GIRLS BASKETBALL

SODA SPRINGS 54, HIGHLAND 23

Soda Springs routed Highland 54-23 on Thursday in the Preston tournament.

The 2A defending state champion blew the game open against the 5A Rams in the third quarter, when the Cardinals won by a margin of 24-4.

Sadie Gronning tallied 23 points, eight assists, six rebounds and five steals for the Cardinals (3-1), who play in the Preston tournament Friday.

Highland (2-5, 0-1 5A District 5-6) plays Friday in the Preston tournament.

PRESTON 46, SNAKE RIVER 38

Preston held serve on the opening day of its tournament on Thursday, overturning a halftime deficit to beat Snake River 46-38 in its tournament.

Saige Meek had 18 points to lead all scorers for Preston. Josee Steadman had 11 for Snake River, which led 25-20 at halftime.

Preston moved to 6-1. Snake River fell to 2-2. Both teams play again Friday at Preston.

TWIN FALLS 34, POCATELLO 26

The defense was good for Pocatello on Thursday against Twin Falls, but a poor offensive showing dragged the Indians to a 34-26 loss at Twin Falls.

Adi Spillett scored 13 of the Indians’ 26 points.

“We got a little tentative, stopped being aggressive with the ball in the second half,” Pocatello coach Sunny Evans said. “Struggled to knock down a few easy shots. (Twin Falls) shot 19 free throws in the second half — we shot eight — so we’re going to have to get in better spots defensively. Our physical effort was really good, our mental effort will have to improve.”

Pocatello (2-4) plays Wednesday at Idaho Falls.

BLACKFOOT 40, RIGBY 34

Blackfoot held off Rigby 40-34 on Thursday at home.

The Broncos built a 25-13 halftime lead before getting outscored 21-15 in the second half.

“(Rigby’s) a good team, a physical team,” said Blackfoot coach Courtnie Smith, who added that her team matched the opponent’s “toughness.”

Hadley Humpherys scored 14 points, while Prairie Caldwell added 10 for Blackfoot (5-1, 2-0 4A District 6), which play Saturday at Madison.

AMERICAN FALLS 37, DECLO 31

American Falls was stout defensively in a 37-31 win at Declo on Thursday.

The Beavers held the Hornets to one point in the second quarter and went into halftime leading 16-8.

“Our free throws were the difference in the fourth quarter,” American Falls coach Stephen Grigg said. “Our entire team was fantastic.”

Raquel Fehringer had a team-high 10 points for American Falls (2-3), which plays Saturday at West Side.

NORTH SUMMIT (UT) 56, MARSH VALLEY 46

A third-quarter comeback couldn’t carry Marsh Valley to a win on Thursday, as the Eagles lost 56-46 to North Summit (Utah) at Preston.

Valerie Vorwaller and Zoe Armstrong scored 13 points apiece for Marsh Valley.

“We’ve got to learn how to play four quarters full speed, full intensity,” Marsh Valley coach Kyle McQuivey said.

Marsh Valley (1-2) plays Highland at Preston on Friday.

RICH (UT) 56, WEST SIDE 30

A slow first quarter doomed West Side on Thursday as the Pirates lost 56-30 to Rich (Utah) at Preston’s tournament.

Kajsia Fuller led West Side with 12 points.

“They had a guard who was just quicker than what we were able to defend,” West Side coach Bob Sorenson said. “They just broke us down defensively.”

West Side (0-6) hosts American Falls on Saturday.

WEST JEFFERSON 36, MALAD 32

Malad’s early lead didn’t hold up in a defensive struggle Thursday, as the Dragons lost to West Jefferson, 36-32, at Malad.

Shannon Hudnell and Hallye Green scored eight points apiece for Malad, which led 15-6 after the first quarter but scored just 17 points the rest of the way.

“We came out really strong defensively,” Malad coach Ty Price said. “We really executed well, shut down their outside shooters. In the second half, we had a hard time getting shots and we didn’t score many points. I’m proud of the girls, because it was a physical game and they battled through it and kept fighting.”

Malad (0-5) hosts Ririe on Saturday.

GRACE 48, BUTTE COUNTY 35

Grace outscored Butte County in each of the first three quarters en route to a 48-35 win at Butte County on Thursday.

“Girls came out with intensity.” Grizzlies coach Kyle Christensen said. “The girls were able to move the ball well.”

Breanna Hill scored a game-high 15 points to lead Grace (5-1, 1-0 1A DI District 5-6). which plays at Taylor’s Crossing on Tuesday.

NORTH GEM 50, GRACE LUTHERAN 14

North Gem stifled Grace Lutheran for a 50-14 win on the road on Thursday.

Harlee Davids scored 21 points with eight steals for the Cowgirls, who gave up seven points in each half.

“We challenged the girls to be really aggressive today,” North Gem coach Dana Strong said. “We wanted them to attack, attack, attack, and that’s what they did.”

North Gem (2-4) plays at Oakley on Tuesday.

BOYS BASKETBALL

BORAH 60, HIGHLAND 37

Highland fell 60-37 at Borah on Thursday.

The Rams were outscored in every quarter.

Mason Mickelson scored a team-high 12 points for Highland (0-1), which plays Friday at Boise.

FIRTH 51, ABERDEEN 26

Aberdeen was blown out by Firth 51-26 on Thursday on the road.

“Their defensive pressure just caused us problems and we had some half-court defense problems,” Aberdeen coach Joe Ingersoll said.

Aberdeen (1-1) plays Tuesday at Raft River.

NORTH GEM 73, GRACE LUTHERAN 20

North Gem blew past Grace Lutheran 73-20 on Thursday on the road.

The Cowboys outscored the Royals 48-6 in the second and third quarters combined.

“We didn’t match their intensity well to begin with,” Cowboys coach Kevin McLain said. “But eventually we found our rhythm and our defense is what really got us back into the game.”

James Bodily scored 27 points to lead North Gem (1-0), which hosts Sho-Ban on Dec. 13.

Grace Lutheran (0-1, 0-1 1A District 5-6) plays Friday at Leodore.

THURSDAY’S BOX SCORES

BOYS BASKETBALL

BORAH 60, HIGHLAND 37

Highland 12 6 7 12 — 37

Borah 18 11 15 16 — 60

Highland — Durham 10, Carter 4, Mickelsen 12, Bell 9, Washakie 2.

Borah — Garey 6, Hoetker 2, Dewberry 20, Messerly 3, Ellis 2, Bolt 20, Nett 4, Kurkowski-Sneller 3.

NORTH GEM 73, GRACE LUTHERAN 20

North Gem 16 23 25 9 – 73

Grace Lutheran 10 4 2 4 – 20

North Gem — Freeman 7, Low 2, Corta 19, Hatch 16, Bodily, 27

Grace Lutheran — Jimenez 2, Besel 10, Hess 3, Cummings 1, Thiros 2, Frakes 2

GIRLS BASKETBALL

SODA SPRINGS 54, HIGHLAND 23

Soda Springs 13 9 24 8 – 54

Highland 4 8 7 4 – 23

Soda Springs – Gronning 23, Balls 12, Smith 5, Horsley 4, Naef 2, Moldenhauer 2, Somsen 2, Pelayo 2, Thompson 2..

Highland – Calley 9, Pokibro 3, Thayne 3, Vaughan 2, Farmer 3, Pongah 2, Baker 2.

BLACKFOOT 40, RIGBY 34

Rigby 8 5 8 13 – 34

Blackfoot 14 11 4 11 – 40

Rigby – Murdoch 5, Jones 11, Boone 3, Briggs 3, Donnely 2, Shipper 9, Kennedy 1.

Blackfoot – Smith 4, Arave 1, Caldwell 10, Wright 7, Thomas 1, Andersen 3, Humpherys 14

PRESTON 46, SNAKE RIVER 38

Snake River 5 20 8 5 — 38

Preston 6 14 16 10 — 46

Snake River — Steadman 11, Gilbert 4, Goff 6, Stimpson 6, Kracl 7, Cherry 4.

Preston — H. Meek 9, Marlow 3, S. Meek 18, Harris 3, Ware 2, Pugmire 6, Larsen 5.

TWIN FALLS 34, POCATELLO 26

Pocatello 10 5 3 8 — 26

Twin Falls 7 2 13 12 — 34

Pocatello — Spillett 13, Murdoch 3, Rowe 2, Pearson 2, Wilkes 3, Tinno 3.

Twin Falls — Stotts 2, Cargile 17, Rodriguez 3, Stokes 5, Beem 2, Rex 1, Iverson 4.

NORTH SUMMIT (UT) 56, MARSH VALLEY 46

North Summit 16 14 11 15 — 56

Marsh Valley 10 8 17 9 — 46

North Summit — M. Richins 4, Garfield 2, McQueen 23, A. Richins 5, P. Richins 2, H. Richins 9, Watterson 11.

Marsh Valley — Vorwaller 13, Marshall 2, Armstrong 13, Hadley 3, Argyle 7, Dunn 6, N. Smedley 2.

AMERICAN FALLS 37, DECLO 31

American Falls 7 9 7 14 – 37

Declo 7 1 8 15 – 31

American Falls – Long 7, Fehringer 10, Bell 2, Hunt 5, G. Barclay 8, E. Barclay 5.

Declo – Mallory 3, S. Ramsey 4, Bott 15, Olsen 2, A. Ramsey 1, Kahalioumi 6.

WEST JEFFERSON 36, MALAD 32

West Jefferson 6 8 15 7 — 36

Malad 15 5 9 3 — 32

West Jefferson — S. Anhder 6, Barzee 6, Johnson 3, Moss 8, Dalling 5, E. Anhder 1, Torgerson 7.

Malad — Jacobsen 6, Gross 5, Peterson 4, Hudnell 8, Dorius 1, Green 8.

RICH (UT) 56, WEST SIDE 30

West Side 4 10 4 12 — 30

Rich 16 17 13 10 — 56

West Side — Barzee 6, Dean 2, Love 2, Telford 2, Lemmon 4, K. Fuller 12, Eldridge 2.

Rich — Stacy 19, Tingey 10, Wallentine 5, McKee 2, Schulthess 2, Brown 5, Stapel 2, Hatch 8, Cornia 2, Smith 1.

GRACE 48, BUTTE COUNTY 35

Grace 12 16 11 9 – 48

Butte County 7 10 3 15 – 35

Grace – Anderson 2, Walker 11, Stratman 2, Hill 15, Rigby 2, Windley 8, Clegg 8.

Butte County – McFee 12, Kniffin 4, Knight 9, Eard 6, Hansen 4.

NORTH GEM 50, GRACE LUTHERAN 14

North Gem 15 9 16 10 — 50

Grace Lutheran 4 3 1 6 — 14

North Gem — Harlee Davids 21, Mabey 12, Christensen 7, Barfuss 6, Partain 4.

Grace Lutheran — Rodriguez 5, Liddil 4, Grayson 3, Austin 2.