Off to state: Boys hoops Ranked No. 2, District and League Champs

Bonners Ferry 79, Timberlake 47

BONNERS FERRY — The top-seed Bonners Ferry Badgers swept the second-seeded Timberlake Tigers in the best-of-3 game 3A District 1 Championship series at Bonners Ferry High last week.

The Badgers not only won the league single berth to state, but won their third straight district title, and will be making their fourth straight trip to state.

The Badgers won league by defeating Timberlake 84-45 at the Backwoods Brawl Spirit Contest and 82-33 on Feb. 2, thus hosting the district championship fall to Bonners Ferry. 

Game One

Bonners Ferry 77, Timberlake 33

The Badgers led in the first quarter by five, but then out shot the Tigers by 16 points before halftime. In a standout third quarter for the Badgers, Timberlake was held to three points, as Bonners blazed to a 72-28 lead. 

With a running clock all fourth quarter, the Badgers clinched a 77-33 victory. 

Junior Asher Williams scored a game-high 25 points. Senior Trey Bateman scored 17 points for Bonners Ferry (19-3). 

Junior Nathaniel Dykeman and senior Jacob Yetter scored six points each for Timberlake (6-15).

“Timberlake came out to win the first half and we didn’t,” Bonners Ferry head Coach Nathan Williams said. “They were getting 50-50 balls and at half time had 6 offensive boards, that’s too many.”

“They are a team that is supposed to be disciplined like us. At halftime we challenged the guys to play better, help defense and box out every time. In the second half [Timberlake] didn’t have any offensive boards and we had 18.”

Timberlake 14 11 3 5 — 33

Bonners Ferry 19 27 26 5 — 77

TIMBERLAKE — Engelson 5, Dykeman 6, Yetter 6, Vallieres 4, DeVore 0, Meidinger 3, McDougall 4, Doorman 0, Higgins 5, Simpson 0.

BONNERS FERRY — Schrock 3, Jimenez 0, Blackmore 13, Rice 2, Smith 7, Hinthorn 2, Williams 25, Th. Bateman 17, Cartwright 0, Tr. Bateman 4, Abubakari 4.

Game Two 

BF 79, Timberlake 47

BONNERS FERRY — Game Two of the 3A Intermountain League district championship started out differently than Game One, with Timberlake in the led in the first quarter. 

Four minutes into the game the Tigers led 10-4 and widened the gap to 15-6 with a three-pointer by Tyler Engelson, who had nine of 16 points in the first quarter. 

The Badgers were plagued with turnovers early on, racking up nine in the first half and the Tigers took advantage of opportunities to advance their lead. 

In response, junior guard Asher Williams, the 2022-2023 3A Boys Basketball Player of the Year, took control of the game. He broke down the Timberlake defense by penetrating into the key, racking up seven of his 32 points, two assists and one steal. 

The Badgers fought back making it 19 all to end the first quarter. 

To start the second quarter, Bonners Ferry had their full court press easily broken by the Tigers three times, ending in easy layins, leading 25-21. 

The Badgers recovered again, by battling for defensive rebounds and went on a six point run, making it 27 all. Junior Thomas Bateman broke the tie by making a three-pointer over the Tiger defense. Asher Williams added two more baskets and Sulay Abubakaki and Thomas Bateman added a basket apiece in the final two minutes to give the Badgers a 44-31 lead at half time. 

In the third quarter the Badgers scored 20 points, holding the Tigers to 11, leading 64-41. 

The Badgers were hot from the three-point line in the fourth quarter, with Asher Williams making two and Wyatt Smith scoring one. Timberlake’s Engelson answered with a three-pointer of his own, but the Tigers were held to six points and could keep up with the Badgers, who won 79-47 and clinched a berth to the state 3A tournament starting Thursday at Meridian High. 

Asher Williams led the contest with 32 points, shooting 13 for 16, four for five from the three-point line, 10 rebounds, four assists and two steals. Thomas Bateman scored 14 points, two assists and four rebounds for Bonners Ferry.

Senior Trey Bateman led the Badgers defense with 10 points, nine rebounds, five assists and five steals. Brody Rice led the Badgers in assists with seven and two steals. 

The Badgers had 24 assists, shot 77% as a team from the foul line and made seven three-pointers. 

Junior Tyler Engelson scored 16 points for Timberlake, which finished 6-16.

"Mike LaFountaine (Timberlake coach) does a great job with his team and Timberlake jumped on us early, hitting some big shots and forcing turnovers," Bonners Ferry coach Nathan Williams said. "I was impressed with our defensive effort in the second half, and how we made the extra pass all night long versus their zone."

“It was a very sloppy first quarter,” he said. “In Game Two, when [Timberlake] scored 33 points they usually shoot better than that, which we say tonight. We saw some big shots, hands in the face, it was good. I’m glad it was a close game and the kids had to buckle down.” 

“We were tied 19 in the first quarter and went on to out score them by 14 in the second quarter. We were lucky to tie it up at the end of the first,” he said. 

“I liked our defensive intensity in the second half, as we held Timberlake to only 17 points,” he said. “I like how Asher took over in the first half to get points. I felt that he was making a genuine effort to attack that zone and get to the bucket.”

He commended Trey Bateman hustle, diving on the floor to get the ball, on defense get help side and make three blocks. 

“Trey’s a great help-side defender. He got a lot of steals, he’s just a hustle player and will be hard to replace next year when he graduates,” he said. “I love that kid.” 

“I’m always going to get hustle and effort out of Eli [Blackmore] but he had three fouls in the first half, and I had to pull him,” he said. 

Timberlake 19 11 11 6 — 47

Bonners Ferry 19 25 20 15 — 79

TIMBERLAKE — Engleson 16, Dykeman 0, Yetter 11, Vallieres 5, Meidinger 4, McDougall 1, Dorman 2, Higgins 7, Simpson 1.

BONNERS FERRY — Blackmore 7, Rice 4, Smith 5, Hinthorn 2, Williams 32, Th. Bateman 14, Cartwright 0, Tr. Bateman 10, Abubakari 5.

Last year the Badgers (19-3) finished runner-up to Sugar-Salem in the state tournament. They are ranked second in the latest MaxPreps.com rankings, which are used to seed the tournament. Bonners Ferry will race No. 7 Kimberly (16-8) in Game Three at 4 p.m. Kimberly beat out Fruitland (9-16) in a state play-in-game 75-52. 

Coach Williams said the team is focusing on defense. 

“Our mantra all year has been defense and defensive rebounding,” he said. 

“I think we’ll be okay offensively and get about 50 points each game, because that’s what we’ve been held to since it’s so physical at state,” he said. “But can we get stops, that’s what I've been focusing on. No breakdowns and limit layups, close out hard. We’ll be working on that.”

For much of the season, the Badgers have faced zone defense, but are expecting to see more man defense at the state tournament. 

“We haven’t seen man defense in a long time, we had a little in Game Gne of districts, but only in the fourth quarter. It will be interesting because most teams play physical tough man defense,” he said. 

Williams said the Badgers are preparing for No. 7 Kimberly (16-8) in the opening round, as well as the No. 1 Snake River (21-2) and No. 3 Filer (17-5). 

“All season Snake River has been ranked No. 1, we’re looking for them when we make it to the championship.” 

Snake River will play No. 8 Homedale (9-13) in the opening round. 

Williams said he is looking at No. 3 Filer as they are a senior heavy strong mature team known for good defense. This is Filer first year back at the tournament, as Kimberly has historically dominated the 3A Sawtooth Central Idaho Conference. 

“Anybody can win at state, but I can see any of the top four teams winning the state title this year,” he said. “It all depends. It all comes down to just a few positions.” 

“We’ll have to have better first quarters at state if we’ve going to be in the game,” he said. 

3A Boys State Basketball Tournament Game Schedules 

At Meridian High

Thursday’s Games

Game 1 — No. 4 seed McCall-Donnelly (19-1) vs. No. 5 Teton (16-7), 11 a.m.

Game 2 — No. 1 Snake River (21-2) vs. No. 8 Homedale (9-13), 1 p.m.

Game 3 — No. 2 Bonners Ferry (19-3) vs. No. 7 Kimberly (16-8), 4 p.m.

Game 4 — No. 3 Filer (17-5) vs. No. 6 Marsh Valley (15-10), 6 p.m.

Friday’s Games

Game 5 — Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 11 a.m. (loser out)

Game 6 — Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 1 p.m. (loser out)

Game 7 — Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 4 p.m. (semifinal)

Game 8 — Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 6 p.m. (semifinal)

Saturday’s Games

Consolation championship

At Meridian High

Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 9 a.m.

Third-place game

At Meridian High

Loser Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8, 11 a.m.

Championship game

At Ford Idaho Center, Nampa

Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 2:50 p.m.