Badgers return to state as district, league champs

Badgers boys soccer (14-3-1) are District I-II and Intermountain League champions and are off to the state tournament and will face no. 6 seed American Falls (13-3-3) today at 2:30 p.m. in Caldwell for the first round of the 3A Idaho State Championship.

The Badges are the no. 3 seed going into the state tournament. In the past the Badgers have been a lower seed and have regularly faced the defending and inevitable state champion in the first round.

“We were the bottom seed last year and played Sugar Salem,” Bonners Ferry head soccer coach Paul Bonnell said. “Their comment to us was we scored more on them than anyone had all season, and that they were happy it hadn’t happened in the first half,” Bonnell said.

“We took it as a compliment,” he said.

He hopes the Badgers will start out with the same second-half intensity at the whistle during the state contest.

Reflecting on last week’s district games, Bonnell said the team was a little frustrated

“I liked how the boys weathered [the frustration],” he said. “They could have gotten unpleasant and that runs the risk of playing in the hole if the other team scores on us.”

He said the Badger broke through the funk after Eli Newell scored on Orofino.

This season, the coaching staff has emphasized doing the simple things.

“We didn’t do [the simple things] in the first half of the district games, but did in the second half,” Bonnell said. “At state, we’ll have to do that right away.”

“We played American Falls two years ago, they are patient. Once they have a goal or two in then they just pepper the ball,” he said.

Two years ago against American Falls, Bonners Ferry goalkeeper Trey Bateman tied the state record of saves in a state game.

Bonnell said because American Falls already had two goals then were looking to shoot and attack the back of the net.

“It was rough. They were quick and communicative,” Bonnell said. “At the same time, I think we can play them straight up and if we go out playing like we did against Stillwater Christian, we can do it.”

“We’ve got to go down there ready to play,” he said. There’s got to be the desire and the will.”

He said there is no question on the Badgers conditioning, which was in full display districts against Coeur d’Alene Charter.

“I think we have the fitness and knowledge,” he said.

Badgers were getting lethargic at districts and discounting opponents, that can’t happen at state, he said.

Bonnell thanked all the JV players and their efforts all season long and the parents and fans turning out to watch the games. He also thanked assistant coaches for their hard work throughout the season.

The Badgers are taking 23 players to state, including all nine seniors.

Bonnell said they will have a strong bench and is excited to have freshmen earn state experience, especially as the league will change next year with Bonners Ferry moving up to 4A.