Priest River trips Kellogg in all-IML final
<p>Kellogg players Taylor Huber, left, Tacey Day, and Marah Ashcraft, right, look on in disappointment Saturday as their team falls behind to Priest River in the 3A girls state basketball championship game in Nampa.</p>
<p>Ryder Ashcraft, of Kellogg, left, drives passed Priest River defender Hailey Felgenhauer Saturday in Nampa.</p>
<p>Kellogg's Hayley Young beats Priest River's Samantha Stokes to a loose ball in the first half.</p>
<p>Priest River's Tristan Troudt, right, gets a palm on the ball Saturday resulting in a jump ball and change of possession during the first half against Kellogg.</p>
<p>Tina Viche, mother of Kellogg guard, Kirsten Viche, cheers for the Wildcats Saturday in Nampa.</p>
<p>Priest River High's Courtney Oscarson celebrates (21) with team mates as the Spartans score in the final minutes of Saturday's 3A state basketball championship game at the Idaho Center in Nampa. Priest River won the 3A state title over Kellogg High School 45-33.</p>
<p>Samantha Stokes, of Priest River, celebrates winning the 3A state basketball title Saturday with team mates.</p>
<p>Priest River's Melissa Hopkins strips the ball from Kellogg's Hayley Young in the first quarter Saturday in Nampa.</p>
<p>Kellogg's Hayley Young holds back tears Saturday after losing to Priest River in the 3A girls state basketball title game in Nampa.</p>
<p>Kirsten Viche, of Kellogg, wipes tears from her face Saturday during the state basketball runner-up award presentation in Nampa.</p>
NAMPA - Even after his team won its first state girls basketball championship in school history, Priest River High coach Gary Stewart remained calm.
That is, until junior Morgan Stewart, the youngest of his two daughters that play for him, jumped into his arms after the Spartan players were awarded their medals.
"It's really special for us," Gary Stewart said after Priest River defeated fellow Intermountain League team Kellogg 45-33 in the state 3A title game at the Idaho Center. "This is huge for Priest River."
"We're a bunch of crybabies," senior Taylor Stewart said of her dad. "Basketball is our sport. We're just content and love our lives."
Neither team was expected to make it to the Idaho Center. Priest River (19-6) won the District 1-2 tournament as the second seed. Kellogg (18-9) got the second berth as the third seed.
"Getting here was good for us," first-year Kellogg coach Jeff Lambert said. "Finishing second is nothing to hang our heads about. Nobody thought we'd get here."
Taylor Stewart had 16 points, including a 3-pointer to give the Spartans the lead for good with 6:37 remaining. That shot changed the momentum of the game as the Spartans closed out the game on a 14-2 run.
"I really think it was the timeout we called," Gary Stewart said of the momentum change. "Kati (Bodecker) is amazing as an assistant coach. She's got a wealth of experience."
"It's awesome," Taylor Stewart said. "We never win. It was all I could ask for to finish with a state title. We've always gotten either fifth or eighth."
Kellogg, also bidding for its first state title, led by as much as six points midway through the third quarter after a 3-pointer by Kirsten Viche put the Wildcats up 30-24, but could never get it going again on offense.
Senior Chelsea Morgan closed out her Wildcat career with 13 points and nine rebounds.
"As a team, we worked so hard to get here," Morgan said. "We bypassed all those people that didn't believe and we went out with a bang. This is something we as senior won't forget."
Lambert made sure to remind his team of all the good things about their season following Saturday's game, and is looking forward to another shot down the road.
"I told them not to worry about the last game," Lambert said. "We didn't have our legs under us because we are only 7-8 deep - and it may have caught up with us tonight. Priest River is a good ballclub. Having success like this should only help our program. It makes everyone excited - it should be great for our program."
Junior Melissa Hopkins added 17 points and 11 rebounds for Priest River, joining her father, Ron, as an Idaho state champion.
"It's amazing," Hopkins said. "It feels so good to go out a winner. It's so awesome. I am so proud of my team. The whole team stepped up over the last two weeks."
Priest River 11 9 7 18 - 45
Kellogg 8 12 10 3 - 33
PRIEST RIVER - Troudt 7, T. Stewart 16, Trost 0, Pavey 2, M. Stewart 0, Stokes 3, Hopkins 17, Halcro 0, Hirst 0. Totals 14-45 13-18 45.
KELLOGG - Viche 5, Young 2, R. Ashcraft 7, M. Ashcraft 0, Morgan 13, Huber 0, Fuller 2, Waechter 4. Totals 12-45 8-12 33.