NAMPA — It may not have ended the way the team hoped, but it was a terrific run as the fifth-seeded Bonners Ferry Badgers finished as state 4A runners-up following a 71-35 loss to second-seeded Cole Valley Christian of Meridian at the Ford Idaho Center on Saturday.

In a year filled with close wins and displays of resilience, Bonners Ferry reached the state final after narrow wins in the quarterfinals and semifinals before falling at the final hurdle to a near-perfect Cole Valley team. They have now reached four consecutive championship games, winning two. 

Junior Peyton Hinthorn, who scored a team-high 14 points, said he was proud the team returned to the championship. 

“Losing five seniors last year was tough, but I’m proud that we got back here,” Hinthorn said. “Not a lot of people thought we were going to get back to the state championship and we did. It’s just unfortunate that things didn’t go our way.” 

Junior Ty Schrock, who averaged over 11 points in the state tournament, said there was motivation this season to prove doubters wrong. 

“We came out with something to prove this year,” Schrock said. “We got back to the championship, so I’m proud of that.” 

Bonners Ferry finished 15-9.

Bonners Ferry head coach Greg Kissee, in his first year leading the program, spoke about his expectations when he took over. 

“I was excited to take the job, excited to work with these kids,” Kissee said. “I knew it would be a tough year. We lost five seniors, but we also lost the state player of the year three years in a row.”   

“But I know what we have here. I was excited to take over, keep things going and we made it back to the championship. We wanted to win tonight; we thought we could.” 

It did not always look like the Badgers would have success this year. Following a 4-6 start to the season, the team improved significantly during the second half of its campaign. 

The Badgers entered the final with eight consecutive wins, including victories against Gooding and top-ranked Teton in the state tournament. 

“We’ve come a long way from where we were two or three months ago,” Kissee said.        

The Chargers were led by Cooper Kollman and Madden Compton, who each scored 18 points. 

A tight half-court press from Cole Valley was key throughout the game, leading to 15 Badger turnovers and several low-percentage shots.  

“Their press hurt us getting into our offense,” Kissee said. “They’re a tough team. They’re coached well. We didn’t play the way we wanted to, but these guys have fought all year.”   

Three-point shooting was another major difference in the game. The Chargers went 10 for 23 from behind the arc, while Bonners Ferry finished 0 for 14. 

Cole Valley also shot more than 50% from the field, compared to 31% for the Badgers. 

Second-year Cole Valley Christian coach Leif Karlberg praised the opposing team. 

“Those guys are winners and there’s winning in their DNA,” Karlberg said. “They’re going to start calling it the Bonners Ferry Invitational if they keep doing it because those guys play hard and they play the right way. I think they’ve got a lot to be proud of.” 

For senior starters Sulay Abubakari and Micah Thomson, their Badger basketball careers have come to an end. 

Abubakari, one of Bonners Ferry’s key players this season, finished with 11 points in the final. 

“I put in a lot of work in the summer,” Abubakari said. “I knew I was going to have to pick up a lot of the slack.” 

Bonners Ferry    12    3    11    9    —    35 

C.V. Christian    19    17    22    13    —    71 

BONNERS FERRY — Schrock 5, Hart 0, Buckhanan 0, Hinthorn 14, Allred 2, Scarborough 0, Abubakari 11, Thomson 1, Cartwright-Kissee 2. Totals 14-45 7-17 35. 

COLE VALLEY CHRISTIAN — Bieri 2, Hughes 5, Mensonides 6, Guray 0, Sautebin 2, Krogh 8, Kollman 18, Compton 18, Long 2, Hamby 1, Minegar 0, Frass 9. Totals 27-53 7-11 71.

    Sulay Abubakari goes up for a contested layup against Cole Valley. Photo By JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY
  

    Bonners Ferry junior guard Peyton Hinthorn attempts to shoot over Cole Valley Christian freshman guard Soren Fraas during the state 4A boys basketball championship game. Photo By JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY