Getting up and going ... to the title game

NAMPA — First-year Genesis Prep coach Brandon Haas called timeout early in the first quarter, then gave his team a message.

“Get going. There’s no time for second guessing now.”

Well, Genesis Prep responded. And the Jaguars will go, all right.

To the program’s first state championship game in its short three-year history as an Idaho High School Activities Association-sanctioned program.

Juniors Bella Murekatete and Rachel Schroeder scored 28 points each for the Jaguars in a 58-45 win over the Sho-Ban Chiefs in a state 1A Division II semifinal game at Nampa High on Friday.

Schroeder, a point guard, scored all 28 of her points in the final three quarters after only Murekatete, a post, found the basket in the first quarter.

“We weren’t getting the ball inside to Bella, so we had to find something else,” Schroeder said. “We had to find another option and I was able to get to the middle and get some shots up.”

Schroeder also had four assists for Genesis Prep, which finished 18 of 44 from the field.

“Rachel is so solid with the basketball,” Haas said. “Even though it’s just a physical game, she’s got the control to get to the basket and not lose the ball going up the court.”

Genesis Prep (15-9), third last year in its first trip to state, will face defending state champion Butte County (22-3) in the championship game today at 8:30 a.m. PST at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa.

“There’s a tough task ahead of them,” Haas said. “But family up, we’ll go tackle it.”

Genesis Prep lost starting guard Trinity Morrow for the tournament after suffering a concussion following a collision in the second quarter of the Jaguars’ opening round win against Tri-Valley on Thursday.

“We preach family, and we can’t do it without everyone,” Haas said. “When we can get as many rebounds out of Josie (Scribner) and Emily (Martinez) and Christa (iManzi). The big thing is they control the ball when they get it. They’ve grown, and that’s the neat thing watching them grow.”

Murekatete finished with 22 rebounds and four blocked shots for Genesis Prep.

“Again, it’s her will,” Haas said. “Before the game, she was so locked in. Both her and Rachel. On the bus ride over here — locked in.”

Siona Astorga scored 18 points for Sho-Ban.

“They’ve got two really good players, so it’s kind of pick your poison,” Sho-Ban coach Andrew Baldwin said. “You can stop Bella and get killed by Schroeder, or you could stop Schroeder and get killed by Bella. It’s tough. First and foremost, you’re playing a 6-foot-4 monster and it’s hard when your tallest girl is 5-8.”

Butte County has won its first two games at state by a combined 76 points.

Sho-Ban will face Nezperce in the third-place game today.

Genesis Prep 11 10 20 17 — 58

Sho-Ban 7 8 19 11 — 45

GENESIS PREP — Schroeder 28, Greiner 0, iManzi 0, Scribner 2, Martinez 0, Kim 0, Murekatete 28. Totals 18-44 21-26 58.

SHO-BAN — N. Appenay 3, A. Astorga 8, S. Appenay 7, Pokibro 2, Littlelight 0, R. Appenay 6, Martin 0, S. Astorga 18, Buckshin 0, Benally 0. Totals 18-63 7-11 45.