Girls' basketball

Pocatello 39, Minico 33

RUPERT - The Pocatello girls' basketball team took an early lead at Minico on Thursday and then held on for at 39-33 victory - its first of the season.

Despite playing with a stomach flu, senior Brenna Brigham scored 18 points to lead the Indians, while Kelsey Parker pitched in with 12.

In the first quarter, Pocatello jumped ahead 8-4, which proved to be a big difference, coach Jeff Hough said.

"That was huge for us because historically if Minico gets they lead they'll sit back in a zone and try to take the air out of the ball," he said. "We took them out of their game plan."

That early advantaged vanished by the third quarter, though, and the teams entered the fourth tied 27-27.

"We were able to clamp down defensively and get the lead back," Hough said. "That was huge."

The Indians (1-8) will look to start their first winning streak of the season when they travel to Wood River on Saturday.

Soda Springs 51, Teton 35

DRIGGS - Soda Springs relied on a strong defensive effort for a 51-35 win at Teton on Thursday.

Teton's Laura Kersley had scored a total of 50 points in her two previous games, but Kayla McMurray clamped down on her and limited her to 13 points.

"It was a good defensive effort," Soda Springs coach Wade Schvaneveldt said. Soda Springs led 32-27 entering the fourth quarter but outscored Teton 19-8 in the final period, much thanks to Shelby Johnson's 7-for-10 shooting at the foul line during that span. Johnson finished with 17 points, and McMurray added 11.

Soda Springs (7-0) next hosts American Falls today.

Bear Lake 49, Star Valley 44

MONTPELIER - Bear Lake managed to cut down on its turnovers in a 49-44 overtime win against Star Valley at home on Thursday.

Having committed a total of 62 turnovers in their previous two games, the Bears turned the ball over just 16 times and broke Star Valley's press all game.

"We started getting to them," Bear Lake coach Jim Mattson said. "They started pressing us, and we took it to them."

That effort helped Bear Lake overcome a seven-point deficit in the fourth quarter to force overtime, during which Trezlyn Bartschi scored four of Bear Lake's eight points.

Kayla Wallentine led all scorers with 16 points, while Bartschi, who is still recovering from a groin pull, scored eight.

Bear Lake (2-5) next travels to play Grace today.

Boys' basketball

Grace 58, Butte County 45

GRACE - Todd Lloyd scored a game-high 23 points to lead Grace to a 58-45 win over Butte County at home on Thursday.

Grace limited Butte County to single-digit points in the first and fourth quarters.

"We played pretty good defense," Grace coach Rory Lloyd said. "The team played well together and play good defensively."

Grace (1-3) next hosts Ririe on Saturday.

Highland 41, Elko 38

ELKO, Nev. - Highland got off to a winning start at the Red Lion Basketball Tournament when it beat Elko 41-38 behind Brady Smith's buzzer-beating 3-pointer.

"He's a good shooter," Highland coach Chris Frost said. "Right when it went off his hand, I thought it was good."

Highland led 23-17 at halftime but allowed Elko to creep back in the game. Elko tied it at 38-38, and with 2.5 seconds remaining, the Rams drew up a play designed to feed Taysom Hill in the paint. But Smith caught the ball on the perimeter instead and hit the winning shot.

He finished with seven points, while Hill scored 14.

Highland (2-2) continues its tournament play when it faces Spanish Springs, a team out of Reno, Nev.

Hillcrest 67, Preston 58

PRESTON - The Preston boys' basketball team couldn't overcome a sluggish first half and fell 67-58 against Hillcrest at home Thursday.

"We got a bad start," Preston coach Ryan Young said. "They came out and got after us in the first quarter and put us on our heels, and we always seemed to be digging out of a hole."

Chaz Spackman led the Indians with 17 points, and Shane Olvierson chipped in 12.

Preston (1-3) next travels to play Blackfoot on Saturday.