Breaking down all six 2021-22 IHSAA girls basketball tournaments with schedules, scouting reports and predictions

Over the next several days, girls basketball teams in Idaho will experience both jubilation and heartbreak at the IHSAA state championships in Boise.

So who are the teams to beat? Here is SBLive Idaho's breakdown of who and what to follow in each classification tournament:

CLASS 5A

Thursday’s schedule

No. 1 Lake City (20-3) vs. No. 8 Rocky Mountain (12-13), noon, Ford Idaho Center

No. 4 Post Falls (18-7) vs. No. 5 Boise (19-3), 2 p.m., Ford Idaho Center

No. 3 Thunder Ridge (20-3) vs. No. 6 Rigby (18-5), 5 p.m., Ford Idaho Center

No. 2 Timberline (22-2) vs. No. 7 Borah (18-6), 7 p.m., Ford Idaho Center

FAVORITE: Timberline (22-2)

Andy Jones is the winningest active coach at state with six state titles between two different programs. The Wolves’ dynamic duo of seniors Sophie Glancey (P) and Audrey Taylor (G) are both headed to play DI ball at Northern Arizona University. Glancey is averaging almost a double-double at 17.0 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. Taylor is putting up 13.9 ppg.

CONTENDER: Boise (19-3)

The Brave just won their first district title in 18 years. Kim Brydges has a lot of experience with 17 years at the helm. Sophomore forward Avery Howell has three DI offers, including Boise State, is averaging a double-double at 10.6 points and 11.4 rebounds per game. Seniors Ava Oakland and Ashley Banks are signed to play at Carroll and Southern Utah, respectively.

DARKHORSE: Post Falls (18-7)

Post Falls stunned favorite Coeur d’Alene at districts. Coach Marc Allert knows a thing or two about winning this time of year too. He has a pair of state titles to his name, including pulling off an upset in the 2018 final over previously unbeaten Eagle. Junior post Capri Sims has been on a tear lately. 

CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION

Timberline 52, Boise 47.

CLASS 4A

Thursday’s schedule

No. 1 Blackfoot (24-0) vs. No. 8 Bishop Kelly (18-6), noon, Mountain View High School

No. 4 Skyline (13-13) vs. No. 5 Mountain Home (18-6), 2 p.m., Mountain View High School

No. 3 Preston (16-7) vs. No. 6 Sandpoint (12-8), 5 p.m., Mountain View High School

No. 2 Burley (22-1) vs. No. 7 Middleton (18-6), 7 p.m., Mountain View High School

FAVORITE: Blackfoot (24-0)

The reigning champs own the longest winning streak in the state at 28 games.They returned their entire lineup led by all-state senior players Hadley Humpherys (P) and Isabelle Arave (G). But senior forward Kiana Wright has proven to be just as dangerous in the low block as Humpherys at times.

CONTENDER: Burley (22-1)

The Bobcats have arguably the best player in the state in Oregon commit Amari Whitting, who is averaging 27.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, 5.7 steals and 3.7 assists per game this season. Their lone blemish was a one-point loss to 5A’s Borah, which also made state. They’ve won their past 10 games since.

DARKHORSE: Middleton (18-6)

The Vikings have quietly won 13 games in a row even amid coach Trent Harrison taking a sudden leave of absence midway through the season. Senior guard Payton Hymas is likely the SIC player of the year for the second consecutive season and is signed on to play at Lewis-Clark State College. Senior forward Casidy Fried is also a force to be reckoned with. 

CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION

Burley 54, Blackfoot 53.

CLASS 3A

Thursday’s schedule

No. 1 Sugar-Salem (19-2) vs. No. 8 Filer (14-9), noon, Eagle High School

No. 4 Weiser (19-7) vs. No. 5 Parma (13-10), 2 p.m., Eagle High School

No. 3 Teton (17-10) vs. No. 6 Fruitland (17-5), 5 p.m., Eagle High School

No. 2 Snake River (20-5) vs. No. 7 Kellogg (13-5), 7 p.m., Eagle High School

FAVORITE: Sugar-Salem (19-2)

Last year’s state runner-up hasn’t lost to a 3A opponent this season and its only two losses are to 4A state tourney teams (Blackfoot, Preston). Both of those games were pretty close as well. The Diggers have six all-league players to contend with, including junior guard Kennedy Gillette and senior post Hailey Harris, who are their most prolific scorers.

CONTENDER: Snake River (20-5)

If any team is going to spoil Sugar-Salem’s championship aspirations, it’s the Panthers. They’ve already played the Diggers twice, including just a two-point loss im mid-December. Snake River also owns multiple wins over state tournament teams Teton and Filer. Sophomore point guard Rylie Edlefsen runs the floor really well.

DARKHORSE: Fruitland (17-5)

The Grizzlies own five wins over higher-classification teams this season. They ended Parma’s five-year stranglehold atop the league with both conference and district titles. Fruitland has won nine of its last 10 games. It’s led by junior Abbi Roubidox (G), junior Payton Fritts (F) and senior Graycie Huff (P). 

CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION

Sugar-Salem 61, Snake River 50.

CLASS 2A

Thursday’s schedule 

No. 1 Grangeville (19-3) vs. No. 8 Declo (10-12), noon, Kuna High School

No. 4 Aberdeen (20-5) vs. No. 5 Ririe (18-7), 2 p.m., Kuna High School

No. 3 Cole Valley Christian (18-5) vs. No. 6 Soda Springs (14-12), 5 p.m., Kuna High School

No. 2 Melba (19-3) vs. North Fremont (12-11), 7 p.m., Kuna High School

FAVORITE: Cole Valley Christian (18-5)

This is the squad that has been ranked No. 1 in the state media poll for most of the year. Its only loss in the classification was in the district title game against Melba. But that might finally be the pick me up the Chargers need this time of year. Their senior wings of Ellie Fraas and Lyndsie Krogh are as good as any in the state.

CONTENDER: Melba (19-3)

The reigning state champion Mustangs still managed to have an impressive season despite not having their best player in Kendall Clark for most of the year with a knee injury and mono. But the 5-foot-10 junior forward is back now and close to 100%. Fellow 5-10 junior Keylee Wilson was the one who kept them in contention.

DARKHORSE: Ririe (18-7)

The Bulldogs have been a mainstay at state. They haven’t missed the state tournament since 2012. Ririe knows how to succeed there too having played in five finals and winning it all in 2017. The Bulldogs are fresh off of their sixth consecutive district title. Senior guard Breyer Newman and junior forward Brinna Scott are their primary playmakers.

CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION

Cole Valley Christian 49, Grangeville 41.

CLASS 1A (DII)

Thursday’s schedule

No. 1 Lapwai (18-3) vs. No. 8 Liberty Charter (11-9), noon, Columbia High School

No. 4 Raft River (19-4) vs. No. 5 Oakley (17-6), 2 p.m., Columbia High School

No. 3 Prairie (18-4) vs. No. 6 Notus (16-3), 5 p.m., Columbia High School

No. 2 Butte County (21-0) vs. No. 7 Wallace (16-4), 7 p.m., Columbia High School

FAVORITE: Butte County (21-0)

Back at state for the first time since the last of their back-to-back 1A DII titles in 2018. Only close games came against 2A’s West Jefferson and reigning state champion Grace. Eighteen wins have come by double digits with an average margin of victory of nearly 28 points. Senior guard Kiya McAfee has scored more than 1,000 points in her career.

CONTENDER: Lapwai (18-3)

The Wildcats have pretty much owned this classification since its inception in 2009 with six state titles, the last of which was only two years ago. Senior forward and leading scorer Sayq’is Greene (12.8 ppg) was on that team and missed last season. Lapwai is also the No. 1 team heading in.

DARKHORSE: Prairie (18-4)

It’s kind of odd calling the Pirates a dark horse, considering they’ve been ranked in the state media poll all season. But it has been eight years since their last championship. Prairie is the only 1A D1 team to hand Lapwai a loss this season. It is also one of the most storied programs in the state with nine titles altogether. Junior guard Kristin Wemhoff is the go-to player.

CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION

Lapwai 67, Butte County 63.

CLASS 1A (DII)

Thursday’s schedule

No. 1 Rockland (21-1) vs. No. 8 Carey (13-7), noon, Nampa High School

No. 4 Kendrick (18-5) vs. No. 5 Deary (15-5), 2 p.m., Nampa High School

No. 3 Richfield (20-5) vs. Leadore (19-5), 5 p.m., Nampa High School

No. 2 Council (16-0) vs. No. 7 Tri-Valley (15-6), 7 p.m., Nampa High School

FAVORITE: Rockland (21-1)

The Bulldogs, who won it all in 2020, were the top-ranked team for much of the season and their only hiccup was an eight-point loss to 1A D1 state qualifier Raft River on the road. But Rockland has won its last 13 games since that. Senior wing Kiersley Boyer has good size at 5-10 and has used it to the tune of 14.3 points per game.

CONTENDER: Council (16-0)

COVID-19 ravaged their league and led to the cancellation of many of the Lumberjacks’ games. They really only played 14 games this season. But when Council was on the court, it was as good as any in the state. Council beat teams by more than 30 points per game. Senior wing Sydney Nichols was just selected to Idaho’s All-Star game.

DARKHORSE: Kendrick (18-5)

Last year’s state runner-ups who lost a heartbreaker to Tri-Valley, has everyone back. It hasn’t lost to a 1A DII team this season and the only Idaho losses are to 2A’s Grangeville and 1A D1’s Prairie - both of which made their respective tournaments. Senior forward Erin Morgan is a walking double-double. 

CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION

Kendrick 55, Council 51

(Featured photo by Julian Jenkins)