KELLOGG – When the final buzzer sounded Friday night at Andrews Gymnasium, Wildcat head coach Jana Nearing could finally catch her breath. For the first time in years, the second-place team out of the Central Idaho League didn’t have to make an extra trip for a state play-in game. This time, they were simply in.

They’re not getting anything easy, though. Instead of scrambling to scout a last‑minute opponent, Nearing and her staff are preparing for their steepest test of the year: opening the 3A State Tournament against the top‑seeded Malad Dragons.

Malad, last year’s runner-up, graduated just one player and returned five all-conference selections. The Dragons enter the tournament with a 21-2 record.

“We knew a while ago that we were likely going to see Malad in that first game,” Nearing said. “We are scouting and doing everything we can to determine our best plan of attack. Our biggest Achilles heel is how young we are. Being matched with a veteran team who is back to get that title, in the first round, will be rough.”

Toughness always matters in the postseason, and Kellogg got a crash course during its latest showdown with Orofino.

Friday night’s 43-39 win was anything but easy. Despite beating the Maniacs twice in the regular season—and again just four days earlier—this matchup felt entirely different. The stakes were higher, and the Wildcats were missing key pieces.

“We knew Friday was going to be difficult without three of our key players,” Nearing said. “We knew that Orofino was likely aware that they would be gone and were going to prepare for that.”

Kellogg had already been without sophomore Aleah Philp for several weeks after a knee injury in January. Nearing adjusted by leaning on several reserves in shifting roles. But heading into Friday’s game, she learned she would also be without freshman Gretah Angle and sophomore Ella Yrjana because of a conflict with a major club volleyball tournament.

Angle, Kellogg’s leading scorer and starting guard, keeps the Wildcat offense moving. Yrjana, meanwhile, had emerged as a key reserve in Philp’s absence and was often one of the first players off the bench.

“I was very disappointed that we could not get that last game changed to Thursday and I was sad that those three would miss it,” Nearing said. “Our practices looked good, and Gus (assistant coach Gus Colburn) and I really just wanted the girls to feel as confident about winning as we were. That was an emotional game.”

Kellogg’s lone senior, Dani Henrickson, who is also Nearing’s daughter, has been the Wildcats’ defensive anchor while serving as their second scoring option behind Angle. Playing the entire fourth quarter with four fouls, Henrickson took over late, grabbing boards, getting stops, and scoring the team’s final four points to seal the win over Orofino.

“Essentially, I think Dani's senior mindset of ‘this is it’ kicked in, and she went into overdrive at the end of that fourth quarter,” Nearing said.

Henrickson, a 5-foot-6 post, is routinely matched against larger players. She hasn’t let that size disadvantage slow her down, leading the CIL in double-doubles and sitting just half a point shy of averaging one for the season.

Junior Jordyn Stutzke, a shooter who shifted into a more off-ball role earlier in the year, stepped in at point guard and led Kellogg in scoring against Orofino. According to Nearing, Stutzke, along with sophomore Peyton Storey, have played the role of glue-guys all season. Some nights it's scoring, others it's defense and rebounding, but their activity has been vital when the Wildcats have been successful. 

Nearing also highlighted key reserve players Jovi Sorensen, Melena Munoz, Bella Schilleriff, and Sarah Gloyn, who she expects to play crucial minutes at the state tournament.

“I am so grateful that all of these amazing kids worked so hard this year to make this trip happen for all of them,” Nearing said. “As a mom, I will forever be grateful to them for giving me one more week to coach Dani. As a coach, I am grateful for one more week to see how these kids will continue to amaze and inspire me. They are magical.”

Nearing said there’s a good chance Philp could be cleared to return this week, and the rest of the roster is expected to be fully available, something Kellogg hasn’t had since mid-January.

Kellogg opens the 3A State Tournament against Malad on Thursday at Kuna High School at noon MST.