It's a team loaded with weapons on both ends of the floor—and the Carey School boys' basketball team (21-2) unleashed a barrage of shooting and rebounding Wednesday in the championship game of the Northside Conference tournament, at Dietrich's gym.
Top-seeded Carey pulled down as many rebounds, 20, as they scored points in the first quarter of the title match-up with the #2-seeded Murtaugh Red Devils (16-5). Carey extended its 20-11 first quarter lead and prevailed 70-49, with a 50-32 advantage on the boards.
With four players in double figures and very nearly five, Carey (17-0 league this season) won its fifth Northside tournament title in eight years and nailed down its 14th state tournament berth in 18 years. Despite its success, though, Carey still has something to prove.
"Our next goal is to win our first game at the state tournament," said ninth-year coach Dick Simpson (194-42). His Panthers have fallen short of winning that all-important first game at state the past four years, falling to Nezperce, Troy and Genesee twice since 2006.
But Carey (16-11 in its last 7 state trips) faces another strong state challenge when it opens the eight-team State 1A Division 2 tournament Thursday, March 4 at 3 p.m. at Caldwell High School. The Panthers are matched against the eastern Idaho runner-up team—and that could very well be Mackay.
In Tuesday's District 5/6 championship game at Firth, North Gem of Bancroft (14-5) shut down the inside of Mackay's attack and won the eastern Idaho title 58-49 over the favored Miners (17-2). For three quarters, North Gem threw a collar on Mackay leader Kole Krosch (21 points, 15 in the final period). North Gem outscored Mackay 23-9 at the line.
Mackay played Rockland Thursday night, with that winner advancing to play Carey at state. Carey coach Simpson made the long trip to Firth Tuesday night to watch the Final Four games of that tournament, and he had a feeling that Mackay might be the team his Panthers will be playing.
"It doesn't matter who we play that first game, but the kids want revenge," he said. Simpson referred to Mackay's 22-14 semi-final eight-man football victory over Carey last Nov. 13 that ended the Panther drive for another state grid title. Also, on The Idaho Center court in 2001, Kole Krosch's older brother Kris Krosch scored 24 points to lead Mackay past Carey 73-46 in the only Panther appearance in the State 1A basketball title game.
On Wednesday at Dietrich, Carey looked run-and-gun unbeatable. Popping 3-pointers like popcorn, Carey established its outside shooting attack off the bat with Brett Adamson (17 points, 8 rebounds), Trevor Peck (15 points, 5 boards, 4 assists) and Blair Peck (13 points, 6 boards, 5 assists).
Murtaugh never led in the game. The out-manned Red Devils trailed by as many as 15 points in the first half and 17 in the third. The Devils slashed their deficit to nine points in the third behind sweet-shooting senior Manuel Pacheco (20 points, four 3-pointers, 8 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks). But Carey exploded for a 16-5 edge in the fourth to win by 21.
"We put three guys on the perimeter who can knock down threes. But, really, every night it seems like someone different steps up for us. Other players pick up the slack. It's a fun bunch of kids, willing to work hard and sacrifice," he said.
Stepping up Wednesday was senior Wacey Barg (9 points, 14 rebounds). His hard work on the glass earned Barg an appreciative ovation when he fouled out in the fourth. Another strong defender was senior Dillon Simpson (10 points, 9 rebounds, 6 steals, 5 assists). And Tyler Chavez came off the bench for five key boards.
Murtaugh, getting 15 points and 5 assists from Zach Cummins Wednesday, tried to stay alive in its bid for state in Thursday's second-place game against Dietrich (16-7).
Carey senior Wacey Barg (right, grabbing the ball) was a monster on the boards Wednesday night with a game-high 14 of Carey’s 50 rebounds. He takes this one away from Murtaugh players, from left, Derek Bates and Austin Stanger. Photo by David N. Seelig
