The outcome was anticlimactic the last time Richfield and Carey boys clashed.
That was Nov. 15 at Holt Arena in Pocatello, where eventual State 1A Division 2 eight-man football champion Carey rolled over Richfield 66-20 in a semi-final contest that was supposed to be a lot closer.
Friday's early-season boys' basketball game between visiting Carey and host Richfield was anything but anticlimactic.
It was a great Northside Conference contest that went down to the wire and foreshadowed two or three other clashes between the two rivals in the months ahead.
Richfield junior Michael Lezamiz (12 points, 6 rebounds) made a game-winning putback in the final second giving the Tigers (3-0, 2-0 league) a 52-50 triumph over previously unbeaten Carey (3-1, 1-1).
The teams have met for the Northside title for five straight years—Carey winning in even years and Richfield in the odd. They could settle the title for a six straight year in February.
Carey got a season-best scoring performance by its leading scorer, junior Brett Adamson (17.5 ppg). Adamson poured in 24 points including four 3-pointers. Wacey Barg added 9 points and Heith Adamson 8 points plus 15 rebounds.
Besides Lezamiz, top Tigers in the nip-and-tuck game were Tel Clark (17 points, five 3-pointers) and Brody Norman (14 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals). Richfield did well from the perimeter, shooting nearly 30% from 3-point line.
The teams meet again Jan. 22 in Carey, and possibly in the Northside championship game Feb. 27 on the Carey floor.
Richfield played Magic Valley Christian Tuesday. Carey tried to get back on track with another tough road league game at Dietrich (3-1, 2-0 league). Carey hosts The Community School Thursday and finishes its pre-holiday schedule against Valley (3-2) at Hazelton Friday, Dec. 19.
Richfield tops Carey girls
There was no stopping the unbeaten Richfield Tiger girls Thursday during a Northside showdown with Carey on the Tiger hardwoods.
Richfield (9-0, 3-0 league) raced to a 14-point halftime lead and coasted to a 62-33 victory behind 24 points by junior Teenie Kent (5-for-8 3-pointers, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals) and 20 by freshman Sasha Kent (6-for-10 3-pointers). Richfield shot 12-for-24 from 3-point range and 46% from the field for the game.
Senior Michelle Kent of Richfield (7 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists) was a big leader for the Tigers, who won the Murtaugh Holiday Tournament title Saturday with a 55-31 victory over the Jerome junior varsity. Richfield is averaging 65.8 ppg.
Kayla Bailey tallied a season-best 10 points for Carey, Amy Ellsworth added 8, Kelsey Green 6 and Jessica Parke 6. Unfortunately, Taylor Whitby blew out her knee during the game and is lost for the season.
Carey (4-3, 3-1 league) visited Dietrich (6-2, 5-0 league) on Tuesday, Dec. 16 for another big Northside league contest. The Panthers entertain The Community School Thursday and go to Valley Friday.
Close game swings the Cutthroat way 34-32
Starting fast and keeping just enough in reserve for the finish, The Community School boys' varsity basketball team held off the Bliss Bears 34-32 in an exciting Northside Conference game Friday night at The Fish Tank in Sun Valley.
On the winter's first snowy night, the two-point victory was the second consecutive league win for coach Ed Flory's Cutthroats (2-2, 2-0 league). "We held home court. That's what I wanted them to do, and the boys played well," said Flory.
Lucas Vorsteveld, a 6-3 Cutthroat senior, led the way with an all-around effort that included 9 points, 10 rebounds and 5 steals. The game-high scorer with a season-best 12 points for his third straight double-digit performance was junior guard Paul Davis (9.0 ppg, 4 rebounds).
Chipping in were 6-2 senior Caspar Brun (6 points, 7 rebounds), junior Tanner Flanigan (2 points, 7 boards, 2 steals), senior Chet Stephens (3 points) and sophomore Will Weston (2 points, 2 rebounds).
Bliss did a good job in the second and fourth quarters, trailing by a dozen points early in the fourth before rallying with a 14-6 edge in the final eight minutes.
The Bears leading the comeback march were Cole Erkins (four 3-pointers for 12 points, 5 boards, 4 steals), Cameron Schoessler (10 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals) and Thomas Palmer (10 rebounds).
Bliss won the junior varsity game 32-18 behind 18 points by Luis Cortez. Cutthroats scorers with 4 points apiece were Eli Albarran, Charlie Grabow, Dane Inman and Henry Rickbeil. Reed Stokes made back-to-back free throws for his 2 points.
Cutthroat girls down Bliss 26-8
It was a good night for The Community School girls' junior varsity basketball team Friday. Sophomore Chelsea Cloud had her best game in a 26-8 Northside Conference victory over Bliss at the Fish Tank.
Coach Willy Felton's Cutthroats captured their second win of the season behind the scoring of Chelsea Cloud (8 points, 4 rebounds, 6 steals, 2 assists) and junior Maggie Flood (12 points, 5 steals). Flood tallied 7 points in the second period when the Cutthroats built a 17-6 lead.
Other Cutthroat scorers were sophomore point guard Natalie Goddard (4 points) and Kayla Cloud (2 points, 3 assists, 6 steals). Contributors included Freya Dickey (2 steals) and Sophia Carkonen (4 rebounds).
The Cutthroat girls visit Carey Thursday at 4:30 p.m., followed by boys' JV and varsity games on the same floor.
Carey junior Trevor Peck grabs a rebound in traffic during Friday’s Northside Conference battle won by host Richfield 52-50 with a buzzer beater.Courtesy photo by John Peck
