STATE 5A GIRLS SEMIFINALS: Believe it ... Coeur d'Alene holds off top-seeded Boise, advances to second straight title game

By JASON ELLIOTT

Sports writer

NAMPA — It’s the stuff dreams are made of.

As Coeur d’Alene freshman Brookeslee Colvin sat in the stands at the Ford Idaho Center in 2023 as the Vikings claimed a state 5A title, she wondered.

Colvin, along with her sister, senior Teagan Colvin, combined for 51 of the fourth-seeded Vikings’ 58 points in a 58-55 win over the top-seeded Boise Brave in the state 5A semifinals on Friday, advancing to tonight’s championship game. 

“Just watching last year, and everyone on this stage, I’ve just been thinking about being able to be a part of this with my sister and all my teammates,” Brookeslee Colvin said. “To get this win, it was huge. Especially in a rematch like this, it was huge.”

Brookeslee Colvin finished with 18 points, shooting 5 of 7 from the 3-point line.

“Seeing the first one go through the hoop, I knew I’d be fine,” Brookeslee said. “I just had to make a play when I needed to.”

Coeur d’Alene (19-5) faces Lake City (25-2) in the title game tonight at 7 p.m. PST. Boise (23-2) faces Rigby (23-3) in the third-place game today at noon at Bishop Kelly High in Boise.

“Both teams wanted it really bad and today was about who wanted it more,” said Teagan Colvin, who scored 33 points. “Our defense was there and we rebounded the ball really well. We were able to get it going on offense today.”

The Colvin sisters were the lone Vikings to score in the first half for Coeur d’Alene, which led 32-25 at the half.

“It felt good to hit some shots and get us rolling,” Teagan Colvin said. “We had multiple people step up in big moments.”

“We were trying to get other things moving and other people involved, but we couldn’t get open on the ball screens. We couldn’t get it inside to Kelsey (Carroll) and they were jamming that up. They kept going under the screens, and we had to take what they were giving us.”

Teagan Colvin was 6 of 11 from the 3-point line for Coeur d’Alene, which finished 12 of 26 from 3.

“With Teagan and her ability to shoot it, and she got to the rim too, it was full effort tonight,” Coeur d'Alene coach Nicole Symons said. “Kelsey was always in that help position and keeping (Kaity) Haan off the boards. Everyone had to do their part tonight. (Kendall) Holecek played great on defense and Maddie Mitchell was great."

Last year, Coeur d’Alene beat Boise 51-50 in double overtime to advance to the title game. 

“I’m just in disbelief right now,” Symons said. “Getting back there, it’s tough. It’s hard, especially with a team like Boise with everyone back. To have a season like we had, with some distractions, I’m just happy for the girls.”

Brookeslee Colvin scored 12 of her 18 in the first half.

“I don’t know where it came from tonight,” Symons said of Brookeslee Colvin, who already had multiple Division I offers before she ever played a high school game. “She’s very capable of that. She’s been a little reserved on the offensive end and for her to see that one go through the net, it was good for her. She was locked in tonight and she’s got it in her. But it hasn’t been her time, but I’m super proud of her.”

Avery Howell, a USC signee and recent McDonald’s All-American Game selection, had 35 points and 12 rebounds for Boise, which was seeking its first state title since 2005.

“She (Teagan Colvin) hit some huge shots, especially in the first half,” said Boise coach Kim Brydges, in her 19th season. “Avery hit some big shots as well and they’re both very talented players and going to have a lot of success at the next level.

“Playing a USC commit for 32 minutes is a lot to ask of a freshman, but she did a great job,” Symons said of Brookeslee Colvin. “She stepped up to the challenge. It was amazing for sure.”

“I couldn’t be more proud of her,” Teagan said of Brookeslee. “This is a huge stage for any freshman. For her to come up big was huge for us today, especially in that second quarter. That was amazing and glad she showed up for us today.”

Coeur d’Alene    10    22    11    15    —    58

Boise    8    17    14    16    —    55

COEUR d’ALENE — T. Colvin 33, Mitchell 5, Wallis 0, B. Colvin 18, Lopez 0, K. Holecek 0, Carroll 2. Totals 16-38 14-17 58.

BOISE — Clark 3, Montgomery 2, Binder 3, Turcke 4, Patricco 3, Howell 35, Haan 5, Gustavel 0. Totals 18-34 13-18 55. 

    JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY Coeur d'Alene junior Kelsey Carroll drives to the basket against Boise in a state 5A semifinal Friday at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa.