STATE 3A GIRLS BASKETBALL: Timberlake falls to Snake River in semifinals

MIDDLETON — The Timberlake Tigers headed to state hoping to continue the momentum from a dominating performance in their final game of the district tournament.

But some issues that plagued them in recent weeks resurfaced Friday night, as the third-seeded Tigers fell 47-35 to the second-seeded Snake River Panthers in a state 3A semifinal at Middleton High.

“Lately, it’s been hard for us to score,” Timberlake coach Matt Miller said. 

Snake River (19-6), which advanced to today’s state title game against top-seeded Teton at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa, used an 8-0 run to lead 13-7 after one quarter.

Timberlake (17-7) battled back to trail 20-16 at halftime, despite missing six layups and seven free throws. 

“I was really happy where we were in the first half,” Miller said.

But the Tigers turned the ball over four times in its first four possessions, and went scoreless for the first six minutes of the third quarter.

Timberlake’s only points of the quarter came on a 3-pointer by Morgan Dickinson.

The Tigers were down 35-19 early in the fourth before going on an 8-0 run to come within eight with 4 minutes left. 

But Snake River answered with 3-pointers from Rylie Edlefsen, Camdyn Dunn and Taylee Carlson to build the lead back up to 44-31.

Junior Diana Nelson had seven points and 16 rebounds for Timberlake, which committed 22 turnovers. Junior Marissa Needs added 11 points for the Tigers.

“In my opinion, we threw the ball to the other team,” Miller said. “They just played regular half-court defense, and we just turned it over too many times.”

Edlefsen had 15 points and seven rebounds for Snake River, and Dunn finished with 14 points.

Timberlake will face fourth-seeded Parma (19-7) in the third-place game today at 11 a.m. PST at Middleton. The Tigers, at state for the 13th time in 16 years, have brought home a trophy from each of its last 11 trips to state.

“I’d like to keep that trend alive,” Miller said.

Timberlake    7    9    3    16    —    35

Snake River    13    7    13    14    —   47

TIMBERLAKE — Soumas 0, Dickinson 3, Young 5, Nelson 7, MacArthur 7, Simpson 2, Needs 11, McKellips 0. Totals 14-43 4-12 35.

SNAKE RIVER — Baldwin 10, Dunn 14, Campbell 0, Nash 0, Edlefsen 15, G. Gilbert 0, Carlson 5, L. Gilbert 0, Watt 3. Totals 18-49 3-5 47.