Idaho State 5A boys: Centennial’s outside shooting sends Post Falls into consolations

NAMPA, Idaho – Coming into the state semifinals, Post Falls’ game plan was to keep Centennial away from the rim.

The Trojans accomplished that goal, allowing just 14 points in the paint. But when the Patriots countered by firing away from 3-point range, it was too much to overcome.

Brooks King scored 24 points and Delveion Jackson added 21 as Centennial shot its way into the 5A championship game with a 72-61 victory Friday at the Ford Idaho Center. The Patriots made 11 of 23 shots from deep and sealed it with clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch.

“I was impressed with the way Centennial moved the ball and consistently made open shots,” Post Falls coach Mike McLean said. “We tried to take away their first option, but tonight, their second option got us.”

Junior forward Jake Pfennigs had 16 points and seven rebounds to lead a balanced Post Falls attack. Sophomore guard Drake Thompson scored 15 points and junior wing Tanner McCliment-Call added 13 for the Trojans (19-4), who will play rival Lewiston for third place Saturday at Columbia High.

Centennial (17-10) advances to play Rocky Mountain (25-1) in the state final. The Patriots outlasted Post Falls one night after toppling No. 1-ranked Madison in overtime.

“Everybody is buying in right now,” said Jackson, a 6-foot-6 UC Davis commit who added eight rebounds and five assists. “We have a lot of positive energy, and everyone is really locked in.”

Both teams were hot early, with Post Falls grabbing a 21-20 lead after the opening quarter. Things slowed down a bit in the second, but both teams continued to hit open shots and the score was tied at 33 going into the locker room.

Centennial continued its barrage in the second half, with King, Jaydon Clark (nine points) and Jackson Cleverly (12) all hitting shots from deep. Post Falls kept pace by patiently running its offense and getting quality looks, and it was a one-point game heading into the fourth.

“Our coaches kept saying (Centennial) wouldn’t shoot such a high percentage the whole game,” McCliment-Call said. “But they did. They were hot.”

It was still a one-point game at the 2-minute mark, but King hit two free throws to put Centennial ahead 62-59. After a costly Post Falls turnover, Cleverley added two more foul shots to push the lead to five.

Pfennigs had a clean look at a 3 with just more than a minute remaining, but it rattled out after going halfway down.

“I thought for sure that one was going in, so it was heartbreaking when it didn’t,” Pfennigs said. “We needed it. It’s tough to beat a team when they shoot so well.”

Jackson, who went 11 for 17 on free throws, made enough to clinch it late as Post Falls’ offense dried up. The Trojans shot 49 percent overall, but only made one field goal in the final 2:44.

“I thought we took good shots, they just didn’t go in when we needed them too,” McLean said. “I thought our guys battled really hard and executed our stuff. Sometimes, the shots just don’t fall.”

Rocky Mountain 70, Lewiston 38: Tyler O’Donnell and Kolby Lee scored 16 points apiece, Jacob Erickson added 15 and the Grizzlies (25-1) routed the Bengals (14-9) in a Idaho State 5A semifinal at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa.

Trystan Bradley scored 12 points with six rebounds for Lewiston, which shot 27 percent overall and hit 3 of 10 from beyond the arc.

4A State

Moscow 47, Jerome 36: Glen Gosse scored 13 points, Cooper Stephens added 11 and the Bears (9-12) topped the Tigers (15-12) in a consolation bracket matchup at Borah HS.

Hunter Pickard grabbed 16 rebounds to go with nine points. Logan Geist and Tyler Cook led Jerome with 11 points apiece.

The Bears will play in the consolation final on Saturday at 8:15 a.m.

3A State

Timberlake 53, Parma 45: Brenden Jessen scored 11 points, Brayden Menti added 10 and the Tigers (14-9) beat the Panthers (13-12) in a consolation bracket game at Meridian HS.

Payton Pinz led Parma with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Braydon Jensen added 15.

Timberlake will play in the consolation bracket final on Saturday at 8:15 a.m.

Kellogg vs Shelley: here

2A State

Ririe 59, St. Maries 41: Dylan Anglesey scored 17 points, Matthew Johnson added 16 and the Bulldogs (24-2) knocked off the Lumberjacks (13-5) in a semifinal at Capital HS.

Jake Sieler led St. Maries with 12 points. The Lumberjacks hit just 5 of 31 from beyond the arc.

St. Maries plays in the third-place game on Saturday at 10 a.m.

1A Division II State

Genesis Prep 68, Carey 33: Stephane Manzi scored 17 points with eight rebounds and the Jaguars (21-4) beat the Panthers (16-11) in a Idaho semifinal at Caldwell HS.

Genesis Prep will advance to the state title game against Dietrich (24-1) at 9:30 a.m. at Ford Idaho Center in Nampa.

Junior Williams scored 15 points and Jonny Hillman added 14 points and six rebounds.