GIRLS BASKETBALL

MALAD 54, ABERDEEN 34

Jeremy Jones has to cancel his tee time.

Malad's first-year head coach was supposed to hit the links Tuesday in St. George, Utah, but instead he'll prep for Wednesday's 2A District 5 championship game.

The Dragons downed Aberdeen 54-34 Monday at Marsh Valley High School in a loser-out matchup of the district tournament,

Malad went 4-0 against the Tigers this season, winning by an average margin of 13 points.

“Beating a team three times is tough,” Jones said. “But beating a team four times … that's why they have series in the NBA.”

Malad's Shawnee Simpson led the way with 21 points and 17 rebounds and was part of a defensive effort that held Aberdeen leading scorer Makenna Schritter to nine points.

The Dragons (16-7) play top-seeded Soda Springs on Wednesday at Marsh Valley. If Malad wins, a winner-take-all district title game will be played Friday at Marsh Valley since the Cardinals have not lost in the double-elimination tournament. If the Dragons lose, they play the District 6 runner-up for the league's half-seed to state.

Aberdeen finished the season 15-8.

FIRTH 26, WEST JEFFERSON 25

Abby Schiess' only field goal of the game gave Firth its only lead of the night — in the final minute of the fourth quarter.

It held up as the game winner Monday in the Cougars' 26-25 win against West Jefferson in a loser-out game of the 2A District 6 tournament at South Fremont High School.

Firth lost its first game of the tournament and has won three consecutive loser-out games to reach the district championship.

“These kids work so hard,” Cougars coach Sharla Cook said. “They never give up.”

Cammie Gee scored a team-high eight points for Firth (11-13), which plays Ririe on Tuesday for the district title and state tournament berth. Firth must beat Ririe twice since Ririe has not lost in the double-elimination tournament. The runner-up plays the District 5 runner-up for the league's half-seed to state.

BOYS BASKETBALL

IDAHO FALLS 59, BLACKFOOT 45

Blackfoot lost its third game in a row Monday, 59-45 at Idaho Falls. The Tigers made eight 3-pointers and scored at least 14 points in all four quarters.

“The Tigers shot the ball well tonight,” Broncos coach Cody Shelley said. “They were good tonight.”

Blackfoot's Jarod Greene scored a game-high 33 points. The Broncos (10-8, 5-4 4A District 5-6) play Wednesday at Preston.

SNAKE RIVER 63, SOUTH FREMONT 55

Snake River beat South Fremont 63-55 Monday on the road. No further information was available.

The Panthers (16-3, 3-0 3A District 5) has won five games in a row and ends its regular season Friday at Marsh Valley.

ROCKLAND 67, CHALLIS 64

Rockland edged Challis 67-64 Monday on senior night.

The Bulldogs outscored the Vikings 21-9 in the second quarter to take a 34-31 halftime lead.

“It was a tight game all the way,” Rockland coach Scott Lish said. “We really had to play the top of our game to keep it going.”

Rodney Parrish scored a game-high 27 points to pace the Bulldogs (13-6, 12-0 1A DII District 5-6), who end their regular season Friday at Challis.

Monday's box scores

BOYS BASKETBALL

IDAHO FALLS 59, BLACKFOOT 45 

Blackfoot 11 16 9 9 — 45

Idaho Falls 14 14 14 17 — 59

BLACKFOOT (45) — Rhys Pope 1, Scott Cannon 1, Rayce Shelley 3, Trevor Miller 3, Nate Colvin 4, Jarod Greene 33.

IDAHO FALLS (59) — Cooper Peterson 25, Austin Staker 9, Cole Ybarguen 5, Kalvin Bowen 2, Andrew Gregersen 6, Sawyer Storms 10, CJ Rudolf 2.

ROCKLAND 67, CHALLIS 64

Challis 22 9 12 21 — 64

Rockland 13 21 15 17 — 67

Challis — Cotant 2, Millick 4, Gregory 20, Sheppeard 9, Rembelski 2, Ashley 21, Stillwaugh 6.

Rockland — Boyer 12, Farr 2, Megdinger 4, Permann 14, Parrish 27, Reed 8.

GIRLS BASKETBAL

FIRTH 26, WEST JEFFERSON 25

West Jefferson 8 8 7 2 — 25

Firth 2 7 6 11 — 26

West Jefferson — Holdaway 12, Severe 2, Brown 3, Kirkpatrick 8.

Firth — Tucker 4, H. Gee 6, Harrison 3, McKinnon 1, C. Gee 8, Schiess 4.

MALAD 54, ABERDEEN 34

Aberdeen 8 4 7 15 — 34

Malad 12 14 13 15 — 54

Aberdeen — Wahlen 6, Ponce 6, Schritter 9, Palacios 5, Rucker 3, Behrend 1, Uribe 4.

Malad — Hubbard 3, Sa. Simpson 11, Williams 2, H. Peterson 14, Corbridge 3, Sh. Simpson 21.