Madison overcomes Post Falls

NAMPA, Idaho – “Billy Ball” prevailed again at the Idaho 5A boys basketball tournament Friday.

Billy Hawkins’ Madison Bobcats controlled the tempo and played airtight defense, especially late, as they stopped Post Falls 53-47 in overtime in the semifinals at the Idaho Center.

The Bobcats (17-9), winners of three state titles this decade, will try to impose their will one more time when they take on Lewiston (21-4) tonight for the state final. Tipoff is at 7 PST.

Post Falls (18-6) faces Twin Falls (19-9) for third this morning at 10.

Lewiston rallied in the second half to pull away from Twin Falls 60-51 in the other semifinal.

Madison 53, Post Falls 47 (OT): It was obvious what the Bobcats’ game plan was early.

They wanted to run as much time off the clock as possible on each possession and make sure 6-foot-6 junior post Josh Fuller touched the ball often.

Mission accomplished.

Still the Trojans, despite the fact they got lulled into Madison’s tempo, had chances to win. But poor shooting and even worse execution doomed Post Falls in the fourth quarter and overtime.

After Rhett Sutton scored a tying basket in the key with 2:02 left in the fourth period, Post Falls decided to hold the ball for a final shot. The plan was to get the ball into the low post to junior Shawn Reid.

The Bobcats’ zone defense wouldn’t allow Post Falls’ guard a clean look inside. Reid never touched the ball. Finally, with the clock ready to expire, the ball was passed on the right wing to Justin Carter, but he had to quickly rush an attempt from 15 feet that didn’t get anywhere near the basket as the horn sounded.

In overtime, Post Falls’ final lead came when Connor Hill took a pass while slashing to the basket and finished the play to put the Trojans ahead 47-45 with 1:58 to go.

The Trojans didn’t score again.

Fuller got a rebound after two missed shots and made a short basket while being fouled. He completed the three-point play to give Madison the lead for good at 48-47 with 1:43 remaining.

Fuller finished with a game-high 28 points on 6-of-19 shooting. While he didn’t shoot well from the floor, he more than made up for it at the free-throw line where he made 15 of 18 shots. He also had 11 rebounds and two blocked shots. Seven of his rebounds came on the offensive end as the Bobcats owned a 35-28 advantage overall and 15-9 on the offensive glass.

After Fuller put Madison ahead, the Trojans went into desperation mode, missing six straight 3-point attempts in the final 1:20.

“For whatever reason tonight, our guys quit attacking gaps,” Post Falls coach Mike McLean said. “They wanted us to become perimeter oriented and that’s exactly what we did. It goes back to our process of learning and this journey we’ve been on with this team. We didn’t execute the way I would like to.”

Madison did a good job of frustrating Reid, the Trojans’ leading scorer going into state. He finished with one point while only attempting three shots. In fact, he didn’t take a shot in the second half or overtime.

“We couldn’t control them on the boards,” McLean said. “We gave them way too many second-chance opportunities. I thought if we could get a couple more rebounds and outlet it and get the pace going the way we want it. But if you can’t control the boards you can’t run.”

McLean didn’t think his team’s interior defense was as bad as it may have appeared.

“I don’t like to think that our post defense is our weakness, but it’s not our strength,” McLean said. “Our guys battled and that kid (Fuller) did exactly what they asked him to do. I don’t think he hurt us on the initial shot, but they just kind of volleyed it back and forth until they finally made (a basket).”

Freshman Marcus Colbert led the Trojans with 14 points. Carter had 11, nine rebounds and four assists.

“The credit goes to Madison. They did what they had to do to win,” McLean said.

Hawkins said his team had to control the tempo against the more athletic Trojans.

“These guys are so athletic and they get up and down so well,” Hawkins said. “We’ve had to resort to small ball (because of injuries). The tempo was where we wanted it, no question about it. We can’t run with those guys. It was two teams that weren’t going to give up.”

Lewiston 60, Twin Falls 51: The Bengals outscored the Bruins 39-26 in the second half to overcome a 25-21 halftime deficit.

Ryan Young led the Bengals with 23 points and Jared Heitzman had 14.