The outcome in a tight boys' basketball championship game between Challis and Carey was totally in doubt Saturday when Viking senior Frank Phillips rushed to his bench to change a bloodied jersey.
Neither team had led by more than five points all game, but Challis opened the fourth quarter with three 3-pointers—offensive fireworks that Carey immediately matched. At some point, it seemed like one team would make a run and win it.
Challis, seeking its first-ever championship in the Carey Holiday Basketball Tournament, was clinging to a 52-51 lead over defending tournament champion Carey with four minutes remaining. Phillips threw on a new jersey, changing from his #23 number to a new #43 uniform shirt.
His father, Challis coach George Phillips, injected some humor into the situation by yelling down to Carey coach Dick Simpson. "Does that mean he gets five more fouls, Dick?" Phillips shouted about the change of jerseys. Everybody got a good laugh out of the joke.
As it turned out, Challis 6-2 senior star Frank Phillips didn't need any more fouls to accomplish his goal. All he needed was the ball from his guards and the tiniest of openings on the baseline to bust on through and shred Carey's defense with strong power moves.
Phillips (24 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists) scored 6 of Challis' 10 points in a 10-5 run after the jersey changing and led the 2A Vikings (2-0) to a 66-59 triumph over a Carey squad (2-1) that is considered one of Idaho's best 1A boys' basketball teams this year.
"We probably won't see a team as good as Challis in our league so it's good to have a game like this now," said Carey coach Dick Simpson."
Most of what Carey tried to do with Phillips was with zone defense, denying lob passes to the big guy down low with tough fronting. Senior Brad Hunt (10 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, 3 assists) did much of the hard work against Phillips.
That strategy worked as long as Challis (nine 3-pointers) wasn't hitting long bombs. But the Vikings, seeking to nail down their first State 2A tournament berth in four years, got red hot in the fourth quarter from behind the arc and forced Carey to play catch-up.
Jordan Crane (14 points, four 3s), Devin Crane (11 points, two 3s) and Roger Ogden (13 points, three 3s) did most of the long-range damage for Challis. Point guard Devin Crane dished out 10 assists giving the Vikings a balanced scoring attack.
Leading Carey was 5-8 senior Allen Peck (20 points, four 3-pointers). D.J. Simpson had a tough shooting night but still ended up with 16 points, 6 boards and 3 steals. Other Panther contributors were Tyler Parke (6 points, 2 rebounds), Cody Baird (4 points, 3 boards, 5 assists) and James Carlson (3 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists).
Voted to the All-Tournament boys' team were Peck and D.J. Simpson of Carey, Phillips and Jordan Crane of Challis, and Josh Hannah of Mackay. Challis coach George Phillips was named top coach.
Challis and Carey made it into the championship game with lopsided opening-round wins Friday on the Carey hardwoods.
Phillips (25 points) paced the Vikings to an 80-46 victory over Lighthouse Christian Academy of Twin Falls and Carey throttled the Mackay Miners 47-26.
Full-court pressure defense lifted Carey to its 21-point win over a Mackay squad playing without its 6-6 senior star Kelvin Krosch.
The Miners scored the game's first basket and then didn't score another field goal for 11 minutes. The Panthers built a 23-4 lead before coach Simpson called off his press and Carey breezed to victory.
Carey out-rebounded Mackay 37-24 and came up with 21 steals led by Hunt 5, Blake Whitby 5 and Baird 4.
Carlson (two 3s) scored a game-high 14 points and D.J. Simpson added 10 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists.
Peck (16.0 ppg) chipped in 8 points and 3 assists. Baird had 5 points, Parke 4 points and 8 boards, Scott Ellsworth 3 points and 5 rebounds, Hunt 2 points and 3 rebounds, and Kade Peterson added 7 boards.
Coach Simpson said, "The kids are playing hard. Different kids step up each night."
Devin Pearson, a 6-6 senior who usually forms a big Miner front line with Krosch, led Mackay with 9 points and 8 rebounds. Hannah, a 6-0 senior, accounted for 7 points, 6 boards, 5 steals and 3 assists.
Lighthouse Christian captured the consolation title Saturday with a 69-65 overtime win over Mackay.
Carey plays Dietrich (1-1) at the Murtaugh tournament Friday, Dec. 8 at 6 p.m. Dietrich nipped Sho-Ban 57-56 and lost to Glenns Ferry 69-40 in its own tournament last weekend.
Murtaugh and Valley play in Friday's other game. The winners and losers meet Saturday at 7:30 p.m. for the championship and consolation titles.
Shaffer has a big night
Carey School 5-11 senior Allison Shaffer was pretty much unstoppable Saturday leading the Panthers to a 50-32 triumph over Lighthouse Christian Academy and the consolation title of the Carey Holiday meet.
Shaffer (23 points, 22 rebounds, 6 steals, 2 assists) tallied 13 points in the first quarter as coach Lane Durtschi's Panther girls raced to a 19-3 lead that became 27-9 at half. Carey dominated the boards 57-32 over the Lady Lions.
Durtschi said, "We were aggressive and rebounded well."
Freshman guard Jessica Parke (13 points, 7 rebounds, 8 steals, 2 assists) was a factor and 5-10 sophomore Kayla Bailey chipped in with 3 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists. Carey made 23 steals. Ambur Ulrich (15 points, 8 boards, 8 steals) topped Lighthouse Christian.
On Friday night, Carey (3-2) fell 66-42 to the defending Carey Holiday Tournament champions Challis Vikings despite 19 points by 5-7 sophomore Kelsey Green (four 3-pointers). Shaffer added 10 points, Parke 8 and Jennifer Cenarrusa 5.
Coach Durtschi acknowledged that it was tough getting in gear against Challis after the Panthers lost at home to unbeaten Richfield (6-0) by a 55-25 score Thursday night. Parke had 10 points, Green 7 and Shaffer 5 in that league game.
Mackay won the Carey Holiday Title Saturday with a 53-48 victory over Challis in a rematch of the two teams that clashed in last year's holiday title game won by Challis 40-37. Jesica Zollinger scored 26 points to lead Mackay (3-1).
Here are Carey's other statistics and scorers from Saturday's game against Lighthouse Christian: Cenarrusa 3 points, 4 boards, 5 steals; Taylor Whitby 4 points; Kendra Olson 2 points, 4 rebounds; Shurressa Rodriquez 2 points; Amy Ellsworth 4 4 rebounds, 3 assists; Green 3 boards.
Named to the All-Tournament girls' team were Ashley McGowan and Kristen Garlie of Challis, Ambur Ulrich of Lighthouse Christian Academy, Jesica Zollinger and Whitney Whitworth of Mackay. Voted top tournament coach was Marc Hansen of Mackay.
Carey visited Shoshone Tuesday and plays at the Murtaugh tourney Friday, Dec. 8.
The Carey girls will play Northside Conference rival Dietrich (2-3) at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the old Murtaugh gym. Murtaugh and Valley play the other game. Championship and consolation games are set for 6 p.m. Saturday in both gyms.
Panther JV girls take title
Coach Vee Peterson's Carey School girls' junior varsity basketball team captured the Carey Holiday Tournament JV championship Saturday with a 41-37 win over Mackay.
Trailing 17-12 at halftime, Carey (5-0) stormed back in the second half and outscored Mackay 17-9 in the decisive fourth quarter, topped by 9 points scored by Jessica Parke.
Carey scorers included Taylor Whitby 10 points, Chelsey Hunt 8, Amy Ellsworth 6, Jennifer Murphy 6 and Emilee Butcher 2.
Friday the Panthers handled Challis 46-32 as Whitby tallied 12 points, Hunt 10, Ellsworth 9, Parke 8 and Butcher 7.
Whitby was named to the All-Tournament girls' JV team along with Lacen Moss and Brianne Lind of Challis, Cati Highley and Kayla Mulick of Mackay. Voted top coach was Bridget Severe of Mackay.
Carey boys settle for second
The Challis Vikings heated up in the second half and defeated Carey 34-27 in the boys' junior varsity championship game of the Carey Holiday Tournament Saturday.
Leading the way was 6-0 Viking sophomore Zeke Wilson (15 points), who drilled four 3-pointers. For Carey (2-1), Brett Adamson and Trevor Peck accounted for 8 points apiece, Andrew Carlson 4, Heith Adamson 4 and Dillon Simpson 3.
Friday, the Panthers of coach Danny Simpson had nine different scorers in a 49-23 rout of Mackay. Trevor Peck (three 3-pointers) topped all scorers with 14 points. Carey outscored Mackay 16-2 in the third period to extend its 19-16 halftime lead as Heith Adamson scored 6 of his 12 points in the quarter.
Todd Peck added 7 points and Tyler Willis (6) made two 3-pointers.
Trevor Peck and Dillon Simpson made the All-Tournament JV team along with Brandon Tilman and B.J. Engle of Challis, and Kole Krosch of Mackay. Voted top coach was Carey's Danny Simpson.
Wednesday, Carey's JV got its season off to a rip-roaring start with a 67-45 victory at Oakley. Trevor Peck (three 3s) tallied 17 points, Heith Adamson 14 and Dillon Simpson (two 3s) added 10 points.
Carey senior Cody Baird drives to the basket behind a Tyler Parke screen during Friday?s Carey Holiday Tournament game won by Carey 47-26 over Mackay.
