The Highland High School girls golf team has kind of gone under the radar over the last few years.
But after another district title, it’s about time to take notice.
The Rams claimed a third consecutive Class 6A District V-VI championship Thursday on their own Highland Golf Course. It wasn’t really close either.
They won by 39 strokes over Canyon Ridge with a 364. Rebekah Maughan and Megan Merrill made sure of it by providing a dynamic 1-2 punch.
Maughan held off her fellow teammate by just one strike to take home the district championship with an 83. Reese Ward and Makaya Satterfield rounded out Highland’s scoring by carding a 97 and 100, respectively.
“The golf is always to make it to state and we managed to get that done today,” Highland head coach Dalton Burrup said. “Rebekah Maughan is one of the hardest working players I have coached. It showed today how much work she has put in and how much she loves the game of golf. I am proud of the way all these kids played today and we look forward to hosting state next week.”
The boys team also punched a ticket to state with a runner-up finish. It gave champion Madison a battle, but lost by six strokes with a 327.
Preston Foltz and James Astin led the way by each carding a 77. Tanner Borgholthaus and Tyler Frost added scores of 86 and 87 for the Rams.
The Class 6A state tournament gets underway next Friday at the Highland Golf Course.
Over in 5A, the Blackfoot boys golf team came up painstakingly short of a district title.
The Broncos lost to now three-time reigning champion Skyline by just one stroke by collectively shooting 46-over par. To make matters worse, Kyle Steidley lost on a one-hole playoff to Idaho Falls’ Noah Salem. They both finished with a 78. But Salem birdied the whole, while Steidley had to settle for a par.
However, Blackfoot still qualified for next week’s state tournament at the River’s Edge Golf Course in Burley.
CROSS COUNTRY
SODA SPRINGS GIRLS TAKE SECOND AT BOB CONLEY INVITATIONAL
The Soda Springs girls cross country team isn't accustomed to taking second being 16-time state champions.
But the two-time reigning Class 3A champions finished 30 points behind Ririe with 97 for to take second in the Varsity B girls race at Thursday's Bob Conley Invitational.
They had four runners place in the top-25, led by
Lizzie Beutler's seventh-place outing (19 minutes and 48.6 seconds). India Galloway was 11th, Ellie Wood 15th and Rebekah Evans 22nd.
Grace finished fourth with 158, thanks in large part to Cally Coleman taking third.
The Highland boys team placed third in the Varsity A boys race with 108 points. It finished behind Rigby (106) and Star Valley, Wyoming (74). Spencer Smith anchored the Rams with his seventh-place finish (16:09.4).
Cody Christensen (17th) and Kash Jensen (18th) also both placed in the top-25 for Highland.
Snake River's Jacob Hammond was the top local finisher (third) in the Varsity B boys race and Hailey Jackson of Century (sixth) was the best in the Varsity A girls race.
VOLLEYBALL
MALAD 3, DECLO 0
Liv Nelson nearly had a double-double with 14 kills and eight blocks, as the Pirates (15-8-1, 6-0 3A South East Idaho Conference) earned a 25-11, 25-19, 25-17 sweep Wednesday at home in nonconference play.
Brin Clark chipped in with 14 kills, Riglee Peterson 24 digs, Brynlee Jones 19 digs and Mady Vanbebber six blocks for Malad in the win.
WEST SIDE 3, GRACE 0
The Pirates (15-5-2, 4-1 3A South East Idaho Conference) cruised to 25-16, 25-21, 25-16 sweep Wednesday night at home in nonconference play.
GIRLS SOCCER
POCATELLO 4, HILLCREST 0
Aryanna Gonzalez recorded the hat trick, as the Thunder (11-3, 4-0 5A South East Idaho Conference) cruised to a nonconference win Thursday at home.
Hailee Pool provided the other goal for Pocatello in the win.
HIGHLAND 2, THUNDER RIDGE 1
Lauren Flores and Ashlyn Hale each netted a goal, as the Rams (10-4-1, 7-0-1 6A High Country Conference) clinched the league title for the fifth straight year Thursday on the road.
MARSH VALLEY 5, SNAKE RIVER 1
Isabelle Bastian chalked up a pair of goals, as the Eagles (13-4-1, 6-1-1 4A South East Idaho Conference) closed their regular season with a league win on the road Wednesday.
Kamailee Singh, Milli Worlton and Olivia Cieslak had the other three goals on the night.
MALAD 14, ABERDEEN 0
Joni Beck and Kencie Miller both recorded the hat trick, as the Dragons (7-6-1, 3-4 4A South East Idaho Conference) had their best offensive output of the season Wednesday on senior night.
Makiya Shulz, Addy Ashby, Bayli Nesbit, Kiley Miller, Aubrey Shultz, Jaezie Jensen, Paige Talbot and Halie Palmer all found the back of the net, as well, for Malad.
BOYS SOCCER
MARSH VALLEY 3, SNAKE RIVER 0
The Eagles recorded their fifth shutout of the season Wednesday on the road in 4A South East Idaho Conference play.
SUGAR-SALEM 2, AMERICAN FALLS 1
Jordan Portillo scored the lone goal for the Beavers (10-5-1, 5-0-1 4A South East Idaho Conference), who fell on senior night Wednesday in nonconference play.