the 3A state tournament in Middleton, ending their state title run.
On Thursday, Feb. 18, the Diggers of Sugar-Salem jumped out to a 23-2 lead in the first quarter to take a lead on their way to beating the Badgers 70-10.
According to BFHS Head Coach Travis Hinthorn, “Sugar-Salem and Timberlake were definitely the two best teams down there.”
Timberlake would go on to beat Sugar-Salem in the 3A championship, 65-49. It was the second straight state title for the Tigers.
The second game went much better for the Badgers but they still fell to the Eagles of Marsh Valley, who went on to beat Snake River and win the consolation trophy.
Marsh Valley led 42-32 at halftime but a strong third quarter helped the Badgers tie the game at 49 early in the fourth quarter. The Eagles made 16 of 19 free throws in the fourth quarter to hold on and win 71-62.
Senior Holly Ansley tallied 22 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists in her final game as a Badger. Freshman Asha Abubakari added 21 points and 6 rebounds.
After the tournament concluded, it was announced that Abubakari, Ansley, senior Sierra Hill and Freshman Avery Bayer made the all-Intermountain League team. Matt Miller and Travis Hinthorn were named coaches of the year.
3A INTERMOUNTAIN LEAGUE
Most Valuable Players — Brooke Jessen, sr., Timberlake; Taryn Soumas, sr., Timberlake.
Coaches of the Year — Matt Miller, Timberlake; Travis Hinthorn, Bonners Ferry.
Holly Ansley, sr., Bonners Ferry; Hailey Cheney, jr., Kellogg; Asha Abubakari, fr., Bonners Ferry; Olivia Hammond, sr., Timberlake; Blayre Jeffs, sr., Timberlake; Grace Nearing, jr., Kellogg; Avery Bayer, fr., Bonners Ferry; Sierra Hill, sr., Bonners Ferry.
3A state tournament
Bonners Ferry 17 15 11 19 — 62
Marsh Valley 22 20 4 25 — 71
BONNERS FERRY — A. Bayer 2, Bliss 1, Blackmore 8, Abubakari 21, Ansley 22, Si. Hill 5, Sumpter 2, Pinkerton 1. Totals 26-52 9-17 62
MARSH VALLEY — Belnap 2, Hadley 15, Christensen 2, Ab. Marshall 0, An. Marshall 3, Armstrong 20, Lunt 14, Harris 0, Bennett 11, Anderson 0, Campbell 2, Whitworth 0, Sutton 2. Totals 22-60 21-25 71.
Bonners Ferry 2 6 2 0 — 10
Sugar-Salem 23 16 21 10 — 70
BONNERS FERRY — B. Bayer 0, Burt 0, Villaluz 0, Pluid 0, Sa. Hill 0, A. Bayer 0, Bliss 0, Blackmore 2, Abubakari 3, Petersen 0, Ansley 3, Si. Hill 0, Sumpter 2. Totals 3-21 4-5 10.
SUGAR-SALEM — Me. Fillmore 7, Harris 10, Baldwin 5, Crapo 3, Bennion 2, Gillette 13, Miller 11, Nead 12, Ma. Fillmore 7. Totals 29-62 5-8 70.