STATE 1A DIVISION II THIRD-PLACE GAME: Setting the bar high
<p>JAKE PARRISH/Press Genesis Prep players touch the 1A Division II third place trophy after defeating Clark County on Saturday at Caldwell High School in Caldwell, Idaho.</p>
CALDWELL — They hugged and they posed for pictures, and they prayed in front of their fans.
Then they hugged some more, and posed for more pictures.
The Genesis Prep Jaguars brought home a trophy from state in their first season as an Idaho High School Activities Association-sanctioned school, and they made sure they soaked up every minute of the fun.
“It’s all about family for us; it’s no individual,” senior guard Elijah Schreibeis said after Genesis Prep cruised to a 57-30 victory over Clark County in the third-place game of the state 1A Division II boys basketball tournament at Caldwell High.
Freshman guard Jonny Hillman scored 21 points and grabbed five rebounds, and senior forward Caleb Symons added 12 points and seven boards for the Jaguars, who moved up from the Mountain Christian League after last season, then romped through the North Star League and the District 1 tournament this year.
Genesis Prep (20-5) captured its state tourney opener 63-49 over Rockland, then lost in the semifinals 48-39 to Council on Friday.
“It took us a while to shake off yesterday’s game,” second-year Genesis Prep coach Marsell Colbert said. “I thought today we moved the ball much better than we did yesterday.
“I’m just happy for our seniors,” he added. “Two years of putting up with me, and just buying in to what we wanted to do. I believe in two years’ time, we had eight losses? What a way for those guys to go out.”
On Saturday, Genesis Prep led 9-5 after one quarter before pulling away in the second quarer for a 29-10 halftime lead. Hillman hit 4 of 6 3-pointers and scored 14 of his points in the first half, and Symons had 10 of his points before intermission. Hillman finished 5 for 8 from behind the arc.
Freshman Jackson Ebune
see GENESIS, B3
GENESIS
from B1
came off the bench and contributed seven points and seven rebounds for Genesis Prep. Senior reserve guard Tyler Hearon also scored seven points, and had five rebounds. Schreibeis had three steals, Hillman two.
Genesis Prep will lose five seniors, including four starters, to graduation. Hillman will be the lone returning starter, but the Jaguars plan to make a habit out of the hugs and the pictures every year down south around this time of year.
“The fun part about this is, we get to do this with great kids,” Colbert said. “So I think each year they’re up for the challenge to come in and do what we did the previous year, but go above and beyond that. So hopefully next year we’ll be able to come back down, and if it’s the Lord’s will, and compete and have more fun.”
His players agree.
“I think we left a pretty high standard and a good legacy for these guys to follow, as far as on and off the court,” Genesis Prep senior guard Zach Miles said.
Tresten Eddins and Tyree Laird scored nine points each for Clark County (18-7), which shot 24 percent (12 for 50) from the field.
Clark County 5 5 8 12 — 30
Genesis Prep 9 20 15 13 — 57
CLARK COUNTY — Espinoza 0, May 0, Mickelsen 2, Shenton 7, Ruiz 0, Korrell 0, Grover 2, T. Eddins 9, C. Eddins 0, Laird 9, Taylor 0, Staker 0, Murdock 0, Bramwell 1, Parton 0. Totals 12-50 4-6 30.
GENESIS PREP — Shelton 0, Schultz 4, M. Reidt 0, Miles 2, Hearon 7, Schroeder 0, Hillman 21, Schreibeis 4, A. Reidt 0, Ebune 7 Symons 12, Gonzales 0. Totals 22-48 7-15 57.