Rigby made it look easy early and difficult late, but a 10thchampionship is headed back to the Trojans’ trophy case.

The Trojans squandered a 20-point lead against Bishop Kelly,but held their nerve down the stretch to survive 54-48 to win the 4A state boysbasketball championship.

It’s the third title in four seasons for Rigby, which wentback-to-back in 2013.

“I got to play on varsity as a sophomore when we won it, butI didn’t have a very big role,” said senior guard Haydn Landon. “To have a bigpart of this one is a great feeling.”

Braden Boyce scored 17 points and pulled in nine rebounds topace the Trojans, while Landon added 15 points. Nick Huston had nine points ina game that ended far less straightforward for Rigby than it began.

Rigby rip-roared out of the gates, blitzing Bishop Kelly fora 22-2 lead early in the second quarter, courtesy of a 20-0 run.

But the Knights chipped away, slashing the deficit to seven bythe time halftime rolled around. They closed to within three heading into thefourth quarter.

A Tyler Allumbaugh steal and lay-in tied the game at 40 with4:56 left in regulation. Cole Baker hit a spinning jumper 30 seconds later togive the Knights their first lead of the game.

The teams spent the final 5 minutes trading baskets, in essence.But Rigby got a stop and stretched the lead to two possessions, then hit foulshots down the stretch to escape with the win.

“It looked like it was going to be easy, but it wasn’t. Wehad to fight and grind,” said senior guard Tyrel Phillips. “But that’s makesthis great. We know the community is behind us and we just had to believe.”

Allumbaugh had 11 points to lead Bishop Kelly, while MichaelMartinez added nine points.

Box Score

Webcast Replay

Idaho Sports Playerof the Game: Braden Boyce, Rigby.