Girls’ Basketball Whip-Around: Madison, West Side score upsets; Marsh Valley, Bear Lake, Rigby among favorites to defend home court

EASTERN IDAHO — The first full night of high school basketball playoff games has come and gone, with a pair of upsets having already jostled things in the 6A and 3A brackets.

The 6A High Country Conference 4-seed Madison Bobcats got solid two-way efforts from seniors Mia Walsh and Torey Parker as they knocked off the 3-seed Highland Rams at Highland High School. In Soda Springs, the 3A South East Idaho Conference 5-seed West Side Pirates topped the 4-seed Cardinals.

Meanwhile, a trio of state contenders defended their home courts.

6A

The 1-seed Rigby Trojans (22-0, 8-0) throttled the 5-seed Canyon Ridge Riverhawks (3-18, 0-8), 75-18. With the win, Rigby moved directly into the district championship round.

While the 2-seed Thunder Ridge Titans (14-7, 5-3) enjoyed a bye by attending the Madison-Highland showdown in Pocatello, the 4-seed Bobcats (14-8, 3-5) did something they hadn’t done in two tries during the regular season — beat the 3-seed Rams (11-11, 4-4).

Madison was Walsh, who scored a game-high 16 points, to go with five rebounds, three steals and one block. Parker also brought a solid effort on both ends of the court, adding six points, three steals and a game-high 12 rebounds.

The Bobcats never trailed in the game, leading 12-3 after one quarter of play, and 21-10 at halftime.

Highland was led by freshman Mylee Stucki, who scored a team-leading 10 points, grabbed eight rebounds, swiped three steals and blocked two shots.

With the win, Madison will face the Titans Thursday at Thunder Ridge. Highland will battle Canyon Ridge Wednesday in a loser-out game.

5A

In the 5A District 5 tournament, No. 2-seeded Preston (12-10, 2-2) beat 3-seed Century (1-21, 0-4), 50-22, to earn a Thursday date at top-seeded Pocatello (14-7, 4-0).

The Diamondbacks will face the loser of that game next Tuesday.

No. 3-seed Skyline (10-12, 5-5) topped 6-seed Idaho Falls (8-14, 2-8), 68-27, to advance and face the 2-seed Hillcrest Knights (12-9, 6-4) in Thursday 5A District 6 action.

No. 4 Shelley (6-15, 4-6) also defended their home court against 5-seed Bonneville (9-13, 3-7), 56-46. Next up for the Russets is a short trip to Blackfoot, where they will face the top-seeded Broncos (17-4, 10-0) on Thursday.

Idaho Falls will face the Bees Thursday at Bonneville High School in a loser-out game.

4A

The 4A District 5 top-seeded Bear Lake Bears (18-4, 6-0) defended home court, beating 4-seed American Falls (2-19, 0-6), 67-27, to set up another battle with 2-seed Marsh Valley (18-4, 4-2), who knocked off 3-seed Snake River (7-15, 2-4), 50-20.

The Panthers and Beavers will play on Thursday in American Falls, with the loser eliminated.

District 6 will open its tournament Wednesday, with 2-seed Teton (13-8, 1-3) hosting 3-seed South Fremont (5-15, 1-3) for the right to face undefeated 1-seed Sugar-Salem (21-0, 4-0) on Friday.

3A

In one of just two upsets Tuesday night, the 5-seeded West Side Pirates (9-13, 3-6) beat the 4-seeded Cardinals (8-14, 5-4) at Soda Springs, 47-32. West Side advances to visit top-seeded Malad (19-2, 9-0) Thursday.

No. 3 Wendell (11-10, 3-3) beat No. 6 Declo (6-15, 0-10), 52-40, and will visit No. 2 Aberdeen (9-12, 6-3) on Thursday.

The Trojans and Cardinals will face off at Wendell Thursday in a loser-out game.

In Monday action, No. 1 Firth (19-3, 8-0) crushed No. 5 Salmon (4-14, 0-8) , 50-18, and advances into the district championship round. And No. 3 North Fremont (13-9, 4-4) defended their home-court advantage, beating No. 4 West Jefferson (3-19, 2-6), 60-37, to earn a Wednesday showdown with No. 2 Ririe (13-8, 6-2).

Salmon and West Jefferson will also be in action Wednesday in a loser-out game at South Fremont High School.

2A

No. 2 Grace (16-6, 1-1) jumped all over No. 3 Alturas Prep (0-14, 0-0), 69-8, in 2A District 5-6 action on Monday. The Grizzlies will be in Butte County Wednesday, taking on the top-seeded Pirates (15-5, 1-1).

1A

A busy day of 1A District 5-6 action featured three play-in games, setting up the first round on Thursday.

No. 8 North Gem (6-9, 2-7) beat No. 9 American Heritage (5-11, 1-8), 49-32, to earn a matchup with top-seeded Mackay (16-2, 9-0). The Patriots have been eliminated.

No. 7 Grace Lutheran (6-10, 3-6) edged out No. 10 Watersprings (3-15, 1-8), 32-29, and advanced to take on No. 2 Rockland (14-6, 8-1).

No. 6 Sho-Ban (8-5, 4-5) knocked out No. 11 Clark County (2-13, 0-0), 46-15, and will get No. 3 Leadore (13-3, 7-2) Thursday.

Thursday action will also include a matchup of No. 4 Challis (7-9, 6-3) and No. 5 Taylor’s Crossing (7-6, 4-5).