Wallace defeats league rival for fourth
CALDWELL, Idaho – Many times the difference in basketball games comes down to one obvious statistic.
It was certainly true Saturday morning when North Star League rivals Clark Fork and Wallace faced off for fourth in the State 1A boys basketball tournament.
Wallace shot 31 percent from the field to Clark Fork’s 21 percent. No wonder the Miners of the Silver Valley walked away with a 41-32 victory at Vallivue High School.
It was the rubber game between the co-NSL champs. It was especially sweet for Miners senior post Darrick Holmquist, one of four seniors on a team making its first trip to state in 16 years.
Few people, including many from the Silver Valley, gave Wallace a chance to do anything at state after losing standout junior point guard Nick Arthun to a knee injury late in the season.
“It was a big thing losing him,” said Holmquist, who had 11 points to go with 12 rebounds.
Holmquist, senior wing Tom Norris, senior wing Marcus Matile and junior guard Jared Bilaski, who took over the point duties, each played all 32 minutes.
Holmquist had no doubt that Wallace (19-7) would have been playing elsewhere Saturday had Arthun been able to play.
“I’m sure we would have been playing later on today at the big gym,” Holmquist said in reference to the Idaho Center, where all the state finals were played on Saturday.
Although Clark Fork struggled shooting (13 of 60), the Wampus Cats (19-6) were very much in the game. A free throw from Thomas McMahon tied the score at 32-32 with 3:17 to play. But Wallace scored nine unanswered points to finish the game.
Sizeable post Jared Broggi gave CF hope by scoring 20 points and hauling down 17 rebounds. The Wampus Cats outrebounded Wallace 48-39.
The Miners used a loose box-and-one to defend Drew Wilkinson, who scored 30 the night before. He scored just two Saturday. Mike Martin and Brian Baugh combined to make just 2 of 27 shots.
“Disappointing,” CF coach Brian Powell said. “We played kind of funny all year. Sometimes we play really well and other times … we haven’t been consistent. We weren’t very poised at times.”
First-year Wallace coach Chris Carlson was tickled with fourth.
“A lot of people thought we’d come down here and be two and done,” Carlson said. “We’ve proved a lot of people down here and up in the Silver Valley wrong. The kids had a lot of heart. What a tournament for them.”
Troy 60, Hagerman 45: Jason Smith hit five 3-pointers and finished with a game-high 19 points to lead the Trojans to a victory over the Pirates in the championship game.
Nick Garrison added 14 points – on 7-of-8 shooting from the floor – and grabbed a game-high five rebounds for Troy.