State 3A high school girls basketball tourney: Timberlake holds off pesky Fruitland to advance to semifinals
<p>Timberlake’s Keelie Lawler dribbles around Fruitland defender Brooke Teunissen in the second half.</p>
<p>Timberlake High School’s Allison Kirby drives past Fruitland’s Mackenzie Collins in the fourth quarter of the Idaho state 3A tournament Thursday in Nampa. Timberlake won the first round 47-43.</p>
<p>Allison Kirby, of Timberlake, puts up a shot over Fruitland’s MaKenna Little in the first half.</p>
<p>Timberlake’s Lilly Kelly guards Fruitland’s Mackenzie Collins in the first quarter.</p>
<p>Timberlake High School’s Jacquelyn Mallet disrupts a pass to Fruitland’s MaKenna Little in the first half.</p>
<p>The lady Tigers’ Shelby Starr prepares to shoot a free throw against Fruitland during the first round of the state 3A tournament.</p>
<p>Timberlake’s Carleen Simpson fights for possession of the ball from Fruitland’s MaKenna Little.</p>
NAMPA - Bus legs.
Nerves.
Whatever was slowing down the top-ranked Timberlake Tigers in the first half of Thursday's state 3A girls basketball tournament, it lasted a lot longer than coach Matt Miller might have hoped and wished for.
Junior Payten Rhodes scored 10 points - all coming in the first half - and sophomore Keelie Lawler scored 11 points - all in the second half - to lead the Tigers past the Fruitland Grizzlies 47-43 in a first-round game at Skyview High.
"Payten really kept us in it in the first half and hit some big shots," Miller said. "She played with a lot of confidence and was one of the few that really kept her head the entire time. She didn't look like she was playing with nerves, or if she did, it didn't show. She really played well on both ends of the floor, but she kept us in for sure, especially on the offensive end."
Timberlake (20-3) will face Filer (18-9) in the semifinals tonight at 5:15 PST. It is a rematch of last year's state championship game, won by Filer 44-36 at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa.
Filer beat Priest River 44-38 on Thursday.
Priest River (16-8) will face Fruitland (16-8) in a loser-out game today at 12:15 p.m. PST.
Timberlake shot 9 for 27 in the first half, but still led 28-27 after grabbing the advantage on a basket by Allison Kirby with 36 seconds remaining in the half.
"We've got to make shots, especially if teams are going to pack in a zone for most of the game," Miller said. "We've got great shooters, and have never been afraid of zones. They're great shooters and are going to keep shooting. And if they're missing, the odds will even out."
Shelby Starr, a 5-foot-7 freshman guard, scored seven points, including a key 3-pointer to stretch Timberlake's advantage to 38-33 after the third quarter.
"She really came alive in the second half for us," said Miller of Starr. "She hit some big shots and defensively, with her length, she can create some problems and just hit some shots that were big for us."
Lawler hit a 3-pointer to give Timberlake a 41-33 lead early in the fourth quarter.
"Sometimes, we don't play the best, or the best defense we normally do," Lawler said. "But we keep working hard. A 'W' is a 'W.'"
Fruitland senior post Brooke Teunissen had 18 points and 15 rebounds, 10 of those rebounds coming in the second half.
"We were missing our assignments left and right," Miller said. "I think it was the nerves a little bit, but we weren't really into it defensively and didn't do the small things on her."
Fruitland held Timberlake to 15-of-46 shooting for the game. The Grizzlies finished 17 of 53 from the field.
"We knew going in that they were a really high-pressure team and liked to run," said 11th-year Fruitland coach Beth Holt. "Our goal was to handle their pressure, and I thought we did a good job of that and had to get out of it a little bit. I don't feel like we were patient enough offensively to get some things done and didn't hit our free throws."
Mackenzie Collins added 13 points on 5-of-17 shooting for Fruitland.
"Timberlake's a great team," Holt said. "There's no doubt about that and a good reason why they're No. 1. We're proud of our kids. They never quit and never gave up, and that's all you can ask for."
Fruitland 14 13 6 10 - 43
Timberlake 10 18 10 9 - 47
FRUITLAND - Farmer 0, M. Collins 13, Dahle 4, H. Collins 4, Little 4, Lee 0, Fitzimonds 0, Teunissen 18. Totals 17-53 7-13 43.
TIMBERLAKE - R. Powell 0, Kelley 0, Rhodes 10, Mallet 4, Starr 7, Jezek 4, Kirby 7, Gardom 2, Simpson 2, Lawler 11. Totals 15-46 10-15 47.