PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL: Post Falls, Priest River fall in play-ins

GRANGEVILLE — They battled.

But that old nagging issue from the free-throw line acted up at the least opportune time for the Post Falls Trojans in Saturday’s state 5A play-in game at Grangeville High.

Leading by four with one minute remaining, the Trojans missed on 1-on-1 attempts at the free throw, allowing the Borah Lions of Boise to rally for a 42-39 win and advance to the state 5A tournament.

“It just kind of came down to our Achilles heel and not making free throws,” Post Falls coach Marc Allert said. “We were up, missing a free throw, and their post (Michal Bilger) hit a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to one point. They fouled us again, and we missed another and they got a shot inside with 13 seconds left to take the lead.”

Post Falls had a chance to tie the game twice. The Trojans turned the ball over on their next possession and had a tying 3-pointer bounce in and out —twice — at the buzzer.

“I thought our girls battled,” Allert said. “We got down seven in the third quarter and came back and made a good run and took the lead. They just made some plays at the end of the game.”

Melody Kempton had 12 points and six rebounds and Mackenzie Morris had six points and eight rebounds for Post Falls, which finishes 14-11.

Alyssa Bolt scored 15 points for Borah (18-9), which faces defending 5A champion Mountain View in the opening round on Thursday at the Ford Idaho Center.

Borah 6 16 5 15 — 42

Post Falls 10 7 12 10 — 39

BORAH — Bryant 4, Corpus 5, Bolt 15, Bilger 13, Geritz 5, Camacho 0, Thaback 0.

POST FALLS — Morris 6, Gennett 2, Brennan 7, Gleaves 3, McComb 0, Robinson 0, Kempton 12, Parks 2, Johnson 7.

Emmett 82

Priest River 45

CRAIGMONT — Lillie Smith had 31 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Huskies past the Spartans in a state 3A tournament play-in game at Highland High.

Avery Summers had 17 points for Priest River, which finishes 14-9.

Morgan Mitchell had 20 points and nine rebounds for Emmett, which shot 26 of 53 from the field and was 24 of 43 from the free throw line. Emmett (20-5) will face Marsh Valley (18-5) in the opening round of the state tournament on Thursday at 5:15 p.m. PST at Middleton High.

Emmett 24 12 24 22 — 82

Priest River 9 7 18 11 — 45

EMMETT — Marston 0, Goslin 1, Lyter 12, Smith 31, Taylor 7, Hall 0, Probst 3, Kaiser 8, Mitchell 20. Totals 26-53 24-43 82.

PRIEST RIVER — Hurd 0, Wilson 0, Downs 0, Gamma 2, Butler 0, Summers 17, Krampert 10, Huntley 0, Carey 8, Martin 2, Akre 1, Potthoff 0, DeMent 4, Petit 1. Totals 13-48 17-30 45.

Caldwell 48

Moscow 47

GRANGEVILLE — The Bears came up short in a state 4A play-in game to the Cougars at Grangeville High.

Caldwell (17-8) will open at the state tournament against Minico on Thursday at Timberline High in Boise.

Moscow finishes 10-11.

The Oaks 32

N.I. Christian 31

PULLMAN — Rayla Andrews had 18 points and 12 rebounds for the Royals in a loss to The Oaks out of Spokane in the championship game of the Mountain Christian League tournament.

Sammy Hill had six points, five assists and three steals for North Idaho Christian, which finishes 13-15.

The Oaks 10 8 6 8 — 32

N.I. Christian 13 6 5 7 — 31

THE OAKS — Kim 9, Moderman 2, Palpant 4, Love 8, Jackson 2, Netjes 7.

NORTH IDAHO CHRISTIAN — Wood 2, Andrews 18, Hill 6, Lassan 4, Schlader 1, Holmes 0, Hensley 0, Whiteman 0.