NAMPA - They were crowned the smartest team in the state 3A tournament, but at times, Priest River coach Gary Stewart wasn't sure if that was translating to the court at Skyview High.

That was, until the Spartans pressed the Fruitland Grizzlies into a scoreless third quarter and found a way to win late as Priest River won the consolation championship game 36-35 in overtime on Saturday morning.

"We thought our guards were better and we liked the matchup," Stewart said. "I told my players to just stay in front of them and let them make the mistakes."

Priest River (15-11) was named the 3A academic state champions with a team grade point average of 3.833.

"We were the smartest team down here and we used that to our strength," Stewart said. "We may not have played the smartest at times, but we played with the most heart."

Priest River, last year's state champion, turned a 19-14 halftime deficit into a 29-19 lead as the Grizzlies failed to score in the pivotal third quarter. Jarica Martarano of Fruitland hit a free throw with 3.6 seconds left to send the game into overtime.

Neither team could find the basket in the first 2:34 of overtime, but Martarano hit a free throw to break the tie. Priest River senior Melissa Trost hit a pair of free throws to give the Spartans the 34-33 lead with 55.6 seconds left. Senior Courtney Oscarson made 1 of 2 free throws on the Spartans' next possession before Martarano hit a jumper to even the score at 35 with 20.2 seconds remaining.

Oscarson took the inbound pass and was fouled by Jandee Carlson to send her back to the line with 12.8 seconds left.

Oscarson made 1 of 2 to give the Spartans a 36-35 lead and win after two shots by Fruitland came up short before the buzzer.

"I knew I had to make the free throws," Oscarson said. "What a way to end my senior year. We had some community members doubting us, but we knew we could bring home a trophy and a state banner."

Priest River opened the season 3-9 before winning nine straight to move from last to second in the Intermountain League. The Spartans played the season without senior Melissa Hopkins, the 3A Player of the Year last year. Hopkins, who has signed to play basketball at Lewis-Clark State in Lewiston, suffered a torn ACL during volleyball season.

"There was never a point when I thought this could happen at the start of the year," Stewart said. "We were a 3-9 ballclub and I wasn't even sure we'd win again this year. We just started to believe in ourselves. After yesterday and today, to think of the distance we've came. We've covered a lot of ground."

Martarano had 11 points and 15 rebounds for Fruitland (14-10).

Priest River 7 7 15 3 4 - 36

Fruitland 11 8 0 13 3 - 35

PRIEST RIVER - Luckey 0, Weimer 4, Trost 4, Pavey 6, Stewart 3, Oscarson 5, Bradbury 0, Halcro 12, Hirst 2. Totals 12-41 10-22 36.

FRUITLAND - Carlson 10, Rule 3, Barger 0, Tesnohlidek 0, Clinton 3, Martarano 11, Stutzman 6, Cuellar 2. Totals 12-51 10-14 35.