The Bulldogs are right where they planned to be all season long, even if no one else bought in.

    Rockland will head to Nampa to take part in the 1A D-II state basketball tournament this weekend, something that has the team riding high above the doubters.

    “We’re just ecstatic,” said head coach Vern Nelson. “We felt it, but I don’t know if people around us felt like we could get there. You have to get some things to go right for you, to get some breaks here and there. I thought our team started to come together the last three weeks of the season.”

    Led by the duo of junior center Savanah Farr (14.7 points per game, 11.4 rebounds) and senior forward Jessie Bott (7.2 ppg, 10.7 reb.), the Bulldogs are back in the event for the first time since 2010.

    “I haven’t gone yet, so I’m excited. We wanted this so bad,” Farr said. “I remember last year we had a horrible game in our district tournament. We would have gone to state had we won it. So this year, doing it, we’ve overcome a lot of adversity.”

    Although Farr and Bott are the leaders, Nelson expects and receives great effort and production from his entire Bulldog squad.

    “The kids, it’s something we’ve said all year that we felt we could get to state,” he said. “Some things had to fall in place for us a little bit to get there. We matched up fairly well with them today, so that worked in our favor. These kids are probably one of the hardest working groups of kids I’ve ever had. They also are one of the best at working together and supporting each other.”

    Rockland faces Deary in the opening round, Thursday at 6:15 p.m. at Nampa High School.