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 start of the boys basketball season in Idaho admittedly caught me off guard.  When the first games took place on the Saturday following Thanksgiving (November 29), I was shocked.  State football championships had only concluded one week earlier (and for 5A Hillcrest and Bishop Kelly, just four days prior).  I already discussed how condensed the calendar seems to be in Idaho in my first Girls Basketball Breakdown of the season.  It's not as pronounced on the boys side, but still, for a handful of teams, getting to the required number of practices to compete in games forces them to schedule basketball practice while football practice is still happening.  There has to be a better way to do this.

GAME OF THE WEEK

Century (2-2) hosted Blackfoot (2-0) in a wildly entertaining non-conference Class 5A battle on Friday, December 5.  The Broncos blitzed Century early, and led 17-9 after one quarter of play.  But the Diamondbacks stemmed the tide, outscoring Blackfoot 18-12 in the second quarter to pull within 29-27 at halftime.  Blackfoot again pushed the lead out to 48-42 through three, and then a back-and-forth fourth quarter saw each side trade baskets.  With 49 seconds to play, Blackfoot led 62-57, but Century junior Justus Mangum was fouled on a three-point attempt.  Mangum sank two-of-three free throws to bring Century to within 62-59.  After Blackfoot's Austin Arave sank one-of-two free throws, the Broncos led again by multiple possessions, 63-59.  Adrian Gonzalez drilled a three from the top of the key for Century, and with 15 seconds to go, Century pulled to within 63-62.  Under full-court pressure, Blackfoot threw the ensuing inbounds pass away, but Century's first pass downcourt was stolen right back by the Broncos.  Arave sank one-of-two free throws again, pushing the lead to 64-62.  Gonzalez was fouled on Century's subsequent possession, and stepped to the line with 9.5 seconds to play and a chance to tie the game.  Gonzalez missed both shots, however, and Blackfoot's Chett Hyde secured the rebound.  Hyde went on to miss both of his free throws, although Kasen Sorensen grabbed an offensive rebound and was fouled.  Sorensen sank both free throws with five seconds to play, pushing the lead out to 66-62.  Century's Xen Fleischmann scored as time expired for the Diamondbacks, putting the final margin at 66-64 Blackfoot.  Arave scored 23 for the Broncos in the win, while Sorensen added 22.  These two are not scheduled to play again this season, but maybe we'll see a rematch at state?

TEAM OF THE WEEK

Class 5A Burley (2-1 overall) made a loud statement on the first day of competition, Saturday, November 29.  The Bobcats nipped defending state champ Preston by a point, 63-62, on their home floor.  In their first road test of the season, Burley survived another tough contest against Century, 65-60 on Tuesday, December 2.  Although Burley took its first loss on Thursday, December 4, it was to Class 6A Canyon Ridge, 83-76.  60 appears to be the magic number for the Bobcats: if Burley can hold the opponent below that number, they'll be tough to beat.  They certainly have the offensive firepower to match up with anyone, as guards Ryker Page and Nash Gillette are two of the best around.  Burley will have a chance to avenge that loss to Canyon Ridge when they face the Riverhawks again on December 15.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Parma senior Nathan Compas has been shot out of a cannon to begin his final season.  The Class 3A Panthers are 1-2 on the season with a win over Class 4A Fruitland, and two narrow losses to 3A foes Malad (two point loss) and Soda Springs (three point loss).  Across those three contests, Compas averaged 32.7 points per game, 7.7 rebounds per game, 3.7 assists per game, and 4.3 steals per game.  Spoiler alert: You'll see Compas' name a couple of times on our 30-Burger list belw.

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).

Nathan Compas, 12, Parma (39 points vs. Malad on Friday, December 5)
Cashton Bodman, 11, Post Falls (33 points vs. University, WA on Friday, December 5)
Peyton Hillman, 11, Lakeland (33 points vs. Bonners Ferry on Friday, December 5)
Slater Kuther, 10, Nezperce (32 points vs. Genesee on Saturday, December 6)
Mark Beliy, 11, Victory Charter (31 points vs. Dietrich on Saturday, December 6)
Logan Iverson, 11, Sandpoint (31 points vs. St. Maries on Thursday, December 4)
Mark Beliy, 11, Victory Charter (30 points vs. Mackay on Friday, December 5)
Tyson Charley, 12, Lakeside (30 points vs. Wallace on Tuesday, December 2)
Nathan Compas, 12, Parma (30 points vs. Fruitland on Wednesday, December 3)
Caleb Cudaback, 10, Notus (30 points vs. Vision Charter on Friday, December 5)
Justus Mangum, 11, Century (30 points vs. Bonneville on Saturday, November 29)
Justus Mangum, 11, Century (30 points vs. Idaho Falls on Wednesday, December 3)
Korban Nelson, 12, Watersprings (30 points vs. Salmon on Thursday, December 4)

TOURNEY TIME!

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

CALVIN HIATT INVITATIONAL (POWDER VALLEY HS - POWDER VALLEY, OREGON)
Thursday, December 11 - Saturday, December 13
11 teams, 3 scheduled games
Tri-Valley

THE CAPITAL CLASSIC (CAPITAL HS)
Thursday, December 11 - Saturday, December 13
8 teams, bracket play
Bishop Kelly, Blackfoot, Borah, Capital, Cole Valley Christian, Minico, Mountain Home, Kelso-Washington

PRO IMAGE SPORTS HOLIDAY CLASSIC (NORTH STAR CHARTER HS/ OWYHEE HS/ ROCKY MOUNTAIN HS)
Thursday, December 11 - Saturday, December 13
22 teams, 3 brackets
Platinum Bracket: 6 teams (Lake City, Owyhee, Damien-California, Jserra Catholic-California, Layton Christian-Utah, Ridgeline-Utah)
Gold Bracket: 8 teams (Eagle, Lakeland, Madison, Middleton, Pocatello, Ridgevue, Rocky Mountain, Teton)
Bronze Bracket: 8 teams (McCall-Donnelly, Melba, Nampa, New Plymouth, North Star Charter, West Side, Owyhee JV, McDermitt-Nevada)

RIRIE BULLDOGS SHOOTOUT (RIRIE HS)
Thursday, December 11 - Saturday, December 13
16 teams, 2 brackets
Gold Bracket: 8 teams (Filer, Firth, Malad, Marsh Valley, Nampa Christian, North Fremont, South Fremont, West Jefferson)
Blue Bracket: 8 teams (Aberdeen, Butte County, Carey, Ririe, Rockland, Salmon, Watersprings, Owyhee-Nevada)

SMALL SCHOOL SHOWCASE (MOUNTAIN VIEW HS)
Saturday, December 13
18 teams, 9 scheduled games
Camas County, Compass Charter, Council, Dietrich, Garden Valley, Horseshoe Bend, Liberty Charter, Lighthouse Christian, Marsing, Richfield, Rimrock, Riverstone, Shoshone, Victory Charter, Vision Charter, Wendell

TITLEONE TIP-OFF CLASSIC (MOUNTAIN AMERICA CENTER - IDAHO FALLS)
Thursday, December 11 - Saturday, December 13
8 teams, bracket play
Boise, Century, Coeur d'Alene, Hillcrest, Sandpoint, Shelley, Vallivue