THE FRONT ROW WITH JASON ELLIOTT: Tigers taking, getting what they deserve

Every team starts the season with championship dreams.

The good teams find a way to get it done, no matter the circumstance, who’s in the crowd or where the game is.

For the Timberlake High girls basketball team, an eighth appearance in the title game in the past 11 seasons was nothing short of remarkable.

LOOKING BACK at the 2011 title game, a 48-44 overtime loss to Sugar-Salem, it nearly went Timberlake's way on that day, but the team went cold in overtime before falling in the program's first title game appearance.

The next couple of appearances, in 2012 and 2014, it's possible that the only folks who believed they could wind up there were those from Spirit Lake.

In 2015, Timberlake fell to Sugar-Salem again in the title game. In 2016, Timberlake — with a lot of those same players from 2015 — broke through for the program's first title, then did it again in 2017, beating Sugar-Salem, on a late 3-pointer by Allison Kirby, who is now a senior playing at Idaho.

Timberlake "settled" for third in 2018 and 2019, when this year's group of seniors were freshmen and sophomores, but you could tell that wasn't quite enough.

LAST SATURDAY's 65-49 romp of Sugar-Salem concluded Timberlake's 10th appearance at state in the last 11 years.

In that time, the Tigers have never failed to bring back a trophy, whether it be a first, second or third place.

On the first two days at state, Timberlake played at Middleton High, site of the 3A tourney, then moved to the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa, where championship games are played in all six classifications.

This year, a lot of things changed inside the arena, with fans moved back from near the court for social distancing and teams unable to greet their players until they were outside in the parking lot.

"It's definitely harder to shoot here (the Idaho Center) because it's a big open room," said senior guard Taryn Soumas, a four-year starter. "I noticed a difference in warmups, but after a couple of shots, I think I got it down."

Timberlake shot 20 of 36 and 19 of 25 from the free-throw line.

"Our team chemistry was just different on the court this year," Soumas said. "We didn't have that amazing game last year. This year, against Sugar, we'd been preparing for them since districts. It was an amazing team win."

"It's an experience that not everyone gets to feel," Timberlake senior reserve Blayre Jeffs said. "It feels unbelievable and magical. But I know we all worked so hard for this and deserve it."

Yes, they certainly did.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for The Press. He can be reached by telephone at (208) 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @JECdAPress.