Welcome to Baney's Basketball Breakdown, a weekly reset that allows all of us to catch our breath and reflect on the past week of high school competition.  There will be lots to digest below, so let's get to it!

OPENING TIP

The schedule was relatively light this past week, and for a perfectly fine reason.  The Thanksgiving holiday ensured that no games took place from Wednesday to Friday, and only two games were played on Saturday (if it were up to me, no games would be played at all this week).  In a world that's becoming increasingly dominated by the calendar (sports/school/social, take your pick), I think it's important for families to slow down and enjoy life every once in a while.  The Thanksgiving holiday is a perfect time for all of us to reset, thank God for all of the blessings He's bestowed upon us, and spend some quality time with loved ones (both family and friends).  This might be wishful thinking, but I look forward to a time when there are no games at all during the week of Thanksgiving.

GAME OF THE WEEK

Class 3A West Jefferson (1-3) earned their first win of the season in dramatic fashion on Tuesday, November 25 over 4A South Fremont (0-4).  The Cougars trailed on the road in Terreton with just over a minute to play, 37-33.  But South Fremont's defense came up with not one, but two steals off of full-court pressure on back-to-back possessions.  Each steal led to a basket by junior Brooklyn Bair, and with 34 seconds to play, the Cougars had tied the contest at 37-37, and the game eventually went to overtime.  In the extra period, Bair scored on South Fremont's opening possession, and the Cougars led 39-37.  That was the last time that South Fremont would lead, as West Jefferson's defense clamped down on the Cougars.  On the offensive end, the Panthers nailed five free throws over the final two minutes of OT (four from junior Jessica Rigby, one from junior Jaiden Wilcox) to preserve the 42-39 victory.

TEAM OF THE WEEK

The Class 3A Ambrose Archers, fresh off of a state volleyball championship earlier this fall, have started the season 6-0, including a 2-0 mark over the past week.  On Tuesday, November 25, the Archers sneaked past 4A Weiser 66-61.  Then, on Saturday, November 29, Ambrose held off a pesky Wendell squad, 36-30.  Ambrose has a 3-0 record against larger 4A schools this year (Cole Valley Christian, Homedale and Weiser), wins over 2A state tournament teams Liberty Charter and Oakley (the defending 2A champ) and Saturday's triumph over Wendell.  Three really intriguing measuring-stick games against Malad, Ririe and Grace await at this weekend's Ririe Bulldog Shootout.  We'll know a lot more about first-year coach Kirk Crager and his team after this weekend.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Class 3A Wendell (2-3 overall) has had a roller-coaster of a season just five games in.  There was the narrow overtime win over 4A Gooding 58-56, and the narrow overtime loss to 2A Murtaugh 35-32.  They've also dropped a pair of close contests to 4A Filer 41-35, and on Saturday, November 29 (their only game last week), a 36-30 setback to fellow 3A squad Ambrose.  In the loss, 5-foot-9 senior Audra Bunn registered a double-double of 16 points and ten rebounds, while adding an assist and two steals.  If the Trojans can receive that type of production down low every night from Bunn, it changes the outlook of Wendell's season within the 3A South East Idaho Conference.

30-BURGER CLUB

Each week, we will highlight any player that breaks the 30-point mark in a single game (please send in 30-burger performers to brandon@idahosports.com).

None

TOURNEY TIME!

Each week, we'll list all of the regular season tournaments featuring Idaho squads:

CAREY HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT (CAREY HS)
Friday, December 5 - Saturday, December 6
4 teams, bracket play
Carey, Garden Valley, Rockland, Wendell

DESERT HILLS HOLIDAY CLASSIC (DESERT HILLS HS - ST. GEORGE, UTAH)
Thursday, December 4 - Saturday, December 6
8 teams, 3 scheduled games for each team
Soda Springs

JERRY CALLEN MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT (JEROME HS)
Friday, December 5 - Saturday, December 6
8 teams, 2 or 3 scheduled games for each team
Butte County, Jerome, Mackay, Mountain Home, Nampa, Raft River, Timberline (Boise), Twin Falls

ONTARIO TIGERS INVITATIONAL (ONTARIO HS - ONTARIO, OR)
Friday, December 5 - Saturday, December 6
6 teams, 2 scheduled games for each team
Wood River

RIRIE BULLDOG SHOOTOUT (RIRIE HS)
Thursday, December 4 - Saturday, December 6
11 teams, 3 scheduled games for each team
Aberdeen, Ambrose, Grace, Firth, Malad, Marsh Valley, Murtaugh, North Fremont, Ririe, West Jefferson, West Side

SUGAR-SALEM SHOOTOUT (SUGAR-SALEM HS)
Thursday, December 4 - Saturday, December 6
6 teams, 3 scheduled games for each team
Bear Lake, Blackfoot, Preston, Sugar-Salem, Grantsville (UT), Syracuse (UT)

SWEET 16 INVITATIONAL (LA JOLLA COUNTRY DAY HS - LA JOLLA, CALIFORNIA)
Thursday, December 4 - Saturday, December 6
16 teams, bracket play
Middleton