Top-seeded Pocatello holds off Bishop Kelly to reach state semifinals as Abby Lusk tops 1,000 career points

MERIDIAN – It was a game only a coach could love.

Ugly at times, plenty of missed free throws to lament, but when it was finally over, it was top-seeded Pocatello walking away with a 59-55 win over Bishop Kelly in the opening round of the 5A state tournament.

Survive and advance is always the mantra at tournament time and that’s exactly what the Thunder did.

“I loved it,” Pocatello coach Sunny Evans said. “It’s fun to win pretty but there’s something to be said for a group that will stick together.”

The game was close in the first half, but the Thunder (22-2) held a 33-27 lead into the break.

Bishop Kelly eventually took the lead with consecutive 3-pointers midway through the third period.

Despite being aggressive, Pocatello hurt itself when it got to the free-throw line, hitting only 11 of 31 free throws on the night.

That gave Bishop Kelly (17-8) every opportunity to hang around, but Pocatello was able to close it out in the final minute after the Knights had pulled within 57-55.

“Every time I thought we’d pull away they’d hit a big shot and to our credit we would respond,” Evans said. “We never completely let down and we kept responding and responding and it took all of us … We talked about what we’d do and how we’d respond to a little adversity because it’s going to come in a whole bunch of different ways over the course of this weekend.”

Junior Abby Lusk finished with 19 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, and topped 1,000 career points in the process.

“I didn’t think I’d get it this year,” she said, adding the focus was on winning the game. She praised the play of Kennasyn Garza, who was a force inside with 22 points, 15 rebounds, seven of those on the offensive end, plus three blocks.

Bishop Kelly connected on 9 of 20 3-pointers, with Brooke Hutchinson hitting 5 of 7 and finishing with a game-high 23 points.

Pocatello will face District 6 champion Blackfoot in Saturday’s semifinals at 7:30 p.m at the Idaho Center.