STATE 5A GIRLS CONSOLATION CHAMPIONSHIP: Post Falls falls to Thunder Ridge in consolation title game

By JASON ELLIOTT

Sports writer

NAMPA — For as good as Post Falls started Saturday’s state 5A girls basketball consolation championship, leading 37-26 at halftime, it was the way Thunder Ridge — and junior guard Aspen Caldwell — finished it that kept the Trojans from bring home a trophy from state for the first time since winning the title in 2018.

Caldwell scored 25 of her 28 points in the second half as the Titans of Idaho Falls held off the Trojans 63-58 at Ridgevue High.

“You’ve got to give Thunder Ridge credit,” Post Falls coach Marc Allert said. “They had a bunch of kids step up and hit some shots. Obviously, the Caldwell girl is really good and she got going in the second half. We talked at halftime about not letting her get going, and she did.”

Junior Capri Sims had nine points at halftime and seniors Lexi Heath and Letti Asper had eight each for Post Falls. Senior Hanna Christensen had five of her nine points in the first quarter for the Trojans, who finish 19-9.

“It’s been so much fun to play with this team,” said Christensen, a three-year varsity player. “It’s really hard to lose this game. They’re a really good team and made a lot of shots. We started out well and running in transition and played well.”

Senior guard Trinidie Nichols gave the Trojans a 52-51 lead with 4:43 remaining. Thunder Ridge used an 8-1 run to go ahead 59-52 with 40 seconds remaining.

“I thought we battled,” Allert said. “We played well, they played well. I thought we did everything we could today, but they were just a little better than us today.”

Sims finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds, Heath 15 points for Post Falls, which graduates six seniors from this year’s team.

“I’ve been with this team for three years, and it’s definitely going to be weird without them,” Sims said of the seniors. “It’s going to be a big change, but those seniors worked hard and really wanted this one. I really wish we could have brought that home for them. But we couldn’t.”

Post Falls shot 22 of 50 from the field and turned the ball over 13 times, eight in the second half.

“I was a little concerned about our energy level at the start, but we got out to a good start,” Allert said. “We played with a lot of energy and were playing with pace and making shots and did some good things. Unfortunately they came out and ramped up their energy level a little bit. It was a battle. It was a fun game. Both teams did what they needed to do to win, but they just came out on top today.”

Post Falls was without senior guard Americus Crane for the second straight game after she was injured 41 seconds into Thursday’s opener against Boise.

“I was really happy with how the kids stepped up,” Allert said. “Losing Americus (on Thursday) was a big deal and Hanna stepped in and played really well. Capri did her thing like she’s been doing lately and Lexi shot the ball well. And when she shoots the ball well, she’s tough to stop. Our kids did what they needed to do to get a win.”

Thunder Ridge (22-4) finished 18 of 50 shooting, but 18 of 24 from the free throw line, including 11 of 16 in the second half.

“For us, they shot about 48% percent in the first half, and we allowed them to get too good of looks,” fourth-year Thunder Ridge coach Jeremy Spencer said. “We just said more ball pressure, deny the wings and make sure we had more ball pressure. We thought, if we’re going to lose it, we’re going to go out playing how we want to.”

Post Falls 18 19 9 12 — 58

Thunder Ridge 15 11 22 15 — 63

POST FALLS — Nichols 4, Heath 15, Brennan 8, Sims 14, Asper 8, Walton 0, Christensen 9. Totals 22-50 6-11 58.

THUNDER RIDGE — Caldwell 28, C. Stenquist 5, K. Stenquist 2, Houge 0, Hoffman 9, Furniss 5, Spencer 14, Ottley 0, Scoresby 0. Totals 19-50 18-24 63.