St. Maries rallies, returns to state

RATHDRUM - Zach Lehman scored nine of his team-high 11 points in the fourth quarter to lead the St. Maries Lumberjacks to a state 3A tournament berth with a 41-39 win over the Bonners Ferry Badgers in the District 1-2 tournament second-place game at Lakeland High.

St. Maries (12-8) opens state against Snake River (18-4) of Moreland on Thursday at 2 p.m. PST at Meridian High.

St. Maries fell behind 28-13 at halftime, but switched to a full-court press in the second half and outscored the Badgers 28-10 after intermission.

"It was a gradual progression after switching to the press," St. Maries coach Jeff Mercer said. "It changed the pace of the game."

Jaden Guidry found senior Seth Patzer for a score to put the Lumberjacks in the lead at 40-39 with under 40 seconds remaining. After a failed attempt by Bonners Ferry to regain the lead, Jake Mercer hit 1 of 2 free throws to close out the game.

"Our kids played with a lot of heart," Mercer said. "I'd been telling them all along, if we work hard - we can go to state. Bonners Ferry put up a heck of a fight and had an outstanding tournament."

Lehman added five rebounds and five steals for St. Maries, which placed fourth at state last year.

Alex Kellogg had 15 points for Bonners Ferry, which finishes its season at 8-14.

n Priest River (19-3), which beat St. Maries for the District 3 title Friday night, opens state vs. Homedale (13-10) on Thursday at 7 p.m. PST

n In the state 5A tourney, Region 1 champion Lake City (13-9) will open vs. Borah (14-11) of Boise on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Idaho Center in Nampa. Borah defeated Highland of Pocatello 54-47 on Saturday in a state play-in game. Region 1 runner-up Post Falls (19-4) opens vs. Vallivue (18-5) of Caldwell on Thursday at 2 p.m. PST.

Bonners Ferry 13 15 5 5 - 39

St. Maries 6 7 10 18 - 41

BONNERS FERRY - Moe 6, Zarate 0, Kellogg 15, Mendez 5, Evans 11, Watt 2, Everhart 0, Lopez 0.

ST. MARIES - Joiner 0, Sampson 0, Lehman 11, Guidry 3, Patzer 10, Mercer 9, Heath 8, Cordell 0.

Times PST

Thursday

At the Idaho Center, Nampa

Game 1: Madison (17-7) vs. Centennial (16-7), 12:15 p.m.

Game 2: Vallivue (18-5) vs. Post Falls (19-4), 2 p.m.

Game 3: Eagle (22-1) vs. Rocky Mountain (15-9), 5:15 p.m.

Game 4: Lake City (13-9) vs. Borah (14-11), 7 p.m.

At Borah High, Boise

Game 1: Bishop Kelly (17-6) vs. Jerome (15-11), 12:15 p.m.

Game 2: Moscow (16-6) vs. Rigby (13-12), 2 p.m.

Game 3: Hillcrest (20-3) vs. Skyview (19-4), 5:15 p.m.

Game 4: Twin Falls (21-3) vs. Century (14-11), 7 p.m.

At Meridian High

Game 1: Fruitland (16-6) vs. Salmon (18-5), 12:15 p.m.

Game 2: Snake River (18-4) vs. St. Maries (12-8), 2 p.m.

Game 3: Filer (17-4) vs. Shelley (14-8), 5:15 p.m.

Game 4: Priest River (19-3) vs. Homedale (13-10), 7 p.m.

At Capital High, Boise

Game 1: Glenns Ferry (19-3) vs. West Side (16-4), 12:15 p.m.

Game 2: Firth (18-5) vs. Melba (19-5), 2 p.m.

Game 3: New Plymouth (14-8) vs. West Jefferson (10-13), 5:15 p.m.

Game 4: Kamiah (16-5) vs. Soda Springs (13-8), 7 p.m.

1A Division I

At Vallivue High, Caldwell

Game 1: Castleford (21-1) vs. Kendrick (12-11), 12:15 p.m.

Game 2: Liberty Charter (17-5) vs. Shoshone (21-5), 2 p.m.

Game 3: Prairie (23-1) vs. Cascade (13-7), 5:15 p.m.

Game 4: Raft River (18-6) vs. Troy (19-6), 7 p.m.

1A Division II

At Caldwell High

Game 1: Kootenai (12-9) vs. Dietrich (18-8), 12:15 p.m.

Game 2: Carey (21-2) vs. Mackay (18-2), 2 p.m.

Game 3: North Gem (14-5) vs. Nezperce (17-5), 5:15 p.m.

Game 4: Salmon River (15-7) vs. Murtaugh (17-5), 7 p.m.