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 ORDER GAME PHOTOS
Written by: Zach White
The 3A State Championship was a game where the script was flipped between halves, as the (#2) Snake River Panthers defeating the (#1) Teton Timberwolves for their second consecutive title..
Teton entered this championship game as the favorite, after defeating their two state tournament opponents by a combined 81 points (Kimberly 69-28 and Parma 61-21). The Timberwolves also averaged 61 points per game throughout the season.
Prior to Saturday, Teton’s only loss came at the hands of Sugar Salem on Jan. 17th, but Snake River kept the first half close, as the Panthers trailed 32-26 at the half. Both teams were shooting the ball at an efficient rate, with a field goal percentage over 39%, three point percentage above 30%, and an identical 3-of-4 performance from the free throw line.
The second half is where things took a turn.
The Panthers erupted for 27 points in the second half, while holding Teton to just 13. Teton was forced to use timeouts early in the half to get them back in the game, but it never came.
The Teton offense that had dominated all season long had vanished in the second half, with their field goal percentage falling to 16.7%. Teton shot 4-of-24 from the floor in the second half, and only made one three-point shot.
The Snake River comeback was led by the IdahoSports.com Player of the Game, presented by the Idaho Office of Highway Safety, Rylie Edlefsen. The senior was a factor when it came to scoring with 23 points, and shared the ball well with her teammates with six assists. She also had a clutch three pointer in the third quarter that helped extend Snake River’s lead.
“My shot was on, so then they [Teton] kept collapsing on me so that I was able to find girls who were open, and I knew they were going to hit those shots,” said Edlefsen about how she was able to distribute the ball at a high rate. “I’m confident in my teammates, so I knew I could pass and they could get it done.”
With back-to-back state titles under their belts, Snake River has firmly cemented themselves as the program to beat in Class 3A.
“It speaks a lot to our identity and character as a team,” said Edlefsen.
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1ST
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2ND
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3RD
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4TH
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TOTAL
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SNAKE RIVER
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16
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10
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8
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19
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53
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TETON
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23
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9
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8
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5
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45
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SNAKE RIVER (20-6) - Rylie Edlefsen 23, Reese Baldwin 8, Taylee Carlson 7, Camdyn Dunn 6, Hailey Nash 5, Grace Gilbert 4, Madi Watt 0, Addie Campbell 0
TETON (24-2) - Reese Kunz 12, Grace Hogan 11, Abi Barkdull 9, Melissa Bagley 9, Morgan Johnson 2, Kadence Hansen 2, Ceci Martinez 0, Clara Nykamp 0, Elysa Kaufman 0
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