Century 53, Burley 50

JEROME - The Century boys' basketball took down the defending 4A state champion Burley, 53-30, on Thursday at Jerome to move one step closer to its ninth straight trip to the state tournament.

The loser-out game between the runners-up from the Fourth and Fifth districts was tied 39-39 heading into the fourth quarter. After a back-and-forth frame, the Diamondbacks grabbed a 51-50 lead with 17 seconds to go.

Bobcats star Kyle Hepworth tried to find A.J. Hunter on an inbounds pass, but Century senior Koby Campbell stole the ball, allowing the Diamondbacks to seal the game at the line.

"He anticipates really well, and he uses his quickness to his advantage," Century coach Cody Shelley said of Campbell.

Senior Storm Shelley led the Diamondbacks with a game-high 24 points, including three 3-pointers, and Caz Alley pitched in nine points.

With the win, Century (15-9) advances to play Blackfoot, the runner up from the Sixth District, at 1 p.m. Saturday at Highland High for a trip to state. The Broncos defeated the Diamondbacks in two earlier meetings this season.

"It's gonna take a full team effort on the defensive end," coach Shelley said. "On the offensive end, we have to come out and play Century basketball and execute."

Clark County 42, North Gem 33

FIRTH - North Gem's season is over after a 42-33 loss to Clark County in a 1A Division II Rocky Mountain Conference loser-out game Friday at Firth High School.

North Gem scored no points in the first quarter and trailed 18-6 at halftime but outscored Clark County 20-7 in the third quarter to take a 26-25 lead into the fourth quarter.

Clark County pulled away in the final period by drawing 20 fouls and hitting 15 attempts. The Bobcats had hit just 1-of-4 free throws in the first three quarters.

"You've got to give Clark credit," North Gem coach Ken Christensen said. "You step up to the line and make 15 out of 20, that's a hell of a shooting night."

Shawn Banks led North Gem (8-13) with nine points.

Aberdeen 68, Grace 57

ARIMO - Aberdeen moved one win away from qualifying for the state tournament by toppling Grace 68-57 in a loser-out game Friday at Marsh Valley High School.

Grace's season is over. Aberdeen (18-5) faces North Fremont in a play-in game Saturday.

Aberdeen blew open a close game by outscoring Grace 19-10 in the third quarter. That gave Aberdeen a 49-35 lead entering the final period, and the Tigers, who hit 21-of-26 free throws, held off the Grizzlies.

"The third quarter was the difference in the game," Aberdeen coach Quinn Aldous said. "We came out and got on them."

Wade Wahlen scored 17 points to lead Aberdeen, while Aaron Schritter scored 15 and Cody Snyder added 13. Todd Lloyd paced Grace with 15 points.

Jerome 60, Pocatello 50

JEROME - Pocatello dropped a 60-50 decision at Jerome on Thursday in the 4A Great Basin Conference title game.

Playing its sixth game in 10 days, Poky looked a step slow on defense and allowed Jerome to hit 10 3-pointers.

"We just didn't have the legs tonight," Poky coach Lee Ralphs said. "Defensively, we just weren't very quick, and Jerome took advantage of us."

Michael Decker scored 20 points to lead Pocatello (12-14).

Century 53, Burley 50

JEROME - Century ended Burley's bid to repeat as 4A state champion with a 53-50 win in a loser-out game Friday at Jerome High.

Storm Shelley scored a game-high 24 points to help complete Century's second-half comeback. The Diamondbacks used a 18-1 third-quarter run to tie the game at 39-39 heading into the fourth quarter. Neither team led by more than three points in the final frame, and Century pulled it out in the end.

"They made a little run at the start of the third and we sat back a little," said Burley's Kyle Hepworth, who scored 22. "But we got back into the game and just couldn't get far enough ahead. They made a couple more plays than we did."

Century will face Blackfoot in Pocatello on Saturday for a trip to state.