• 2A

BOISE — Kelsey Auer scored a career-high 30 points, including some big baskets in the fourth quarter, as the St. Maries Lumberjacks beat the Cole Valley Christian Chargers 71-68 in overtime in the first round of the state 2A girls basketball tournament Thursday at Bishop Kelly High.

With 12 seconds left in regulation and St. Maries trailing by three, the Lumberjacks inbounded the ball to Auer, who dribbled up the court and hit a 3-pointer from just left of the top of the circle with two seconds left to force overtime.

With the game tied in overtime, Madison Cordell’s layup gave St. Maries (16-4) the lead for good. Paige Sines followed with her only basket of the game to give the Lumberjacks a four-point lead.

Cole Valley (16-6) scored a basket with 5 seconds left. St. Maries inbounded the ball to Kaylee Auer, who was fouled and sank 1 of 2 free throws. Cole Valley was unable to get a shot off before time expired.

“It was a great game to be a part of,” said St. Maries coach Jay Sines, whose Lumberjacks were making their first state appearance since 2002. “Every time they would make a run, we would match it with a tough shot, or make a big defensive stop.”

St. Maries will play Ririe (23-2) in the semifinals tonight at 5:15 p.m. PST. Ririe defeated Marsing 47-36.

Kelsey Auer, a senior who also had eight rebounds and three steals, hit a couple big baskets in the fourth quarter as St. Maries chipped away at a 54-48 deficit.

“She just kind of took over the game,” Sines said.

Cordell, a sophomore, added 13 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists for St. Maries. One downer — junior Devyn Wilson suffered a knee injury when she was fouled on a drive to the basket, and Sines feared she might be out for the tournament.

“I thought we handled the pressure very well,” said Sines, after the Lumberjacks posted their first win at state since 1990. “We came out and got a few turnovers on them, got some buckets and it settled us down. I can’t say enought about the girls; they put everything they had into this game.”

Holly Golenor led Cole Valley with 21 points and 14 rebounds.

Cole Valley 19 16 8 18 7 — 68

St. Maries 18 14 11 18 10 — 71

COLE VALLEY CHRISTIAN — Baker 0, Albers 17, Hahs 13, Olson 2, Edes 9, Khoury 0, McHugh 4, Golenor 21, Branahl 2. Totals 28-74 9-18 68.

ST. MARIES — Sines 2, Peet 4, Borgman 0, Haeg 2, Cordell 13, Wilson 9, Ke. Auer 30, Holder 4, Ka. Auer 7.

• 1A DIVISION II

Genesis Prep 59

Rockland 38

NAMPA — In the Jaguars’ state tournament debut, Bella Murekatete made it a memorable one, totaling 33 points, 29 rebounds, eight assists and five blocked shots as Genesis Prep routed the Bulldogs in the first round of the state 1A Division II tournament at Nampa High.

Genesis Prep (14-5) will play Salmon River (16-5) today at 2 p.m. PST in the semifinals. Salmon River edged Castleford 53-52.

Rachel Schroeder added 22 points and nine assists for Genesis Prep.

Brook Freeman had 13 points and seven boards for Rockland (17-9).

Rockland 8 12 6 12 — 38

Genesis Prep 13 8 21 17 — 59

ROCKLAND — Miller 2, Turnbeaugh 5, Wilson 0, Boyer 0, Freeman 13, Jensen 1, Lish 0, Robinson 2, Permann 11, Wood 4, Parrish 0. Totals 15-60 5-20 38.

GENESIS PREP — Morrow 0, Manzi 2, Schroeder 22, Blood 0, Scribner 2, Jones 0, Martin 0, Murekatete 33. Totals 25-57 7-18 59.

Butte County 57

Lakeside 30

NAMPA — The Knights committed 29 turnovers and fell to the undefeated Pirates in the first round of the state 1A Division II tourney at Nampa High.

Sophomore Tommia Pakootas had eight points and six rebounds for Lakeside (16-3), which plays Carey (8-13) in a loser-out game tonight at 5:15 p.m. PST.

Lakeside was 11 of 38 from the field, including 4 of 16 from 3-point range.

“It was a matter of being on the wrong side of the bracket,” said Lakeside coach Chris Dohrman, who saw this coming when the Knights lost to Genesis Prep in the District 1 title game. “Butte County is the best team I’ve seen all year. They played really well defensively, and kept us from doing anything offensively tonight.”

Shay Lambson and Kinsey Isham scored 13 points each for Butte County (22-0), which faces Nezperce (20-2) in the semifinals this afternoon.

Lakeside 3 9 14 4 — 30

Butte County 11 14 17 15 — 57

LAKESIDE — Palmer 7, Rhea 6, S. Pakootas 2, SiJohn 0, Adrian 2, Daman 0, T. Pakootas 8, Arthur 0, Lambert 0, Peone 5, Olson 0. Totals 11-38 4-6 30.

BUTTE COUNTY — Buxton 7, Coburn 3, Cummins 10, Hansen 7, Brownlee 4, Lambson 13, Isham 13. Totals 25-69 5-9 57.