10 questions (and a little overtime) with: Twin Falls senior Brennon Lancaster

1. What do you love about basketball?
The competition and feeling like you are getting better and better.

2. Who are your role models?
My parents.

3. What other sports do you play?
Football and Golf.

4. Who is your favorite professional athlete?
LeBron James.

5. What is your favorite sports team?
The Tennessee Titans.

6. What is on your iPod?
Kid Cud.

7. What is your favorite movie?
Pineapple Express.

8. What is your favorite television show?
Anything on ESPN.

9. If you could be any animal what would it be?
Cheetah.

10. What are you looking forward to about college?
Meeting new people.

First choice:

1.Twitter, Facebook or Myspace?
None.

2. Xbox 360, PS3 or Wii?
Xbox 360.

3. Pro sports or College sports?
College.

4. Home cooking or going out to eat?
Home cooking.

5. Dogs or cats?
Dogs.

6. Math or History?
History.

By: Times-News writer Michael Cole

10 questions (and a little overtime) with: Twin Falls senior Ryan Petersen

1. What do you love about basketball?

I love the competiveness it takes to be successful and having to work with a team of guys to get where you want to be. I love scoring and shooting.

2. What other sports do you play?

Baseball.

3. Who is your favorite professional athlete?

Tim Tebow.

4. What is your favorite sports team?

The Denver Broncos.

5. What is on your iPod?

Michael Valdez.

6. What are your other hobbies?

Frisbee Golf.

7. What is your favorite movie?

Remember the Titans.

8. What is your favorite television show?

The Office.

9. What are you most looking forward to about college?

Getting out on my own and seeing if I can survive.

10. If you could have any superhero power what would it be?

To fly.

First choice:

Twitter, Facebook or MySpace?
Facebook.

Xbox 360, PS3 or Wii?
Wii.

Pro sports or College sports?
College.

Home cooking or going out to eat?
Home cooking.

Dogs or cats?
Cats.

Math or History?
Math.

10 questions with: Twin Falls sophomore Josie Jordan

1. What do you love about basketball?

I love basketball it’s a competitive sport and I just love being with my team.

2. Who are you role models?

My Coaches.

3. What is your favorite quote?

“It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog.”

4. What other sports do you play?

Volleyball and Track.

5. What is you favorite sports team?

The University of Tennessee.

6. What is on your iPod?

Anything and everything.

7. What are your other hobbies?

Camping with my family and hanging out with my friends.

8. What is your favorite movie?

Alvin and the Chipmunks and Coach Carter.

9. What is your favorite drink?

Pink Lemonade.

10. What is your favorite food?

Mexican and Italian.

– By Michael Cole, Times-News writer

State Tournament action at Magic Valley Overtime

Those of you who can’t attend this week’s state tournament, worry not. Just keep it locked to Magicvalley.com for the latest updates from the state tournament.
Times-News writer David Bashore will blog live from every girls basketball state tournament game he covers, including the opening games for Twin Falls and Jerome on Thursday. Further updates on featured games will come as the tournament progresses. Keep it here for updates.

Current blog schedule for state tournament
Thursday, Feb. 18
Class 4A: Twin Falls vs. Middleton, 1:15 p.m.
Class 4A: Jerome vs. Preston, approx. 8 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 19
TBA
Saturday, Feb. 20
TBA

Ten questions with: Filer senior Justin Orban

1. What do you love about basketball?

Being with my team and the excitement and fun that I have playing.

2. What is your favorite quote?

“One person, one practice, one game at a time.”

3. What other sports do you play?

Soccer.

4. Who is your favorite athlete?

LeBron James.

5. What are your other hobbies?

Hunting and riding four-wheelers.

6. Who is your favorite musician?

Akon.

7. What would you be doing if you were not playing basketball?

I would be at home eating or sleeping.

8. What is your favorite television show?

SportsCenter.

9. What was the last movie that you watched?

Avatar.

10. What famous person would you like to meet?

LeBron James.

– By Michael Cole, Times-News writer

Ten questions with: Twin Falls junior Jazlyn Nielsen

1. What do you love about basketball?

I love basketball because of the competiveness and the way we grow as a team.

2. Who is your role model?

My role models are my brothers. They have taught me everything I know.

3. What is your favorite quote?

“Decisions determine destiny.”

4. What other sports do you play?

Dance.

5. Who is your favorite professional athlete?

Deron Williams.

6. What is your favorite sports team?

The Utah Jazz and the University of Tennessee.

7. What are your other hobbies?

Singing, taking pictures, and hanging out with my friends and family.

8. What is your favorite movie?

Coach Carter.

9. What is your favorite television show?

So You Think You Can Dance.

10. What is your favorite food?

I love pasta!

– By Michael Cole, Times-News writer

Feb. 9 boys basketball poll

By David Bashore — Times-News writer

Ten local teams cracked this week’s media poll, released today. Twin Falls slipped to No. 2 in the 4A poll after losing at Minico, while the Spartans snuck in at No. 5. Filer fell two spots to No. 5 in the 3A poll after a loss to Canyon Ridge last week. Glenns Ferry and Declo remain Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, after their classic overtime game on Saturday, won by the top-ranked Pilots. Prairie took away Castleford’s share of No. 1 in the 1A Division I poll with Raft River and Shoshone fourth and fifth, respectively. Carey, which has been at the top of the 1A Division II poll for several weeks, is joined by Mackay after the Panthers lost to Hagerman on Saturday.

This is the second to last week of the boys poll. The girls poll concluded last week. Here are the rankings, as well as my vote this week.

Idaho High School Boys Basketball Media Poll
Records as of Feb. 9
Class 5A
Team (1st) Rec. Pts.
1. Eagle (7) 18-1 39
2. Post Falls (1) 16-2 33
3. Vallivue 16-4 24
4. Timberline 14-5 15
5. Madison 12-6 4
Others receiving votes: Coeur d’Alene 3, Centennial 2.

My vote: 1. Eagle, 2. Post Falls, 3. Vallivue, 4. Timberline, 5. Centennial.

4A
Team (1st) Rec. Pts.
1. Skyview (7) 16-2 39
2. Twin Falls (1) 16-2 32
3. Hillcrest 16-3 24
4. Moscow 13-5 13
5. Minico 14-5 10
Others receiving votes: Bishop Kelly 1, Middleton 1.

My vote: 1. Skyview, 2. Twin Falls, 3. Hillcrest, 4. Minico, 5. Moscow.

3A
Team (1st) Rec. Pts.
1. Priest River (8) 14-3 40
2. Sugar-Salem 15-3 31
3. Snake River 14-4 19
4. Fruitland 13-5 14
5. Filer 13-4 10
Others receiving votes: Shelley 3, Weiser 3.

My vote: 1. Priest River, 2. Sugar-Salem, 3. Fruitland, 4. Filer, 5. Shelley.

2A
Team (1st) Rec. Pts.
1. Glenns Ferry (8) 17-2 40
2. Declo 14-5 24
3. Melba 14-4 21
4. Firth 14-5 18
5. Kamiah 15-3 13
Others receiving votes: West Side 4.

My vote: 1. Glenns Ferry, 2. Firth, 3. Melba, 4. Declo, 5. West Side.

1A Division I
Team (1st) Rec. Pts.
1. Prairie (4) 17-1 36
2. Castleford (4) 17-1 34
3. Troy 14-3 19
4. Shoshone 16-3 18
5. Raft River 14-5 12
Others receiving votes: Gem State 2, Genesee 1, Liberty Charter 1.

My vote: 1. Castleford, 2. Prairie, 3. Raft River, 4. Shoshone, 5. Troy.

1A Division II
Team (1st) Rec. Pts.
1. Mackay (4) 13-1 36
1. Carey (4) 17-2 36
3. Nezperce 14-4 19
4. Murtaugh 12-3 18
5. North Gem 11-5 8
Others receiving votes: Dietrich 2, Community School 1.

My vote: 1. Carey, 2. Mackay, 3. Murtaugh, 4. Nezperce, 5. North Gem.

Poll voters
David Bashore, Times-News; Mark High, Morning News; Paul Kingsbury, IdahoSports.com; Greg Lee, Spokesman-Review; Michael Lycklama, Post Register; Mark Nelke, Coeur d’Alene Press; John Wustrow, Idaho Press-Tribune; Jesse Zentz, Idaho Statesman.

LIVE: Twin Falls-Jerome girls

This blog will update from the Great Basin Conference semifinal game between Jerome and Twin Falls. The winner clinches a berth in the Class 4A state tournament and will host the Great Basin Conference championship game on Thursday. For the latest updates, refresh your browser.

Twin Falls scores the final 18 points of the game, including one at the horn, but it’s far too little, too late. Jerome will host the Great Basin Conference championship game Thursday, and more importantly, the Tigers qualify for the state tournament in two weeks’ time in Meridian. Twin Falls will play Tuesday for a state berth against Minico or Wood River. Thanks for checking in, see you next time.

FINAL: JEROME 53, TWIN FALLS 42

0:16 Q4 – Aimee Hiebert with a 1-and-1 effort, but she misses the front end. Twin Falls will get the last shot.

0:32 Q4 – Jund with a 3-pointer to make the game a 13-point affair. Jerome in no hurry of course, with less than a minute to go.

1:05 Q4 – Jund hits a little runner to carve the gap to 16. Jerome throws it out of bounds on the other end.

1:37 Q4 – Another long 3 from Grubbs-Imhoff makes it 53-35.

1:52 Q4 – Jerome entering a stall to try and work the remaining time off the clock.

2:15 Q4 – It’s 53-32 now, with another free throw from Twin Falls. Both teams subbing liberally.

4:10 Q4 – I stand corrected. Thibault comes back in for Maddison Blevins. Josie Jordan gets fouled in the act of shooting and gets 1 of 2 to go. 53-31.

4:28 Q4 – Williams hits a shot and is fouled. She misses the free throw, but Twin Falls is up to 30.

4:48 Q4 – Grubbs-Imhoff drops another 3-pointer and then steals the ball and gets fouled on the layup (Burnham’s fourth). She misses the first free throw and makes the second and it’s now 53-28. This horse left the stable three quarters ago, of course.

6:04 Q4 – A long sequence of passing draws applause from the fans as Jerome looks to salt some time away. Callen and Thibault exit, presumably for the final time.

7:33 Q4 – Callen hits a baseline 15-footer to push the lead back to 29. An errant shot from Twin Falls gives Jerome the chance to crack the 30-point mark. No running clock in districts or state, however.

END OF THIRD QUARTER: JEROME 51, TWIN FALLS 24: Mallory Jund steals the ball while Jerome’s bench is trying to give instructions for the final shot. Jund’s layup ends up being the last shot and Jerome will start the final period with the ball and a 27-point lead.

0:52 Q3 – Callen turns provider in the low block, finding Garey for a long 2. Twin Falls again throws it out of bounds. Bruins losing their composure a little bit. Jerome up 51-22.

1:14 Q3 – Callen stuffs Josie Jordan’s scoop attempt, then throws it out of bounds off of her. Heady play from the Seattle Pacific-bound senior. Timeout Twin Falls.

1:27 Q3 – Smith with a power move to the basket to push the lead back to 27.

2:01 Q3 – Smith shoves Clark’s shot right back in her face. Twin Falls keeps the ball out of bounds, but Bartlett airballs a 3-point attempt and Jerome takes over.

2:49 Q3 – Garey stuffs Williams in the low block. Still 47-20. Until Nielsen drops a long 2, that is.

4:04 Q3 – Brylee Bartlett steps on the sideline with the ball, then Burnham cans a 3-pointer off Thibault’s assist. Twin Falls throws it away on the other end. Thibault gets fouled going to the basket and hits both shots. Jerome’s rolling, now up 47-20.

4:31 Q3 – Taylor Williams is fouled in the act of shooting and hits both foul shots to cut the deficit back to 20. Not for long, though, as Callen goes to the rack and gets fouled. She hits both free throws (she doesn’t miss many) and it’s 42-20.

5:16 Q3 – It’s so end to end you’d think it was a hockey game. Both teams trade misses then Smith strips Kelsey of the ball and Burnham goes to the other end. She blows the layup but Carrie Thibault is there for the board. She’s fouled in the act of shooting and hits both to push the lead back to 20. Smith hits a short jumper on a Thibault assist and the lead is now 40-18.

6:36 Q3 – Callen goes coast to coast for a layup with a nifty stepthrough. Erin Grubbs-Imhoff drains an NBA 3 on the other end and it’s 36-18.

7:15 Q3 – Baylie Smith stuffs Alexin Clark and Callen then forces a jump ball. Garey drains another bucket and she’s now got 13. 34-15 Jerome.

THIRD QUARTER: Both teams are back out to start the third period. Twin Falls takes the ball, attacking the south end of the gym. Just in case anyone was unclear.

HALFTIME STATS: Aubree Callen leads all scorers with 13 points for Jerome on 4-for-7 shooting from the field and a perfect 5-for-5 on the line, while Tinley Garey is right behind her with 11. Jazlyn Nielsen has eight to pace Twin Falls. Callen also has eight rebounds and five steals (she’s on pace for a triple-double), while Nielson has four boards for the Bruins.

They just auctioned off a John Stockton/Karl Malone-era Utah Jazz autographed basketball for a little under $500. Considering they’re both sure to be in the Hall of Fame one day, that’s a bit of a steal.

For all the talk coming from Twin Falls, it was all Jerome, especially in the first quarter. On the opening tip the teams got confused which basket they were going toward, and Jazlyn Nielsen was all alone under the Twin Falls basket to give the Bruins an early lead. Jerome tied it at 2 and then the fire alarm goes off. Everyone (well, mostly everyone because it was a short alarm) left the building and when we all got back in Jerome exploded on a 15-4 run to make it 17-6 and the lead has been 12-18 from that point on. Twin Falls chirped a lot about how much it wanted Jerome in this game, but the Tigers chose to do their talking on the floor.

HALFTIME: JEROME 32, TWIN FALLS 15

1:55 Q2 – Haylee Burnham surges to the basket and dishes to Tinley Garey, who extends Jerome’s lead to 17.

2:23 Q2 – Malllory Jund drains a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 13. At the other end Allie Kelsey gets in Callen’s way and they both go crashing to the ground. Kelsey, who got the worst of it, picks up the foul. Callen hits both ends of the 1-and-1 and it’s 30-15 Jerome.

3:08 Q2 – Aubree Callen with a pair of free throws to push the lead to 28-9. Jazlyn Nielsen counters with a 3-point jumper at the other end.

3:23 Q2 – Sorry folks, but we had a slew of technical difficulties, and a fire alarm that prompted an exit that prevented me from working on it in the interim. In any event, we’re back on Magic Valley Overtime rather than the conventional mode, which will be back next time I’m sure. Sorry for all the confusion.

In any case, we join the game with Jerome sporting a 26-9 lead.