Kootenai ousted after close loss

CALDWELL - They may have had the worst record coming into the 1A Division 2 tournament, but you couldn't tell by watching them on the floor at Caldwell High on Friday night.

Despite a 32-point effort by senior Jake Zarpentine, the Kootenai Warriors were unable to score late as they fell to Meadows Valley 63-62 to fall out of the tournament.

"I'm proud of our kids," Kootenai coach Andrew Whipple said. "This is as competitive team as I've ever coached."

Zarpentine's 32 points tied a state record in a game in the three-year old division.

"Jake had a heck of a tournament," Whipple said. "Our foul trouble cost us tonight."

Greg Wallace had nine rebounds for Kootenai (6-13), which lost to Murtaugh 50-48 on Thursday night.

"We had the worst record of any team going into the tournament," Whipple said. "It just goes to show that records don't mean anything once you get to the state tournament. It's a heartbreaker, but I wouldn't trade any of my kids for anyone else at the state tournament."

Kootenai 12 14 23 14 - 63

Meadows Valley 16 16 20 12 - 64

KOOTENAI - Zarpentine 32, Wallace 9, Myhre 10, Willms 0, Whipple 0, Carman 3, Kraack 9. Totals 24-55 12-23 63.

MEADOWS VALLEY - Ralls 0, Wallace 0, Wallace 13, Hearold 2, Swift 10, Benz 11, Shivers 0, Siegel 8, Dixon 20. Totals 26-52 9-19 64.