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Quite a streak it was for Genesis Prep

| December 19, 2018 10:26 PM

To say that Genesis Prep has dominated the North Star League in boys basketball since it joined the league in 2015 is almost an understatement.

In its first 38 games against North Star teams — including 31 in league play, one in an early season tournament, and six more in district tournaments — the Jaguars had won by an average of 43.6 points per game.

43.6 points per game.

But Genesis Prep, which has won the last two state 1A Division II championships, is a little inexperienced this year.

Sure, four-year starting guard Jonny Hillman and 6-foot-9 Kon Ajang were back, along with steady guard Jacob Schultz. But everyone else was new to the varsity level.

Last Thursday, Genesis Prep trekked to Wallace without Hillman, who had rolled his ankle two days earlier. Combine that with a matchup against a Miners team that, despite some injury woes of its own, was an experienced squad off to an undefeated start.

The result — Wallace handed Genesis Prep its first loss since joining the league, 57-50 at Kirby Krulitz Court.

“I knew it was going to happen sooner or later,” said Marsell Colbert, in his fifth season as Genesis Prep coach.

THAT THE streak ended against Wallace, injuries or not, shouldn’t be a surprise. The Miners, who are one classification higher in 1A Division I, are now 8-0, ranked No. 2 in this week’s media poll, and have state tournament aspirations.

They play in the North Star League, whereas all the other teams are in 1A Division II, for geographical reasons. Games against Wallace count in the standings, and for seeding to districts for the Division II teams. Wallace, meanwhile, then has to beat a pair of far-flung District 2 teams in play-in games to get to state.

In any event, Wallace has given Genesis Prep its most competitive games in league play. In 2015-16, the Miners lost to the Jaguars by 12 and 15 points in league play. In 2016-17, Wallace lost by 23 and 14 in league play.

Consider the next-closest league victory for Genesis Prep since it joined the league was by 31 points. The Jaguars have won eight league games by 30-39 points, eight by 40-49 points, six by 50-59 points, three by 60-69 points and one by 74 points.

“We always look at Wallace as, they’re going to be a tough out for us,” Colbert said.

THE TWO newcomers to the Genesis Prep starting lineup this year are junior forward Seth Neely and senior center Joshua Bohannan, who came up from the junior varsity for districts and state last year.

One of the first players off the bench is junior guard Scott Mwinuka, who missed last year with a torn ACL.

On Thursday, Mwinuka stepped up in the absence of Hillman, scoring 20 points, as did Ajang.

“What I learned is these guys realized they can play this game,” Colbert said. “Not having Jonny there forced them to stand on their own two feet.”

Two nights later, with Hillman back in the lineup, Genesis Prep bounced back with a win over Rogers at home. Colbert said the experience the other players got at Wallace on Thursday without Hillman helped the Jaguars win on Saturday.

TWO YEARS ago, coming off a third-place finish at state in the first year the program was sanctioned by the Idaho High School Activities Association, Genesis Prep also had just three returning players.

The difference was, the newcomers two years ago, which included guard Junior Williams, were more seasoned coming in, and had played with the returners throughout the summer.

One thing’s for sure — the newcomers will have to step up if the Jaguars hope to three-peat.

“I said this to the new guys — they have to come to our level, we’re not going to come down to their level,” Colbert said. “Before we eat, we have to go to work.”

I GUESS technically, Genesis Prep still has a streak going against Division II teams in the North Star League — the Jaguars have won all 25 games in league play, and 31 in a row overall.

Either way, Colbert was able to reflect on what his team has accomplished over that stretch.

“It was a heckuva run,” he said. “That’s crazy. I never thought about that — I just looked at it as, next game, next game, next game. That’s mind-blowing to me. I’m dumbfounded over that number.”

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at mnelke@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter@CdAPressSports.