Centennial tops Coeur d’Alene girls at state tournament

For the first time since 2005, Coeur d’Alene will not be playing in the State 5A girls basketball championship game.

Sierrna Short hit a jump shot with 15 seconds to play and Centennial stunned the Vikings 58-56 Friday night in the semifinals at The Idaho Center in Nampa.

Coeur d’Alene’s potential game-winning 3-pointer was off the mark at the buzzer.

Short finished with a game-high 28 points – including five 3-pointers – for the Patriots (20-5), who will play defending state champion Lewiston for the title tonight.

“His kids clamped down in the last minute when they had to clamp it down,” said Coeur d’Alene coach Dale Poffenroth. “We just didn’t react very well to that.”

Kendalyn Brainard and Sydney Williams had 18 points apiece for the Vikings (19-3). Kyeli Parker added 10 points and six rebounds.

Coeur d’Alene routed Meridian by 41 points in the first round on Thursday to reach the semifinals.

The Vikings will have to settle for a chance at third place. Coeur d’Alene will play Highland today at 11 a.m. PST at Skyview High School.

“It’s whoever picks themselves up off the floor can finish with a trophy,” Poffenroth said.

Lewiston 43, Highland 35: Senior Tisha Phillips scored 18 points as the defending champion Bengals (21-4) beat the Rams to reach the state title for the third consecutive season.

Phillips was 8 of 9 from the free-throw line and holds the state tournament record for most free throws made. She is 26 of 28 from the line in Lewiston’s two games.

The Bengals will play Centennial for the title tonight at 7 at The Idaho Center.

4A

Rigby 50, Moscow 42: Alli Furniss exploded for 36 points to lead the Trojans past the Bears (11-11) in a semifinal game at Timberline High School in Boise.

Kylie Gorton had 13 points and Bailee Olmstead added 11 for the Bears, who will play Wood River today at 10 a.m. for third place. Rigby will play Middleton in the championship game.

3A

Timberlake 49, Snake River 48 (2OT): Kara Wenstrom had 21 points and eight rebounds as the Tigers (14-10) slid past the Panthers in double overtime in the semifinals at Middleton High School.

Kelly Madsen made 10 of 11 free throws and added 12 points for Timberlake, which will play in the title game against Marsh Valley today at 2:50 p.m. at The Idaho Center.

Marsh Valley 54, Priest River 34: Shaylyn Brown had 10 points and the Eagles routed the Spartans (17-6) at Middleton High School. Liz Halcro had 12 points and 11 rebounds for Priest River, which will play Snake River today at 10 a.m. for third place.

1A Division II

Richfield 35, Clark Fork 26: The Tigers took control in the third quarter and beat the Wampus Cats in a loser-out game at Nampa High School.

Clark Fork was led by Brocklynn Thorton’s 11 points and 11 rebounds.