STATE 4A GIRLS BASKETBALL: Technical helps lift Timberlake to third in 4A

MIDDLETON — What Timberlake might have been lacking in depth on Saturday was make up with another D-word. 

Drive. 

Determination. 

Defense. 

Senior Diana Nelson had 10 points and nine rebounds for the fourth-seeded Tigers, who pulled away from the free-throw line late to beat the third-seeded South Fremont Cougars 39-33 in the state 4A girls basketball third-place game at Middleton High. 

With Timberlake leading 32-30 with 48 seconds remaining, Nelson drew a foul on a rebound and a South Fremont player slammed the ball in frustration, resulting in a technical foul. Nelson made 1 of 2 free throws to extend the lead to 33-30, then fellow senior Jozee MacArthur made 1 of 2 on the technical to make it 34-30. 

“That was a really big play for sure,” said Timberlake coach Matt Miller, who has coached the Tigers to state in 14 of the last 17 seasons, winning four championships. “The girls stepped up and hit some big free throws down the stretch and we were able to work the clock. We rebounded the ball really well, especially in the last four minutes.” 

Timberlake, which finished 21-4, was third last year after advancing to the 2023 title game.  

“This group of seniors (Diana, Jozee and Marissa (Needs) have been huge for our program,” Miller said. “Jozee and Marissa have been four-year varsity players and Diana was a floater as a freshman. I’ve been coaching Jozee since the fourth grade, Marissa since the sixth and Diana came to us in the seventh grade. They’ve really put a lot of time and effort into this program.” 

Timberlake has returned from state with trophies in 13 of its 14 appearances, advancing to the championship game nine times, winning in 2016, 2017, 2020 and 2021, all with Miller as coach. The Tigers have finished third four times (2018, 2019, 2024, 2025). 

Timberlake shot 10 of 39 from the field, and made 15 of 26 from the free-throw line. 

Brianne Bailey scored 12 points for South Fremont (22-7), which entered the tournament with five losses, all to top-ranked Sugar-Salem, which beat Timberlake in the semifinals.

“We just struggled to score,” said Miller, who played six players all weekend with two key players — Lucy Simpson and Payton Young — out for the season with knee injuries. “We had to battle through fatigue because we spent so much energy on the defensive end. But the girls worked hard, and I’m really proud of them for finishing today.” 

Timberlake    9    6    10    14    —    39 

South Fremont    9    5    11    8    —    33 

TIMBERLAKE — Soumas 0, Nelson 10, MacArthur 9, Needs 7, Miller 7, Jones 6. Totals 10-39 15-26 39. 

SOUTH FREMONT — Christensen 5, Neville 5, Conger 2, McNeil 0, Biorn 0, B. Bailey 12, Larson 9, Bair 0. Totals 13-49 3-5 33. 

    JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY Timberlake seniors Marissa Needs (13) and Diana Nelson (4) hold the state 4A third-place trophy after the Tigers defeated South Fremont 39-33 on Saturday at Middleton High.
  

    JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY Timberlake senior Marissa Needs (13) goes up for a shot as South Fremont's Kenzly Neville defends during Saturday's state 4A girls basketball third-place game at Middleton High.