Basketball Whip-Around: Thunder Ridge girls down Highland, American Falls boys knock off Teton

EASTERN IDAHO — With a win at Preston High School, the Pocatello Thunder won the girls’ 5A South East Idaho Conference championship and the right to host the district tournament.

Poky-Preston, though, was far from the only basketball action Friday night.

The Thunder Ridge Titans and Highland Rams girls battled in conference play at Highland, while the Marsh Valley Eagles survived the South Fremont Cougars in boys non-con. In American Falls, the Beaver boys survived a highly ranked Teton team, handing the Timberwolves their second consecutive loss.

South Fremont @ Marsh Valley, boys

The Eagles (10-4, 0-0) bounced back from a loss to Filer last Saturday with a 71-59 home victory over the Cougars (6-9, 0-1).

Marsh Valley was led by senior Tate Whitworth, who scored 20 points, and Jaxson Smith, with 19. Sophomore Nash Guthrie scored 19 as well. They will be at Buhl Saturday for their final tune-up game before conference play starts Thursday with a visit from the American Falls Beavers (11-3, 0-0).

Teton @ American Falls, boys

The Beavers defended the dam from the No. 2-ranked 4A team in the state, edging out the Timberwolves 62-60.

American Falls got double-digit scoring efforts from senior Gavin Adamson (13), junior Hunter Grigg (12) and senior Sawyer Bolgen (10). They have won six straight games, and will host Buhl before visiting Marsh Valley.

Teton (12-4, 0-1) has lost back-to-back, after winning nine straight. They were led by senior Luke Nelson and junior Canon Kunz, with 13 points each.

The Timberwolves will host Jackson Hole (WY) Tuesday.

Soda Springs @ West Side, boys

The Cardinals (9-4, 3-1) made it five straight wins Friday night, beating the Pirates (10-6, 3-2), 67-57, to keep up with conference-leading Wendell (13-1, 3-0).

Soda Springs will play three more games before facing the Trojans on the road on Feb. 4, in a game that could decide the conference. First up, the Cardinals will be at Grace (5-11, 0-1) Tuesday.

Thunder Ridge @ Highland, girls

A close game early, the Titans (14-6, 5-3) pulled away from the Rams (10-9, 3-4) in the second half, en route to a 59-41 win.

Both teams trail the undefeated 6A High Country Conference champion Rigby Trojans (19-0, 8-0) with less than a week remaining in the season. Highland will host Madison (12-7, 3-4) Tuesday and Blackfoot (14-4, 9-0) Thursday before launching into the district tournament.

Thunder Ridge will be at Shelley (5-13, 4-6) Tuesday to close out its regular season.