NAMPA — In Skyview High School’s gym, a neutral site that felt like a Filer home game, the defending champs went to the brink of advancing to the semifinals, but luck wasn’t on Marsh Valley’s side.

    With a mob-like defense, Filer forced 21 Eagle turnovers and the Wildcats scored just enough to skate by Marsh Valley 36-33 in Nampa Thursday night.

    Buoyed by a vocal and raucous traveling fan base, Filer came out firing early and built an 11-0 lead. But Marsh Valley — with its nine seniors — remained unfazed and slowly worked its way back into the game, eventually taking a lead in the third quarter.

    Marsh Valley sophomore post Faith Lolofie entered off the bench along with senior guard Kami Hansen and the two changed the game’s dynamics. Lolofie offset Filer’s size advantage underneath, and Hansen added another ball handler who could break the Wildcats’ trapping press.

    With a minute left, the state’s second and third-ranked teams had battled to a 33-33 tie. After Filer’s Cassidy Ferrell hit 1-of-2 free throws, Marsh Valley took a timeout down one and with the ball.

    “When they called that timeout, I said they’re going to go to (Lolofie),” said Wildcats head coach Kody Ketterling.

    Sure enough, the Eagles worked the ball against Filer’s zone, passing around the perimeter, looking for Lolofie, who finished with a team-high 10 points, underneath.

    But the tall, lanky Filer defenders were ready. When the pass finally went into the post, a Wildcat deflected the ball, a scrum ensued and Sierra Koyle came out with it.

    Koyle, a 5-foot-6 Filer senior guard, had, only moments before, drawn nothing but air on an errant 3-point attempt, and she had already missed two of her four free throw attempts from the line.

    “I just thought of all the practices I’ve worked for,” Koyle said. “All the free throws I’d make and shoot and shoot and shoot. So I just took a deep breath.”

    Cool as could be, Koyle stepped to the line, sank both free throws and put Filer up 36-33 with 18 seconds left.

    Marsh Valley immediately attacked off the bounce. McNabb had a contested look from 22 feet out that fell well short, and Filer escaped to advance.

    The defending champs will not repeat.

    “We came into this game ready to win,” said Marsh Valley senior Jessica Dunn. “We were prepared. They just happened to be ahead when the buzzer rang.”

    “We’ve been saying this is the championship year since the seventh grade,” said Dunn, who had six of her eight points in the second half. “So, yeah, this loss sucks big time. We’re taking it real hard, but we’re going to bounce back and be ready for tomorrow.”

    If Marsh Valley — or for that matter Filer — plans to be ready for today’s games, both will do it after a physical and bruising affair that was evenly matched.

    “The thing about my kids, they never lost their poise,” Ketterling said. “They played through the whole thing.”

    Filer (20-4) plays for a shot at the state title today at 8 p.m. against Sugar-Salem. Marsh Valley (18-7) takes on Homedale.

    “We can hang our heads,” Dunn said, “or we can get a good night’s rest get up and be ready to play.”