Timberlake back on top
Photo by JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY Taryn Soumas of Timberlake drives to the basket against Snake River in the state 3A girls championship game Saturday at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa.
Photo by JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY Blayre Jeffs of Timberlake clutches a rebound against Snake River in the state 3A girls championship game Saturday at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa.
Photo by JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY Timberlake High’s girls basketball team poses with the trophy and the banner after defeating Snake River 42-32 in the championship game of the state 3A girls basketball tournament Saturday afternoon at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa. It was Timberlake’s third state title in the last five years.
Photo by JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY Timberlake’s Brooke Jessen looks for a teammate in the state 3A girls championship game against Snake River on Saturday at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa.
Photo by JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY Timberlake coach Matt Miller gives instructions to his players in the state 3A girls championship game against Snake River on Saturday at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa.
Photo by JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY Taryn Soumas (1) of Timberlake drives to the basket as Olivia Kracl of Snake River defends in the state 3A girls championship game Saturday at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa.
Photo by JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY Bernie Carhart of Timberlake puts up a shot against Snake River in the state 3A girls championship game Saturday at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa.
Photo by JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY Olivia Hammond of Timberlake puts up a shot in the lane against against Snake River in the state 3A girls championship game Saturday at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa.
Photo by JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY Brooke Jessen of Timberlake puts up a shot in the lane against Snake River in the state 3A girls championship game Saturday at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa.
Photo by JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY Timberlake’s Taryn Soumas goes up for a shot against Snake River in the state 3A girls championship game Saturday at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa.
Photo by JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY Players on the Timberlake bench celebrate in the final seconds against Snake River in the state 3A girls championship game Saturday at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa.
Photo by JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY Timberlake players rush the floor to greet Taylor Suko (2) after the Tigers beat Snake River in the state 3A girls championship game Saturday at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa.
Photo by JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY Timberlake players erupt in laughter as coach Matt Miller thanks his wife and assistant coach, Molly Miller, following the Tigers’ win over Snake River in the state 3A girls championship game Saturday at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa.
NAMPA — On the bus ride from the team hotel in Caldwell to the Ford Idaho Center, members of the Timberlake High girls basketball team were singing songs from the movie “High School Musical.”
“We like to listen to ‘Now or Never,’” Timberlake senior Taylor Suko said. “It’s talking about the last 16 seconds of the game, and you’ve just got to get it done. We had 16 minutes in the second half and had a job to get done, and I think we did it.”
On the way home later Saturday, another song might have made its long-awaited return to the Tiger team bus.
“We Are The Champions.”
Timberlake, in its first appearance in the state 3A championship game since 2017, jumped out to a 23-9 halftime lead, then did just enough to hold off Snake River 42-32 for the program’s third title in the past five years.
Junior forward Blayre Jeffs scored eight of her 10 points in the first quarter as Timberlake (20-4) built a 17-4 lead after eight minutes. The Tigers scored 25 the rest of the game.
“We came out aggressive on both ends and executed the game plan,” Miller said. “We were super disciplined. The next three quarters, not so much, but they did enough to win and in tournament play, you’ve got to play well enough to win. They were able to gut it out.”
Timberlake outlasted Sugar-Salem 45-40 in double OT on Thursday, then beat Parma 66-35 in the semifinals to advance to the title game.
“The first game was all about grit and will,” Miller said. “And the second we played like us. This third game, we had to fight for it at the end. But state championships are never easy, no matter what. I’m proud of the kids for getting it done and good for them.”
Jeffs finished with five rebounds and a blocked shot for Timberlake, which outrebounded Snake River 30-27.
“At the beginning of the year, our goal was to be state champions,” Jeffs said. “And we were going to do everything in our power to do that. I knew that if I was going to do that, I was going to have to come out as an aggressor and be a predator and show Snake River I came to play. It just meant so much to me.”
“She got a couple of really big putbacks that really got us going,” Miller said of Jeffs. “Just that willed everyone. A couple of them, she had to go get, and that really gave us a spark. Taryn (Soumas) has had an incredible season on all fronts. Playing wise, she’s been excellent and leadership wise, she’s been the same way.”
Timberlake won back-to-back titles in 2016 and 2017, then was third the past two seasons before winning the program’s third title in Miller’s 15 seasons on Saturday.
It was Timberlake’s seventh trip to the state title game, all in the last 10 seasons.
“Everyone improved a lot this season,” Miller said. “If you would have told me in November we’d be winning a state championship, I’d be questioning it.”
Junior Brooke Jessen, who had 14 points and 12 rebounds, hit a 3-pointer to give Timberlake a 40-27 lead with 4:24 remaining.
“It’s something I’ve dreamed about since I was a little kid playing basketball,” Jessen said. “I played with a lot of those kids from the 2017 team when I was younger.”
Soumas, a junior who set the tournament record with 13 3-pointers last year, saw her record broken by Snake River’s Josee Steadman, who finished with 15.
“I’ll always have the game ball,” said Soumas, who finished with 16 points and two assists. “It’s amazing. It was kind of unbelievable for a second. We could have played better, and finished on a better note, but we did because we took the state title home.”
Soumas’ dad, Rob, is in his third year as an assistant coach.
“He’s pushed me to be the player I’ve been since I was 5 years old,” Soumas said. “Coach Miller has taught me everything. He knows his stuff really well and has pushed me as well.”
Taylor Suko’s heroics in Thursday’s game, hitting a tying 3-pointer in regulation and the first overtime, kept the Tigers in the tournament.
“It’s super surreal and overwhelming,” Suko said. “I’m really grateful for this entire experience and for my coach and teammates and all my past teammates. They’ve really helped me become the player I am today.”
Snake River (15-11) shot 12 of 45 from the field in the game, 4 of 21 in the first half.
“It was a little bit of everything,” Snake River coach Jeff Steadman said. “They have a very good point guard (Soumas) and she sees the court really well. She’s a good passer and has a good first step. It took us a while for our girls to adjust to that. No. 20 (Jessen) is a phenomenal player and can drive and score at the basket. They played a good game. They’re a balanced team and do a lot of things well. They’re a good quality team and quality program.”
Snake River advanced to the 2018 title game, losing to Sugar-Salem.
Timberlake 17 6 11 8 — 42
Snake River 4 5 14 9 — 32
TIMBERLAKE — Sande 0, T. Soumas 16, Suko 0, Hammond 2, Kronenberg 0, Gustin 0, Carhart 0, Jessen 14, Bain 0, Jeffs 10, C. Soumas 0, Wall 0. Totals 17-39 5-6 42.
SNAKE RIVER — Kracl 0, Goff 7, Jo. Steadman 15, VanOrden 0, Howell 0, Elordi 0, Ja. Steadman 0, Stimpson 4, Pugmire 0, Allmond 0, Cherry 0, Rodriguez 0, Balster 0, A. Gilbert 0, J. Gilbert 6. Totals 12-45 5-8 32.