STATE BOYS BASKETBALL CAPSULES: A glimpse at each team competing in this week's tournaments
CLASS 5A
BORAH LIONS
Record: 21-2
State seed: District Three champ
Coach: Cary Cada, 22nd season
Players to watch: G Rylan Bergersen, sr.; PG DeAndre Jones, sr.; G Max Reitman, jr.
Notes: Holding opponents to a classification-low 35.7 points per game. … Only two losses came to Centennial, which it later beat for the district title. … Bergersen (15.5 ppg, 5.5 rebounds) and Jones (11.1 ppg, 5.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists) carry the bulk of the scoring load. … Qualified for state for the eighth year in a row and 13th time in 14 years. … Borah is 28-14 and has never gone two-and-out at state under Cada. … Tied with Moscow for the most titles (11) in state history.
CAPITAL EAGLES
Record: 14-12
State seed: Play-in game winner
Coach: Scott Moore, first season
Players to watch: P Cameron Godeny-Scott, jr.; G Justin Saunders, jr.; W Harrison Ashby, jr.
Notes: Started the year 1-6 before making a late-season push, thanks in part to the return of Godeny-Scott (11.2 ppg, 6.5 rebounds). … Routed Post Falls 70-52 to return to state for the fourth year in a row. … Won eight straight games in January. … Last won state in 2014.
CENTENNIAL PATRIOTS
Record: 20-4
State seed: District Three runner-up
Coach: Josh Aipperspach, first season
Players to watch: PG Talon Pinckney, sr.; PF Kendall Williams, sr.; C Connor Desaulniers, sr.; SF Delveion Jackson, jr.
Notes: Back to state for the first time since 2012. … Holds opponents to 42.1 ppg, second lowest in 5A. … Is the only team to beat Borah, knocking them off twice in the regular season. … Five players average more than eight points per game — Williams (10.8), Jackson (10.3), Pinckney (8.4), Desaulniers (8.3) and Taylor Wallick (8.3). … Pinckney also averaging 5.8 assists per game.
HIGHLAND RAMS
Record: 17-6
State seed: District Five-Six runner-up
Coach: Chris Frost, 26th season
Players to watch: F Connor Harding, sr.; G Mason Baker, sr.; G Braydon West, sr.
Notes: Won a trophy at each of the past four state tournaments (runner-up last year). ... Harding has signed to play at BYU. ... Highland is 2-3 this season versus teams in the 5A bracket.
LEWISTON BENGALS
Record: 14-8
State seed: District One-Two champ
Coach: Jayson Ulrich, second season
Players to watch: F Trystan Bradley, jr.; F Braeden Wilson, so.; G Riley Way, jr.; G Keeshawn Clarke, jr.
Notes: Everything Lewiston does works through stellar junior forward Trystan Bradley. The 6-foot-7 post is tough to stop in the paint and often spends time at the free-throw line. … Riley Way and Braeden Wilson offer support from the perimeter with their 3-point shooting, while 5-foot-7 guard Keeshawn Clark controls the tempo. … First trip to state since 2009, when the Bengals won the championship without winning their district.
MADISON BOBCATS
Record: 20-2
State seed: District Five-Six champ
Coach: Bill Hawkins, 28th season
Players to watch: PG Josh Crane, sr.; G Jaxon Edelmayer, jr.; F Nathan Webb, jr.
Notes: Ended Highland’s four-year run as district champs by beating the Rams 62-61 on a last-second free throw by Jaxon Edelmayer in the district title game. … First trip to state since 2013. … Lost just twice during the regular season — a 61-40 throttling by Borah in the second game of the season and a 55-54 loss at Highland on Jan. 20. They’ve won nine straight entering the state tournament. … Madison averaged 68.3 points per game, led by 14.0 a game from Jaxon Edelmayer. Nathan Webb hit a 3-pointer in every game and averaged 13.3 ppg.
MOUNTAIN VIEW MAVERICKS
Record: 14-10
State seed: District Three fourth-place finisher
Coach: Jon Nettleton, 11th season
Players to watch: G Damen Thacker, sr.; G Cam Howard, jr.; W Juan Aguilar, jr.
Notes: Returns to state after a two-year absence. … Started the year 9-2 before a five-game losing streak, then closed the year winning four of its last five. … Thacker (14.5 ppg, 2.3 assists) and Howard (11.4 ppg, 44.9 percent on 3-pointers) lead a guard-heavy roster that tries to push the pace to overcome its lack of size.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN GRIZZLIES
Record: 17-6
State seed: District Three third-place finisher
Coach: Dane Roy, fifth season
Players to watch: F Kolby Lee, jr.; G Jacob Erickson, jr.; F Blair Moore, sr.; G Kobe Terashima, jr.
Notes: At state for the fourth year in a row. … Battled injuries all season long but is finally fully healthy. … The 6-9 Lee (14.2 ppg, 9.1 rebounds, 1.2 blocks) started the season with offers from Boise State, Utah State and Portland, Roy said. … Lee teams up with 6-10 Moore to give the Grizzlies a pair of mismatches in the frontcourt.
CLASS 4A
BISHOP KELLY KNIGHTS
Record: 14-5
State seed: District Three champ
Coach: Ryan Kerns, second season
Players to watch: G Max Rice, so.; G Bronson King, jr.; G Dan Sabala, jr.; G Mike Martinez, sr.
Notes: Returns to state for the seventh time in eight years after falling to Rigby in last year’s title game. It opens the tournament vs. Rigby. … Rice is the son of Boise State coach Leon Rice and leads the team in scoring (14.0 ppg) and rebounds (5.1). … Loves to push the pace with a guard-heavy roster. … Only state titles came in 1991 and ‘98 at the 3A level. Has never won a 4A state title.
BURLEY BOBCATS
Record: 16-8
State seed: District Four runner-up
Coach: Jack Bagley, 14th year
Players to watch: G Britton Garrard, sr.; G Landen Gunnel, sr.; P Ace Christiansen, jr.; G Emilio Polanco, sr.
Notes: After losing its first three games to Twin Falls, the Bobcats beat the Bruins in the district tournament to earn the No. 2 seed from the district. … The Bobcats were one of three Idaho teams to beat No. 1-ranked Preston during the regular season. Rigby and Minico were the other two.
CALDWELL COUGARS
Record: 14-12
State seed: District Three third-place finisher
Coach: Trent Harrison, first year
Players to watch: F George Tarlas, jr.; F Austin Van Horne, sr.; G Forrest Smith, sr.; G Sam Briseno, sr.
Notes: Won four elimination games in five days to return to state for the first time since 1999. …
Last state appearance before ‘99 came in 1988. Caldwell went two-and-out both times. … Only state title came in 1967. … Smith (11.6 ppg) leads the team in scoring, while Tarlas (10.5 ppg), Van Horne (8.3) and Briseno (6.3) all average more than six points.
LAKELAND HAWKS
Record: 10-12
State seed: District One-Two champ
Coach: Dave Stockwell, fifth season
Players to watch: P Andrew Knight, sr.; G Kaden Davis, so.; PG Dylan Knight, so.
Notes: At state for the second straight year, but this is a completely different team from last year’s tournament with Andrew Knight the lone returner who played significant varsity minutes last year. … Won five of its last six games, beating Sandpoint 43-34 in the district title game …. Last year was Lakeland’s first appearance at state since 2004.
MIDDLETON VIKINGS
Record: 10-13
State seed: District Three runner-up
Coach: Dale Karst, third year
Players to watch: F Reece Robinett, jr.; G David Kofoed, jr.; G Kobe Crawford, sr.
Notes: Back at state for the second straight year after going two-and-out last year. … Owns a win over district champ Bishop Kelly in a December road game. … Robinett (11.0 ppg) is the leading scorer on 50 percent shooting. Kofoed (10.1 ppg) and Crawford (8.0 ppg) provide balance.
MINICO SPARTANS
Record: 20-4
State seed: District Four champ
Coach: Ty Shippen, third year
Players to watch: F Matthew Brumley, sr.; G Josh Pilling, sr.; G Peyton Bailey, sr. G; Jeremy Stevenson, sr.
Notes: Ranked second in the final state media poll, two of Minico’s losses were to No. 1 Preston, although it also beat the Indians once. … Minico won the District Four tournament for the first time in five years. … Lost one game in conference play (to Mini-Cassia rival Burley).
PRESTON INDIANS
Record: 19-4
State seed: District Five-Six champ
Coach: Tyler Jones, sixth season
Players to watch: G Austin Smellie, sr.; F Brayden Parker, so.; G Sawyer Jensen, sr.
Notes: Making its first state tournament appearance since 2007. ... 5-3 this season against teams in the 4A tournament. ... Jones is the son of six-time state basketball champion coach Terry Jones (Malad) and the brother of three-time state basketball champion coach Justin Jones (Rigby).
RIGBY TROJANS
(Defending state champ)
Record: 11-12
State seed: District Five-Six runner-up
Coach: Justin Jones, eighth season
Players to watch: G Ty Cottle, sr.; F Braden Boyce, sr.
Notes: The Trojans were a tough team to figure this winter. They were one of four teams to beat top-ranked Preston this season, but they were crushed by the Indians 67-29 in the rematch and they lost to a Blackfoot team that won just five games. … Senior guard Ty Cottle played his best basketball in the final two games, scoring 18 in a loser-out game against Blackfoot and adding 22 in a winner-to-state game against Pocatello. … Braden Boyce scored a game-high 17 points in last year’s championship game, but he, Connor Geisler and Ty Cottle are the only returning members from that team.
CLASS 3A
BUHL INDIANS
Record: 21-2
State seed: District Four champ
Coach: Dan Winn, sixth season
Players to watch: G Hayden Eckert, sr.; F Michael Lively, sr.; G Kasey Crossland, sr.; F Jim Elkin, jr.
Notes: Returns many of its key players from the team that won the 2014 state championship and the one that took second place in ‘15. … Eckert leads the team with 19.8 ppg, while Lively (13.4), Crossland (10.7) and Elkin (10.1) give the Indians three more players averaging double digits. … Lively averages a double-double of 13.4 points and 11 rebounds a contest while shooting 65 percent from the field. … Eckert, a two-time, first-team All-Idaho guard, also leads Buhl in assists (4.5), steals (2.4) and 3-pointers per game (3.8).
EMMETT HUSKIES
Record: 14-9
State seed: District Three champ
Coach: Greg Daniels, third season
Players to watch: G DJ Crump, so.; SG Luc Overton, jr.; F Jordan Gleim, jr.; SG Saige Wilkerson, sr.
Notes: Won its first district title since 2002. … Third state appearance in nine years. The previous two were at the 4A level in 2013 and ‘08. … Started the season 3-7 before winning 11 of its last 13 games. … No one is averaging more than 10 points per game, but four are averaging more than six — Crump (9.5), Overton (9.3), Gleim (7.6) and Wilkerson (6.9). … Only state titles came in 1940 and 1965.
FRUITLAND GRIZZLIES
Record: 15-11
State seed: Play-in game winner
Coach: Mike Fitch, 17th season
Players to watch: G Conner Benear, sr.; G DaMetri Weatherall, sr.; G Walker Whaley, sr.
Notes: Routed Timberlake 72-54 in state play-in game to qualify for state for the 13th time in 14 years. … Started the season 1-4 before winning seven of its last nine games. … Opens against No. 1-ranked Snake River, a team it played four times in the previous seven state tournaments. Fruitland holds 3-1 advantage.
KELLOGG WILDCATS
Record: 18-4
State seed: District One champ
Coach: Jeff Lambert, sixth season
Players to watch: F Tobias (Toby) Colburn, jr.; G Ryan Martin, sr.; G Tyler Gibbons, so.
Notes: Won a third straight District One title to advance to state. … Beat 5A Lewiston 57-54 in an early-season game. … Lambert coached the Wildcat girls to the state title game in 2010, losing to Intermountain League rival Priest River. … Kellogg handed 2A St. Maries two of its three losses. … Won the consolation championship at state last year, beating Fruitland.
PARMA PANTHERS
Record: 13-10
State seed: District Three runner-up
Coach: Scott Garrick, first year
Players to watch: G Tanner Kramer, sr.; P Colten Merges, sr.; G/F Payton Pinz, jr.
Notes: Third straight state appearance. … Owns key wins over Weiser, which it beat twice, including in the semifinals of last week’s district tournament. Weiser was the top team in the 3A SRV all year long. … Kramer averages a team-high 16 points per game. Merges averages 10 points, and Pinz guards the opposing team’s best offensive player.
SHELLEY RUSSETS
Record: 10-13
State seed: District Six champ
Coach: Jim Kolsen, first season
Players to watch: PG Blaine Rumsey, sr.; F Adam Driscoll, jr.
Notes: The Russets finished the season strong, winning their last four (three of them loser-out games) to claim the district title. But Shelley won just six of 19 prior to that, including two four-game losing streaks and a five-game skid. … Averaged just 49.3 points per game, led by Blaine Rumsey’s 12.1 ppg. But allowed just 47.9 points per game. … Fourth straight trip to state. The Russets won 3A state titles in 1970, 2007 and 2009. … Sophomore Jack Thompson is averaging 7.8 points and a team-best 5.6 rebounds per game.
SOUTH FREMONT COUGARS
(Defending state champ)
Record: 13-12
State seed: Play-in game winner
Coach: Ryon Pope, fourth season
Players to watch: PG Alec Pope, sr.; C Blake Bartschi, jr.
Notes: Only two starters (Alec Pope and Blake Bartschi) return from last year’s team, which beat Buhl to claim the school’s first state basketball title. … Pope, the son of head coach Ryon Pope, leads the team in scoring at 13.1 points per game while adding 4.1 assists and 2.8 steals. Bartschi, a 6-foot-6 junior, averages 12 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. … Went 2-6 against 3A state qualifiers Shelley and Snake River and 2A qualifier Soda Springs. But they also swept two games against two-time defending 2A state champion Firth, handing the Cougars their only losses of the season.
SNAKE RIVER PANTHERS
Record: 20-2
State seed: District Five champ
Coach: Robert Coombs, 23rd season
Players to watch: F Tyler Coombs, sr.; F Clancy Thomas, so.; G Jaden Poulter, sr.
Notes: Outscored conference opponents by an average of 22.5 points per game. ... Have won five state championships since 2000, all under Coombs. ... 5-1 this season against teams in this year’s 3A bracket.
CLASS 2A
FIRTH COUGARS
(Defending state champ)
Record: 21-2
State seed: District Six champ
Coach: Scott Adams, 12th season
Players to watch: PG Lucus Orme, sr.; C Connor Burkhart, sr.
Notes: Won two straight and six of the past nine 2A state titles. … Connor Burkhart and Lucus Orme have been key members of the past two state title teams. In last year's title game, Burkhart had 13 points and 10 rebounds while Orme had eight points and six boards.. … Has allowed 35.3 points per game, with a season-high of 52 against West Side and a season-low of 19 against Malad. … Burkhart (14.5 ppg) leads the team in scoring, while Orme (13.5 ppg) is just behind.
NAMPA CHRISTIAN TROJANS
Record: 15-8
State seed: District Three runner-up
Coach: Randy Brothers, fourth year
Players to watch: G Peyton Brothers, sr.; G Caelen Dennis, soph.; F Marcus Waterman, sr.
Notes: At state for the second straight year. … Owns notable wins over 3A state qualifier Parma, and it beat Marsing twice, who made it to the state play-in game. … Brothers (18.2 ppg) leads the team in scoring, while Dennis (12.0) and Waterman (10.0) both average double digits.
MELBA MUSTANGS
Record: 18-4
State seed: District Three champ
Coach: Bob Lenz, 18th year
Players to watch: G Nick Fitts, jr.; F Trey Trappett, sr.; P Devin Edmiston, sr.
Notes: At state for the third consecutive year. … Ran roughshod over its league opponents, beating all of them by double digits. … Fitts, the probable league player of the year, averages 23.3 points per game. … Trappett and Edmiston average 12.1 and 6.3 points per game, respectively.
SODA SPRINGS CARDINALS
Record: 18-8
State seed: District Five runner-up
Coach: Greg Bergholm, 12th season
Players to watch: G Ridge Thompson, jr.; G Josh Balls, sr.; G Tanner Meyers, sr.
Notes: Defending state runner-up. ... Ninth consecutive state tournament berth. … Bergholm won 2A title with Grace in 2003.
ST. MARIES LUMBERJACKS
Record: 20-3
State seed: District One-Two champ
Coach: Bryan Chase, second year
Players to watch: G Drake Lounsbury, jr.; F Kiefer Gibson, jr.; G Chase Truscott, sr.; G Jake Sieler, jr.
Notes: Outside of two losses to 3A Kellogg, only other loss was to 5A Coeur d’Alene. … St. Maries beat West Jefferson 71-69 in third-place game in last year’s tournament, only the Lumberjacks’ second trophy from state since 1989.
WENDELL TROJANS
Record: 19-4
State seed: District Four champ/play-in game winner
Coach: Sam Kelsey, fourth year
Players to watch: G Hunter Laudert, sr.; F Johnny Lancaster, sr.; F Logan Bowers, sr.; G Joseph Swainston, sr.; G Bryce John, sr.; G Josh Rocha, sr.
Notes: Last made the state tournament in 2014 when many of its core players were sophomores. … Has seven seniors, most of whom logged considerable minutes coming into 2016. … Bowers broke a backboard at his home gym after a tomahawk dunk. … Had an impressive regular season, knocking off 3A Buhl, Kimberly and Filer.
WEST JEFFERSON PANTHERS
Record: 15-10
State seed: District Six runner-up
Coach: Dave Johnson, third season
Players to watch: PG Uriel Garcia, sr.; F Braxton Ramirez, soph.
Notes: Overcame the graduation of a talented senior class to earn a return trip to state, led by senior point guard Uriel Garcia (16.5 ppg., 4.3 assists, 2.5 steals). … Sophomore Braxton Ramirez has made a splash in his varsity debut, averaging 12.5 points per game while shooting nearly 50 percent from 3-point range. … Lost to Ririe in the district tournament opener, then won three straight loser-out games to earn a state berth.
WEST SIDE PIRATES
Record: 18-7
State seed: District Five champ
Coach: Tyler Brown, 10th season
Players to watch: G Peyton Brown, sr.; F Josh King, sr.; G Shayler Thain, sr.
Notes: First state tournament appearance since 2013 after losing in the play-in game the past two seasons. ... Hasn’t won a boys state basketball championship since 1979. ... 3-4 against teams in this year’s 2A state tournament.
CLASS 1A DIVISION I
AMBROSE ARCHERS
Record: 22-2
State seed: District Three champ
Coach: Ken Hosier, 11th season
Players to watch: F Travis Yenor, sr.; G Jaxon Hughes, jr.; F Easton Boeck, sr.
Notes: Won state consolation title last year. … At state for the third straight year after joining IHSAA in 2012-13. … Only losses came to 5A teams Centennial and Vallivue at holiday tournament. … Average margin of victory this season is 28.1 points. … Won 14 straight with the closest game by 15 points (Riverstone). … Yenor averages 20.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 3.0 steals and 1.3 blocks per game.
GENESEE BULLDOGS
Record: 14-12
State seed: District Two third-place finisher
Coach: Jeff Boyd, fifth year (10th overall)
Players to watch: W Connor Phillips, sr.; W Jake DeMeerleer, jr.; W Ian Frasure, jr.; G Coy Stout, so.
Notes: Won four of their last five to go from a losing team to the third Whitepine League team at state, making their sixth consecutive state tournament. … If Genesee is going to make noise, it’ll be because of its ability to spread the floor with shooters and knock down shots. ... Connor Phillips is Genesee’s main ball handler and scoring threat.
GRACE GRIZZLIES
Record: 17-5
State seed: District Five-Six champ
Coach: Rory Lloyd, ninth season
Players to watch: G Payton Lloyd, jr.; F Talon Nance, sr.; G Logan Lloyd, sr.
Notes: First state tournament appearance since 2013. ... Only boys basketball state title came in 2003 as a 2A school. ... Won all but one game against 1A Division I competition this season. … Has not faced a team in this year’s 1A Division I bracket this season.
LAPWAI WILDCATS
Record: 20-0
State seed: District Two champ
Coach: Rebecca Miles, second season
Players to watch: G Imani Mitchell, sr.; F Tommy Miles-Williams, sr.; F Ivory Miles-Williams, sr.; G Cameron Shawl, jr.; P Savion Henry, sr.; F Courage LoneBear, sr.
Notes: The favorite to win state after losing last year’s state title game by four points and bringing back every participant from that contest. … Opponents are in trouble when the Wildcats get out and run. Don’t try to beat them at their own game — Lapwai plays up to nine players.
LIBERTY CHARTER PATRIOTS
Record: 15-9
State seed: District Three runner-up
Coach: Seth Stallcop, 11th year
Players to watch: G Michael Wachsmuth, sr.; G Caleb Hitt, sr.
Notes: Fifth straight state appearance. … However, Liberty Charter has not been able to bring home a trophy of any kind during that run, something it looks to change this time around.
OAKLEY HORNETS
Record: 19-4
State seed: District Four champ
Coach: Travis Noble, fourth year
Players to watch: G Hewstyn Beck, jr.; G Jordan Cranney, sr.; G Jayden Palmer, soph.
Notes: Second straight state tournament appearance after qualifying last season for the first time since 2008. … Playing in the rugged Snake River Conference, Oakley played four conference games decided by three points or fewer, splitting them.
PRAIRIE PIRATES
(Defending state champ)
Record: 18-4
State seed: District Two runner-up
Coach: Teel Bruner, ninth season
Players to watch: F Jake Bruner, sr.; G Terran Peery, sr.; G Brandon Higgins, sr.; G Calvin Hinkelman, sr.
Notes: The two-time defending champs aren’t the favorites they were last year without the services of Rhett Schlader and Lucas Arnzen. They’re aware of it, but don’t sleep on senior Jake Bruner. The lanky forward can score from anywhere on the floor and presents a tough defensive matchup for anybody. … The backcourt is deep with Terran Peery, Brandon Higgins and Calvin Hinkelman. … Three of Prairie’s four losses came to Lapwai, whom the Pirates can’t play again until Saturday.
RAFT RIVER TROJANS
Record: 20-3
State seed: District Four runner-up
Head coach: Brian Poole, fourth season
Players to watch: G Kolten Hitt, jr.; G Kayden Hitt, jr.; F Wacey Holtman, jr.; G Carson Schumann, jr.; F Austin Tuckett, sr.
Notes: The Trojans have a prodigious core of juniors, whom they rely on for almost all of their offensive production, and a short rotation.
CLASS 1A DIVISION II
CAREY PANTHERS
(Defending state champ)
Record: 15-10
State seed: District Four runner-up
Coach: Dick Simpson, 14th season
Players to watch: F Joe Parke, sr.; F Derrick Baird, jr.; Collin Whitby, sr.; Toby Whitworth, jr.
Notes: After losing to Richfield at district, Carey defeated Community School, Lighthouse Christian and Richfield in three consecutive games to make state. … Unveiled a three-quarter court press in the rematch against Richfield, the first time it ran a press all year. … Graduated star guard Nate Adamson helped lead the Panthers to a state championship last season.
CLARK COUNTY BOBCATS
Record: 17-5
State seed: Play-in game winner
Coach: Darrin May, first season
Players to watch: G Tresten Eddins, sr.; F Jake Mickelson, sr.
Notes: Beat Wilder 35-22 in a state play-in game to earn its first state tournament berth since 2009. … Many of the basketball players were key members of the Bobcats’ state quarterfinal football team. … Clark County won its first six games and nine of its first 10. … May pulled double-duty this winter, also coaching the Clark County girls basketball team.
COUNCIL LUMBERJACKS
Record: 20-3
State seed: District Three champ
Coach: David Howe, 18th season
Players to watch: G Ryan Rosengrant, sr.; W Jared Neal, sr.
Notes: Back at state for the second year in a row after losing in overtime in the consolation finals last season. … Enters on a 13-game winning streak. … Five different players have led team in scoring this year. … All three losses came to two Oregon teams with combined record of 40-14. … Searching for its first state title. Only finals appearance came in 2004.
DIETRICH BLUE DEVILS
Record: 19-4
State seed: District Four champ
Coach: Wayne Dill, 14th season
Players to watch: G/F Garrett Astle, jr.; G/F Jake Smith, jr.; G Kade Shaw, so.; F Slade Dill, so.
Notes: Made state seven of the past eight seasons, but it hasn’t won a state championship since 1966. … Failed to score less than 50 points just three times all season. … Scored in the high 60s or above in 18 games.
GENESIS PREP JAGUARS
Record: 18-4
State seed: District One champ
Coach: Marsell Colbert, second year
Players to watch: G Jonny Hillman, fr.; G Elijah Schreibeis, sr.; F Caleb Symons, sr.
Notes: Based in Post Falls, the Jaguars have won 10 straight games entering the state tournament in their first year as an IHSAA-sanctioned program. … Colbert was an assistant coach at Post Falls during the Trojans’ 2009-10 championship season and was head coach at Post Falls Christian in the early 2000s.
KENDRICK TIGERS
Record: 12-10
State seed: District Two champ
Coach: Morgan LeBlanc, fourth season
Players to watch: F Wyatt Hardin, jr.; G Logan Blair, jr.; G Blake Marker jr.
Notes: Returns to state for the third time in past four years. ... Doesn’t have any seniors on its roster. ... Lost last year in a winner-to-state game, despite leading at one point by 23 points. So qualifying for state has been the Tigers’ mission ever since.
ROCKLAND BULLDOGS
Record: 15-7
State seed: District Five-Six champ
Coach: Scott Lish, fifth season
Players to watch: G Spencer Permann, so.; G Tyler Rupe, sr.; G Ridge Farr, jr.
Notes: Defending state runner-up. ... Seeking first non-academic state championship in school history. ... 14-2 against 1A Division II competition this season.
SUMMIT ACADEMY PATRIOTS
Record: 17-4
State seed: District Two runner-up
Coach: Ron Frei, sixth season
Players to watch: P Tyler Krogh, jr.; C Patrick Chmelik, jr.
Notes: At state for the third year in a row. ... Lost its first game to a league opponent in the district championship to Kendrick. … A defensive-oriented team, with posts to bang around as well.