Lumberjacks, with new roster, advance to state 2A semis

BOISE — The new kids were all right in their state debut.

St. Maries, with just two returning players from last year’s state 2A runner-up, advanced to the semifinals for the sixth straight season with a 48-40 victory over the New Plymouth Pilgrims in a first-round game Thursday afternoon at Capital High.

“Still the same philosophy,” sixth-year St. Maries coach Bryan Chase said. “Still playing good defense, and that’s what won us the game.”

Junior Eli Gibson, the lone returning starter from last year’s squad, scored 13 points to lead St. Maries (18-5), which plays top-ranked West Side (22-4) in the semifinals tonight at 5:15 PST.

Junior Brett Stancil, who was on the squad last year but did not see action at state, added 11 points for the Lumberjacks, and hit one of the biggest shots of the game.

After New Plymouth (14-10) had cut the St. Maries lead to 38-35 with just over 3 minutes left in the game, Stancil answered with a 3-pointer in transition, and the Lumberjacks were never threatened again.

“I knew I had to shoot it,” Stancil said. “It was a clutch 3. It lifted the momentum for us, and we kinda took it from there.”

“He’s done that all year,” Chase said. “They ran a box-and-one on him most of the second half, so I know he was a little frustrated, he wasn’t getting those looks he normally does.

“That was a huge 3.”

Gibson followed with a free throw on the next possession, then Tristan Gentry beat the press and fed Stancil for a layup, and suddenly the lead was nine.

Stancil hit 3 of 4 from behind the arc.

“I shot it good in warmups, and it just followed through into the game,” Stancil said.

Sophomore point guard Coleman Ross added seven points, six rebounds and four assists. Gentry, a reserve on last year’s squad, grabbed six rebounds. Gibson also had four assists.

Stancil said he had been down to state several times of the years, but obviously this was his first time playing.

For St. Maries, it was its 15th game on the Capital High floor over the six trips to state.

“It’s like a home court for us,” Stancil said.

Jesus Valdez led New Plymouth with 10 points.

New Plymouth 15 6 8 11 — 40

St. Maries 11 17 9 11 — 48

NEW PLYMOUTH — Arritola 0, Hampton 6, Bishop 0, Valdez 10, Roberts 2, Hicks 1, Ray 8, Hall 9, Watson 4. Totals 12-37 9-12 40.

ST. MARIES — Sands 4, Ross 7, Becktel 4, Gentry 5, Stancil 11, Peet 0, Gibson 13, Renner 4. Totals 13-35 16-20 48.