First-Round Matchups Set For Lake City, Post Falls State Tournament Lineups Firm After Final Round Of Playoffs

Final seeds were decided Saturday into this week’s Real Dairy Shootout Idaho boys basketball tournaments.

New champions will be crowned in the A-1 and A-4 fields while SugarSalem and Malad return to defend their titles in the A-2 and A-3 divisions, respectively.

All four state tournaments begin three-day runs Thursday. Here’s a look at the qualifiers and first-round games in each tournament:

A-1

At Idaho State University’s Holt Arena in Pocatello, six of the eight qualifiers are new to state.

In fact, there’s not much state tradition represented in the field.

Post Falls (20-4) earned a berth Saturday with a 68-58 victory over Boise in a playoff at Grangeville.

The Trojans join Region I champion Lake City (14-8) at state.

Lake City will take the court first when it meets Blackfoot (13-13) at 2:30 p.m. PST. Blackfoot also earned its berth Saturday, defeating Burley 77-75 in double overtime.

Post Falls meets Region III champion Pocatello (16-7) at 5:45.

In the other openers, No. 1-ranked Centennial (23-0) takes on Madison (18-7) while second-ranked Rigby (23-0) meets Capital (16-7).

A-2

This tournament will be held just down the street from Holt Arena at Reed Gym on the ISU campus.

Intermountain League cochampions Kellogg (19-3) and Bonners Ferry (18-5) will be considered serious contenders for the state title.

Kellogg, which ranked No. 1 in the final poll, draws two-time state champion Sugar-Salem (15-9) in the tournament’s first game at 1 p.m.

Bonners Ferry will meet District III champion Weiser (18-5) in the nightcap at 7:15.

In between, Marsh Valley (16-6) will meet Payette (18-5) and Jerome (6-17) will take on Bear Lake (15-8).

A-3

At Skyline High School in Idaho Falls, teams will be quite familiar with each other.

Seven of eight qualifiers last year, including state champion Malad, return. The newcomer is Parma.

In openers, No. 1-ranked Potlatch (23-1) takes on Fruitland (17-7), West Jefferson (19-4) meets Lapwai (20-6), Parma (13-10) goes against Wendell (17-7) and Malad (18-5) squares off against Teton (20-7).

A-4

At Hillcrest High School in Idaho Falls, half the field is new.

Clark Fork (13-8) earned a second straight trip and will take on Cascade (19-5) in the tournament’s final firstround game at 7:15.

In other openers, Troy (21-3) meets Notus (22-3), top-ranked Nampa Christian (22-1) takes on Dietrich (20-6) and Oakley (18-6) battles North Gem (18-5).

All four state championship games will be held Saturday at Holt Arena.

The A-4 title game will begin at 12:30 p.m. PST, followed by the A-3 championship at 2:40, the A-2 final at 4:50 and capped by the A-1 showdown at 7.