NAMPA - Once the Timberlake Tigers got into attack mode on Friday night, they couldn't be stopped.

Offensively.

Defensively.

Not on this night.

Sophomore guard Allison Kirby scored 23 points on 9-of-15 shooting, including 2 for 4 from beyond the 3-point line, leading the Tigers past the Filer Wildcats 67-44 in a state 3A tournament semifinal game at Skyview High.

Timberlake (21-3) advances to today's state 3A championship game to face Sugar-Salem (21-4) at 2:50 p.m. PST at the Ford Idaho Center, also in Nampa.

"It's really neat," said 10th-year Timberlake coach Matt Miller, who has led the Tigers to championship games in their last four appearances at state. Timberlake is still seeking its first state title.

"It's been different each year," Miller added. "A couple of times, we've been surprises to get there and other times we were expected. It's been kind of a variety, but how we've got there has been pretty neat."

Leading 21-16 midway through the second quarter, Timberlake went with three freshmen - Lilly Kelley, Shelby Starr and Kayle Jezek - sparking a 6-0 run to build a 27-16 lead with 5:09 remaining in the first half.

"They've been so tough all year long," said Miller of the freshmen trio.

"At the beginning of the year, they were floaters between JV and varsity and then we had those injuries and really had to plug them in because we didn't have a choice. Right from the beginning, they've stepped up, filled the roles and really have played with a lot of confidence."

Timberlake, which shot 13 of 28 in the first half, went 11 of 20 in the second half and outscored Filer 19-6 in the third quarter.

"We shot well from the outside and got a lot of points in transition," Miller said. "I just thought we were on the attack all night. When we'd have some turnovers, we didn't let it faze us and just kept on the attack."

Kirby scored 15 of her 23 in the first half for Timberlake in a rematch of last year's championship game.

"She's tough," Miller said. "She dislocated her finger (on her shooting hand) against Fruitland, but came right back in. She struggled a little with that, but tonight she just came out in attack mode. She didn't attack like she normally does (against Fruitland), but when she's on, she's tough to handle and stay in front of. She hit a couple of shots from the outside and she's so good with the ball, that if you're up front with her, she's going to go around you."

"Everyone just did their jobs tonight," Kirby said. "They hustled and did what they're supposed to do and just did our jobs. Some of us thought about (losing to Filer in the title game last year), and wanted to go beat them, but most of all, we just wanted to go out and do what we do and play how we play, and prove we know how to play."

Keelie Lawler scored 20 points on 7-of-15 shooting, including 3 for 4 from the 3-point line for Timberlake, which led by 31 points early in the fourth quarter.

"They had the two kids that went off shooting with Kirby and Lawler," Filer coach Kody Ketterling said. "They had good games, and we knew they probably would. To let a team shoot 60 percent for the night, you're not going to win many games. They pretty much shot lights out in the game, especially that first half."

Haley Ackerman scored 13 points for Filer (18-10), which faces Shelley (16-11) in the third-place game today.

"That's a good team, and a young team," said Ketterling of Timberlake. "We played well, but struggled a little shooting wise. We had a lull in the second and third quarter that created that deficit. We got into that groove, and it's not the kind of groove you want to be in. But you can't win them all. Give them credit. They had a good game."

Filer 13 10 6 15 - 44

Timberlake 16 19 19 13 - 67

FILER - Thomas 0, Shank 2, Stoddard 0, Mason 0, Ferrell 0, Sharp 5, Reynolds 2, Bartholomew 2, Koyle 8, Ackerman 13, Jarolimek 0, Dietz 6, Wells 0, Hughes 6. Totals 17-49 7-13 44.

TIMBERLAKE - R. Powell 0, Kelley 3, Rhodes 0, Mallet 5, Starr 4, Jezek 4, Kirby 23, Gardom 8, Simpson 0, VanWingerden 0, Lawler 20. Totals 24-48 13-22 67.