Up to the challenge?

In an effort to challenge themselves, the Genesis Prep Jaguars once again sought the toughest non-conference boys basketball opponents they could this season.

The defending state champions in 1A Division II, Idaho’s smallest classification, opened against Gonzaga Prep, perhaps the top team in the top classification in Washington.

They left the region once again for a holiday tournament against much bigger schools — this time to San Diego for four games, after playing four games in Phoenix last year.

The Jaguars also played two other Greater Spokane League schools, in Rogers and Mt. Spokane. Genesis Prep beat Mt. Spokane, which beat 5A state title contender Post Falls.

Genesis Prep went 7-4 in its nonleague slate, losing only to Gonzaga Prep and Rogers, as well as twice in San Diego.

Genesis Prep dominated the North Star League for the third year in a row — the Jaguars have not lost in league in the three seasons their program has been sanctioned by the Idaho High School Activities Association — and are riding a 14-game winning streak into this year’s state tournament, which begins today at Rocky Mountain High in Meridian.

“What that does is prepares us to get down to the state tournament,” fourth-year Genesis Prep coach Marsell Colbert said. “But it also teaches us to play at a higher level, consistently, all the time.

“It’s easier to play teams that are at our level. But I don’t want easy — I want these guys to be pushed. And I want to get them out to see different basketball players. I want them to see where they are, where we stack up against the better ballclubs. It’s a challenge — you never know how good you are until you’re pushed. Playing against better teams makes our guys understand that what works against this team is not going to work against that team.”

So how does Colbert push his team in league play — after all, Genesis Prep won its 10 league games and its two district tournament games by an average of 52.8 points this season.

“We challenge them. When we get down to league play, we’re competing against ourselves,” Colbert said. “We look at our opponent, and we say we have to treat them like they were Mater Dei (Christian), or Spanish Springs, or El Cerrito, or Mt. Spokane. Those teams are high-level teams, and we want to make sure if we can compete with those teams, we have to bring that same level of intensity, and that sense of urgency, to these games as well. Never disrespect your opponent by not playing your best.”

That’s all well and good. But how do the Jaguars measure success against their fellow 1A Division II schools? In their 10 league games this season, plus their two District 1 tournament victories, the Jaguars won by an average of 52.8 points.

“We have three things that we look at — defensive field goal percentage, rebounding, and assist-to-turnover ratio,” Colbert said. “If you look at any box score, the teams that win those three categories, or two out of three of those categories, more times than not they win the basketball game.”

If Genesis Prep (19-4) and Dietrich (22-1) win their first-round games on Thursday, they would meet in a semifinal game Friday afternoon. Genesis Prep beat Dietrich 68-62 in last year’s state title game at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa, one of the few close games Genesis Prep has had against a school its own size.

Plus, throw in the fact Dietrich has been outspoken against Genesis Prep’s use of international (F-1) students, saying it gives the Jaguars an advantage. The Idaho High School Activities Association voted last fall to make F-1 students ineligible for postseason play, beginning next season.

The Jaguars insist they’re only focused on today’s opener vs. Council (20-4).

“We’re just playing one game at a time,” said Genesis Prep senior guard Junior Williams, one of four returning starters (the others being junior Jonny Hillman, a three-year starter, senior guard Max Reidt, and junior guard Jacob Schultz). “If we win, then we play wDietrich, if we win that one, we play in the championship. We’re just preparing day to day; we’re not thinking anything further ahead than that.

Besides, Council is the only team that has beaten Genesis Prep in its two trips to state. The Lumberjacks won 48-39 in the semifinals two years ago; the Jaguars bounced back to win the third-place game the next day.

Williams was on the bench during that loss to Council. He was brought up from the junior varsity for the tournament, but had to sit because of transfer rules.

“It was just heartbreaking,” Williams said of the loss, “seeing these seniors and all those players work so hard that year and then, getting out early, not (reaching) the goal that they wanted to, which is a state championship. It gave us a boost to work harder that summer, and get a state championship the next year.”

Council features senior guard Garett Snider (16.3 ppg, 7.1 rebounds, 2.8 steals), senior forward Lance Nichols (12.5 ppg, 9.6 rebounds, 3.6 blocks, 3.1 steals) and senior guard Brett Rosengrant (14.5 ppg, 5.1 rebounds, 5 assists, 3.3 steals). ... Dietrich returns senior forward Slade Dill and senior guard Kade Shaw from last year’s team that played Genesis Prep in the state title. Dietrich won the state title in 2016.

5A

Centennial, Post Falls’ first-round opponent tonight, finished ninth in the 12-team 5A Southern Idaho Conference. But the Trojans won’t take the Patriots lightly; after all, it was Centennial that hit 11 3-pointers — 7 in the first half — in stunning Post Falls 72-61 in the state semifinals last year. And the Patriots upset top-seeded Boise in the first round of the District 3 tournament, forcing the Braves to battle through the losers bracket just to reach a state play-in game, where they beat Lake City. ... Centennial is led by senior swingman Kam Modrow (12.8 ppg, 5.1 rebounds) ... Thanks to the bracketing, one of the pre-tourney favorites will be eliminated shortly after lunch today, when District 3 and defending state champion Rocky Mountain of Meridian faces Boise. Rocky is on a 13-game winning streak. Boise, which lost to Post Falls last year in the first round on lob to Jake Pfennigs at the buzzer, is at state for the second straight year, after not having gone for 19 years. ... Boise and Rocky are on the opposite side of the bracket from Post Falls. Boise is led by senior point guard Paul Pennington (15.0 ppg, 2.9 steals). Rocky is led by senior guard Tyler O’Donnell (14.9 ppg), sophomore guard Briggs Ranstrom (12.7 ppg) and senior point guard Hunter Ranstrom (9.1 ppg, 6.2 assists).

3A

Senior post Colton Counts, senior point guard Jordan Hardy and sophomore guard Jacob James are the lone returnees from last year’s Timberlake state team that lost in the consolation championship. All three came off the bench.

“We’re totally different,” second-year Timberlake coach Michael Scott said. “Last year, across the board I had two 6-5s, two 6-2s, a 6-3 and only one guy under 6 foot. This year I have three guys under 6 foot, but they’re all finishers; we have a lot of finishers.”

One of those is the 6-5 Counts.

“He’s more assertive this year,” Scott said. “When he’s determined to score, he’s tough to guard.”

Kellogg, with eight seniors led by forward Chase Jerome, the Intermountain League MVP, is poised for a run at the state title. The Wildcats were third last year, and are making their fifth straight trip to state. ... Snake River, Timberlake’s first-round opponent, lost to Sugar-Salem in last year’s state title game. Sugar beat Timberlake in the first round. Snake is led by senior post Clancy Thomas, who has signed with NCAA Division II Colorado Mesa University.

2A

St. Maries is back at state for the fourth straight year, all under fourth-year coach Bryan Chase, after winning its fourth Central Idaho League and 2A District 1-2 title. The Lumberjacks were third in 2015 and third last year, but most of the players from those teams have graduated.

Junior guard Jackson Pritchard (13.4 ppg) and senior post Glover Buell (11.5 ppg) are the lone returnees from last year —ß and their minutes were limited, playing behind seniors who were two- and three-year starters. But Pritchard burst on the scene with seven first-half 3-pointers and 26 points for the game vs. Sandpoint in his first varsity start.

Varsity newcomers who have kept St. Maries’ dominance in the CIL going include junior post Dan Howard (11.5 ppg, 7 rpg), junior point guard Kaden Hammond (6 ppg, 4 apg), junior guard Tyler Lohman (7 ppg, 5 rpg), senior post Kevin Duffield (5.5 rpg) and junior guard Koy Sands (3.5 apg, 2 spg).

“Our JV team was solid last year but, I still didn’t know what to expect,” St. Maries coach Bryan Chase said. “We worked hard last summer and got about 30 games under our belt. By the end of the summer I started to notice that we had a special group of kids. They love to be in the gym and they are true competitors. Some of our best games this year have been against each other in practice.”

Nampa Christian, St. Maries’ first-round foe, is back at state for the fourth straight year. The Trojans are led by senior guard Griffin Carson (14.5 ppg) and senior forward Dusty Rhodes (14 ppg, 7 rebounds).

NOTE: Follow Mark Nelke @CdAPressSports on Twitter for updates on local teams throughout the tournament ... All tourney games in all six classifications will be streamed live (for a fee) at nfhsnetwork.com. Audio webcasts of all tourney games can be heard free at idahosports.com ... Capsules for all 48 teams can be found at cdapress.com