ORDER GAME PHOTOS

Most days, when anyone talks about Owyhee hoops, it's usually the Storm boys that are receiving the attention.  The reigning 5A state champs are playing well again this year, despite a high profile loss to Lake City in December.

But this space is reserved for the Owyhee girls, who very quietly have amassed a 12-1 record overall after Wednesday night's 53-43 win over Eagle.  With the win, Owyhee entered the Top 25 Daily Girls Basketball rankings for the first time at #24 overall.  The Storm are now tied for first place in the Southern Idaho Conference with our #5 overall team, Boise.  Both are 12-1 overall and 5-0 in SIC play.

In just their second year of existence, Owyhee is still a young program.  Among the nine players who saw time last night, only one (Emma Atchley) is a senior.  In fact, outside of juniors Syd Rodriguez and Aayana Dozier, the remaining six rotation players are all sophomores: Josie Davis, Addy Wright, Halle Hanchett, Mikale Roy, Riley Beck and Grace Brooks.

It's led to remarkable team balance, as four different players average between nine and 12 points per contest.  Last night, it was Beck's turn to lead the charge.  The 5-foot-11 post finished with 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting from the floor.  Rodriguez added 16 points and five rebounds, while Roy finished with a double-double of 11 points and ten rebounds.

Owyhee is led by second-year coach Jordan Ax, and his team has built up an impressive resume that features just one loss; a three-point setback to our #4 overall team Thunder Ridge.  Before Wednesday night's win over Eagle, Owyhee went to Glendora, California and won their Winter Tournament by finishing 3-0 against California schools.

The Storm return to action on Saturday at Kuna.  Tipoff is at 2:00 PM on IdahoSports.com.

Here's the rest of the Top 25 Daily Girls Basketball Rankings:

1. Melba (14-0)
2. North Fremont (11-1)
3. Cole Valley Christian (12-3)
4. Thunder Ridge (14-0)
5. Boise (12-1)
6. Shelley (12-1)
7. Mackay (12-1)
8. Rigby (13-2)
9. Timberline (13-2)
10. Soda Springs (10-2)
11. Bishop Kelly (11-3)
12. Lapwai (11-1)
13. Lake City (12-2)
14. Parma (11-2)
15. Weiser (12-1)
16. Carey (9-1)
17. Shoshone (10-1)
18. Ambrose (9-5)
19. St. Maries (5-4)
20. Post Falls (15-0)
21. Kimberly (10-4)
22. West Side (8-4)
23. Rockland (11-3)
24. Owyhee (12-1)
25. Snake River (10-3)

IN: Owyhee
OUT: Coeur d'Alene

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