Badger boys basketball goes 1-2 at state
Asher Williams earlier in the season against Eureka. Williams led the Badgers in scoring at the state tournament.
Photo by CYNTHIA BONSANT
Ridge Williams going up for a lay-in. At the 3A state tournament, Williams was named an "honorable mention" by IdahoSports.com.
Trey Bateman going up for a lay-in against Timberlake during districts. At the 3A state competition, Bateman improved his three-point game draining threes.
Thomas Bateman plays tough defense against Timberlake at districts.
Bonners Ferry High School Badgers boys varsity bench and coaches at districts game against Timberlake.
MERIDIAN — The Badgers finished the state tournament finishing 1-2 in the consolation round.
This was the first time the Badgers won districts in 15 years and the first time the Badgers won a game at state in 15 years.
Bonners Ferry entered the tournament as the No. 8 seed and lost to the defending state champions Marsh Valley, the top seed, in the first round. The Badgers went on to beat Fruitland before falling to Homedale in the consolation round. The badgers finished fifth at state and narrowly missed claiming a trophy.
March 3, First Round — Marsh Valley 66, Bonners Ferry 46
Bonners Ferry came out in the first quarter looking to make three-pointers but the shots did not land. The score was 2-2, but before the Badgers knew it, Marsh Valley had a 10-point run which was followed by a seven-point run. The first quarter finished with the Eagles on top, 24-8.
In the beginning of the second quarter, the Badgers and Eagles picked each other’s pockets without a point being scored. With 5:55 left in the half, Ridge Williams made a basket sending the Badgers into double digits. Thomas Bateman had a blocked shot as the Badgers began to slow down the pace of the game. Trey Bateman made a long three-pointer and was fouled; he made his extra free throw.
The Badgers finished out the half trailing the Eagles, 35-14. The Badgers had some good looks behind the horn, but didn’t drop their shots. Trey Bateman had a steal and Asher Williams made a three-pointer off the play. Hubbard got to the line and sank two free throws. The quarter ended with Badgers down, 49-26.
Bonners Ferry outscored Marsh Valley in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough for a win. Marsh Valley was undefeated in the state of Idaho play, and had only lost to two Utah teams, including one that was ranked No. 22 in the nation at the time.
Stanton Howell scored 14 points and Payton Howe chipped in 13 as Marsh Valley handled Bonners Ferry 66-46 in the first round of the Class 3A tournament.
Howe, the Idaho Sports Player of the Game, was 6-of-12 from the floor with four rebounds and six steals. Michael Belnap added eight points for Marsh Valley (23-2).
Asher Williams and Ethan Hubbard had 13 and 12 points for Bonners Ferry (13-10). The Badgers had 19 turnovers versus Marsh Valley’s 11. The Eagles out rebounded the Badgers by five, getting 30 rebounds.
Braeden Blackmore led the team with seven rebounds. Ethan Hubbard had three steals.
BONNERS FERRY — 8 6 12 20 — 46
MARSH VALLEY — 24 11 14 17 — 66
Bonners Ferry: R. Williams 5, Henslee 0, A. Williams 11, Hubbard 10, B. Blackmore 4, Newell 2, E. Blackmore 0, Petesch 2, Th. Bateman 0, Tr. Bateman 7, Mai 2, Hammons 3.
Marsh Valley: K. Howell 6, Howe 13, M. Belnap 8, Rache 4, S. Howell 14, P. Belnap 0, Peck 0, Hadley 3, Briscoe 0, Vaughan 2, Bissell 9, B. Belnap 7.
March 4, Second round — Bonners Ferry 70, Fruitland 62
3A Loser Out: Bonners Ferry takes out Fruitland 70-62.
The Badgers and Grizzlies were back and forth until the fourth quarter. The Badger got into the swing of things after Charles Henslee had back-to-back steals early in the second quarter. Thomas Bateman and Ethan Hubbard scored two three-pointers in back-to-back possessions making it 27-21 Badger lead. The Grizzlies answered, landing their shots ending the half with 29 all.
The third quarter had five lead changes with the Badgers finishing on top 47-45. Last season, the Badgers only lead on time in the state tournament. Riley Petesch scored two baskets sending the Badgers into the lead. Thomas Bateman added to the distance with a three-pointer.
The Badgers finished the game with a five-point run and an eight-point run against the Grizzlies. In the final minutes of the game, the Badgers pulled away with a 10-point lead and finished winning 70-62.
Riley Petesch was named Player of the Game by IdahoSports.com due to coming off the bench to score 12 points on 6-of-8 shooting. He added two rebounds and two assists. Four Badgers scored double digits. Braeden Blackmore led the Badgers with seven rebounds, Hubbard followed with six. Charles Henslee had two steals.
The Badgers went on to face Homedale in the constellation round. Last year, the Badgers only played two state games.
BONNERS FERRY — 12 17 18 23 — 70
FRUITLAND — 13 16 16 17 — 62
Bonners Ferry: R. Williams 8, Henslee 3, A. Williams 11, Hubbard 9, B. Blackmore 15, Petesch 12, Th. Bateman 6, Tr. Bateman 0, Mai 6.
Fruitlane: Rodriguez 12, Barinaga 0, Hamann 14, Bower 12, Snyder 4, Jackson 3, Davis 0, Harris 2, Rico 0, Capps 15, Jones 0.
March 5, Consolation Final — Homedale 57, Bonners Ferry 56
The Badgers led the Homedale Trojans every quarter. The Badgers started strong at the three-point line shooting two for three in the first minute making the score 6-0. The Badgers started ahead of the Trojans, but could never gain more than a six-point lead.
Homedale led the Badgers for the second time at the beginning of the fourth quarter. The Badgers were getting up there on fouls and gained a charge and a blocked shot over the Trojans. The Badgers were sent to the free-throw line and made zero out of two. Off from a Badger foul, the Trojans got to the free-throw line and missed, but Homedale’s Mason Strong rebounded and sunk the basket, putting the Trojans in the lead, 57-56.
With five seconds left, the badgers got the ball down the court, but missed the three-pointer.
Homedale earned the consolation title, winning fourth place for the 3A state tournament over Bonners Ferry.
Homedale lost their first round game in double overtime sending them to the consolation bracket.
Bonners Ferry finished (14-11). Asher Williams was the Badger’s lead scorer with 20 points.
BONNERS FERRY — 11 13 14 18 — 56
HOMEDALE 10 13 14 20 — 57
Bonners Ferry: R. Williams 7, Henslee 5, A. Williams 20, Hubbard 5, Blackmore 3, Petesch 8, Th. Bateman 0, Tr. Bateman 6, Mai 2.
Homedale: Fisher 6, Dines 16, Strong 13, Kincheloe 5, Jayner 8, Goode 9, Rios 0, Heck 0.
Top four Badger players stats for three state games.
• Braeden Blackmore — 22 pts/Avg. 7.3, 20 total rebounds, four total assists, three total steals.
• Ridge Williams — 20 pts/Avg. 6.6, 13 total rebounds, 11 total assists, 3 total steals.
• Asher Williams — 42 pts/Avg. 14, nine total rebounds, seven total assists, two total steals.
• Ethan Hubbard — 24 pts/Avg. 8, eight total rebounds, seven total assists, five total steals.
3A Boys Basketball All-Tournament Team
(Badgers in bold)
Tournament MVP: Ethan Okelberry, Kimberly, 10.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG
Defensive MVP: Jaxon Bair, Kimberly, 6.7 Defensive RPG, 0.7 BPG, 0.7 SPG
6th Man Award: Riley Petesch, Bonners Ferry, 7.3 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 0.7 APG
1st Team: Jaxon Dines, Homedale; Stanton Howell, Marsh Valley; DJ Green, McCall-Donnelly; Alex Johnson, McCall-Donnelly; Cole Gilbert, Snake River.
2nd Team: Asher Williams, Bonners Ferry; Mason Strong, Homedale; Jake Lloyd, Kimberly;
Payton Howe, Marsh Valley; Karter Howell, Marsh Valley.
Honorable mention: Ridge Williams, Bonners Ferry; Nolan Bower, Fruitland; Hayden Kincheloe, Homedale; Marcus Coombs, Snake River; Christian Gordon, Sugar-Salem.
