Bonners Ferry 57, Teton 53

“We're going to try to bring it home tomorrow,” Bonners Ferry Head Coach Greg Kisse said. “That's all we can do.”   

Bonners Ferry is in the state championship final after pulling off a massive upset, defeating the top-ranked Teton Timberwolves by four points in a nailbiter. The two-time defending champions are now one game away from making it a three-peat. 

The Badgers will now face the second-ranked Cole Valley Chargers, who have a record of 20-4, on March 7 at 3:50 p.m. MST, 2:50 p.m. PST. The game will be played at the Idaho Center in Nampa.

With twelve seconds left and the Badgers leading by one point, Sulay Abubakari held the ball, ready for an inbounds pass. Abubakari plays tight end on the football team. The play call required a quarterback and he delivered.  

A screen from Ty Schrock allowed Peyton Hinthorn to slip away from his defender. Abubakari wound up a threw an inch-perfect pass across halfcourt to Hinthorn, who was fouled. His two free throws gave the Badgers a three-point lead with ten seconds left that they would not relinquish. 

Bonners Ferry led for the entire game, but this was far from a blowout. The result of the game was only confirmed after Schrock rattled in a free throw to make it a four-point lead with one second left. Throughout, this was a battle between two teams that fought with everything they had to reach the final. 

Free throws were key in the game, with Bonners Ferry making 20 out of 23 attempts. Kissee said it had been an emphasis in practice.  

“Free throws have been huge for us,” Kissee said. “About a month ago, I changed my practices and started doing more free throws in practice.” 

The first quarter was all Bonners Ferry. Teton did not make a single basket as the Badgers flew out to an 11-3 lead. Three minutes into the second quarter, the score was 20-6 and it looked like a rout was going to occur at Eagle High School. However, the Timberwolves fought back and ended the half down nine, 30-21.  

The third quarter saw the lead cut further, with 10 points from Peyton Hinthorn and Sulay Abubakari all the scoring for the Badgers, who led 40-35 with eight minutes to go. 

Kissee said his team’s mentality improved throughout the season. 

“We knew that they were going to make a run on us and come back,” Kissee said. “My team's just been growing with every game and is a lot more composed than they were at the beginning of the year. So we just kept doing what we were doing.”

With one minute and ten seconds left in the semifinal, Risten Allred drove to the basket. Bonners Ferry was up by two points. Instead of attempting a contested layup, he wisely passed the ball back to Abubakari, who took a higher-percentage shot. The ball hit the rim and rolled off, where three Teton Timberwolves players were waiting. None of them got the rebound.  

Peyton Hinthorn somehow tipped the ball up in the air. In the chaos that followed, Abubakari grabbed the ball and went for another shot. This time, he was fouled, and he made it count by making one of his free throws in a momentum swing in favor of the Badgers. 

Two Timberwolves baskets were cancelled out by two free throws each from Schrock and Hinthorn. With ten seconds left, Teton had the ball down three points. Hinthorn came through, causing a wild shot from the Timberwolves that hit off the rim.  

Schrock got the rebound and was fouled. After missing the first shot, the second was made to give Bonners Ferry the win. 

Hinthorn led the team with 23 points and was backed up with 14 from Abubakari and 12 from Schrock, who had four fouls by the third quarter but did not foul out. Abubakari led the team with eight rebounds, three steals and two assists in an all-round performance. 

Jameson Cartwright-Kissee showed his three-point prowess, scoring six points with both shots behind the arc. He now has 15 points in the tournament on 41% three-point shooting. Micah Thomson played excellent defense and Risten Allred had a team-high two offensive rebounds. Broden Buckhanan also played well. 

Bonners Ferry 11 19 10 17 — 57 

Teton 3 18 14 18 — 53 

PTS: Hinthorn 23, Abubakari 14, Schrock 12, Cartwright-Kissee 6, Thomson 2 

REB: Abubakari 8, Allred 4, Hinthorn 3, Schrock 2, Buckhanan 1, Cartwright-Kissee 1 

AST: Abubakari 2, Thomson 1, Allred 1 

STL: Abubakari 3, Hinthorn 2 

BLK: Hinthorn 2 

3PT: Cartwright-Kissee 2, Abubakari 2 

    Sulay Abubakari drives to the basket while being closely guarded.
Photo By JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY  

    Peyton Hinthorn, who had 23 points, takes a shot against Teton.
Photo By JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY