No. 2 Firth, No. 5 Soda Springs make state tourney return
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EASTERN IDAHO — The Firth Cougars look to return to its dominant form of years past, while Soda Springs makes its first state appearance in nine years.
The field of eight in the 3A tournament includes the top-seed Declo Hornets, who suffered their lone loss of the season at the hands of the Cardinals.
The state tournament begins Thursday, with games at six different venues scheduled to start at noon, 2 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Winners will advance into the semifinal round, while losers will continue to play in hopes of claiming a consolation finish.
Here is a preview of the 3A tournament:
AMBROSE ARCHERS
Record: 15-8
State seed: #4; District 3 runner-up
Coach: Jordan Whittenburg, first season
Players to watch: G Lincoln Mathis, sr.; G Tristen Trevino, sr.; F Mark Yenor, jr.
Notes: Defending state champ returns to state for the 11th time in the past 12 years. … Lost to New Plymouth in the district championship. … 3-3 vs. 3A state qualifiers. … Mathis (21.1 ppg, 9 rebounds) is signed to play baseball at College of Southern Idaho. …Trevino (17.4 ppg, 3.4 assists) and Yenor (8.6 ppg, 9 rebounds) also played key roles on last year’s championship team. … Ranked fifth in the final state media poll. … Top offense in 3A (64.5 ppg). … Also won a state in 2016 in what’s now the 2A classification.
DECLO HORNETS
Record: 23-1
State seed: #1; Play-in winner
Coaches: Jacoby Fox, ninth season
Players to watch: F Emmett Gibby, sr.; G Carter Robertson, jr.; F Joey Garrard, sr.
Notes: Third straight state tournament appearance. … 0-2 at state the last two years. … Searching for first state win since 2018, when it finished third. … 20-0 before losing to Soda Springs in the district semifinals. … 6-1 vs. 3A state tournament teams. … Gibby and Robertson do most of the scoring. … Plenty of depth to fill other roles. … Best defense (39 ppg) and margin of victory (13.3) in 3A. … Eight players on the roster helped the football team finish as state runner-up in November. … Won two state championships (1998, 2003). … Ranked first in the final state media poll.
FIRTH COUGARS
Record: 18-5
State seed: #2; District 6 champ
Coach: Scott Adams, sixth season
Players to watch: G Michael Adams, sr.; F Wyatt Killpack, so.
Notes: Third state appearance in four years. … Won eight straight games, its second winning streak of six or more games this season. … Led by Michael Adams and Killpack, who averages a double-double (10.6 ppg, 10 rebounds). … Went 3-0 at its district tournament, winning by 23 points per game. … Second among 3A teams in points allowed per game (45.7) and average point differential (plus-9.9). … Ranked second in the final state media poll. … Scott Adams’ seven state titles is tied for the most among Idaho boys basketball coaches. … Won eight state titles, the last in 2016.
MARSING HUSKIES
Record: 12-11
State seed: #7; Play-in winner
Coach: Lamon Loucks, first season
Players to watch: G Juan Ponce, jr.; G Jace Chadez, sr.; F Teagan Kinney, sr.
Notes: First time at state since 2019. … Never won a state title or reached a championship game. … Entered its district tournament seeded sixth out of seven teams before upsetting Parma and Nampa Christian, then beating St. Maries in a state play-in game. … Lost seven of eight games in January and February before closing on a four-game winning streak. … 2-4 vs 3A state qualifiers. … Ponce (20.9 ppg) is the leading scorer, while Chadez (11.1 ppg, 4.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists) and Kinney (10.1 ppg, 8.1 rebounds) are other key contributors. … Unranked in the final state media poll.
NEW PLYMOUTH PILGRIMS
Record: 17-7
State seed: #6; District 3 champ
Coach: Chad Mann, first season
Players to watch: C Cohen Evans, jr.; G Josiah Gustin, jr.; C Ashton Robinson, jr.; G Kaden Hawker, sr.
Notes: At state for the first time since 2021. … Defeated Ambrose 57-49 for its first district title since 2017. … 4-3 vs 3A state qualifiers and beat 4A state qualifier McCall-Donnelly 58-55. … Hawker (7.7 ppg) is the only senior in the starting lineup. … New Plymouth has size with the 6-9 Evans (11.3 ppg, 12.1 rebounds) and 6-6 Robinson (10.7 ppg, 7.7 rebounds) in the frontcourt. … Gustin averages 11 points per game. … Third-best defense in 3A (46.4 ppg). … Unranked in the final state media poll. … Only state title came in 1993 and last reached the finals in 2013.
OROFINO MANIACS
Record: 9-13
State seed: #8; District 1-2 champ
Coach: Rocky Barlow, fifth season
Players to watch: G/F Jake Runia, jr.; F Nick Bonner, jr.; G Blake Barlow, so.; G Hudson Scheider, jr.
Notes: Won their five-team district tournament despite entering as the No. 4 seed. … Middle of their season featured an eight-game losing streak that spanned over a month. … Ended their season on a five-game winning streak. … Won two states titles (1950, ‘49). … Their district title was their first since 2008. … Not ranked in the final state media poll and did not play any other team in their state tournament bracket in the regular season.
SODA SPRINGS CARDINALS
Record: 14-10
State seed: #5; District 5 runner-up
Coach: Tom Fuechsel, second season
Players to watch: G Cooper Thompson, jr.; F Konnor McWilliams, jr.; G Gavin Hansen, jr.
Notes: At state for the first time since 2016. … Started the year 5-8 and was the No. 4 seed at district. But handed Declo, the No. 1 seed at state, its only loss of the season in the district semifinals to punch a ticket to state. … The Cardinals ended the year winning nine of 11 games. … Soda Springs has won three state titles, the last in 1991. Since then, it has placed at state five times, including a pair of runner-up finishes in 2015 and ‘05.
WENDELL TROJANS
Record: 17-6
State seed: #3; District 4-5 champion
Coaches: AJ Kelsey, eighth season
Players to watch: G Jonathan Swainston, jr.; G Jordon Swainston, jr.; F Jarett Borges, jr.; F Jett Jasper, jr.
Notes: At state tournament for first time since 2021. … Seeking first state trophy since 2016, when it finished third. … Beat New Plymouth, its first round opponent, in the 2021 first round. … Jonathan (18.4 ppg, 3.3 rebounds, 2 steals) and Jordon Swainston (14.5 ppg, 4.2 rebounds, 4 assists, 2.2 steals) are small but can take over a game. … Borges (11.1 ppg, 5.5 rebounds) and Jasper have size but can hit outside shots. … Martin Nava rounds out the starting lineup and helped Wendell soccer win the 4A state title in the fall. … 6-4 vs. state tournament teams. … No. 3 offense in 3A (58.3 ppg). … Won three state championships (1958, 1970, 2004). … Ranked third in the final state media poll.