PREP ROUNDUP: Marsh Valley boys basketball wins play-in game to punch ticket to state

After a brief one-year hiatus, the Marsh Valley boys basketball team is back in the state tournament for the fifth time in six years.

It knocked off last year’s state champion Sugar-Salem, 67-54, in Saturday’s state play-in game at Blackfoot High School.

Eli Hadley led the way with a game-high 19 points, thanks to five made 3-pointer on the day. Kaden Bullock was right behind with 18 points, going 8-of-12 from the field. And Justis Whitworth rounded out Eagles’ players in double figures with 14 points.

Marsh Valley outscored the Diggers 37-24 in the second and third quarters combined to take control of the game.

The Eagles (15-10) will play Filer (17-5) in the first round of state at 7 p.m. Thursday inside of Meridian High School.

BLACKFOOT 51, SHELLEY 48Dax Whitney notched a double-double of 15 points and 19 rebounds as the Broncos (11-13) advanced to the playoffs with a state play-in game win Saturday at Shelley.

This marks back-to-back appearances for Blackfoot, which draws the two-time defending state champion in the first round. It plays No. 1 Hillcrest (17-6) at 5 p.m. Thursday in the opening round of state at Rocky Mountain High School.

EAGLE 55, HIGHLAND 47Owen Wilde logged a team-high 20 points, but it wasn’t quite enough as the Rams (11-15) ended their season Saturday with a state play-in game loss at Burley High School.

Highland has now missed state in seven of the last eight seasons.

CLARK FORK 60, NORTH GEM 37Evan O’Brien and Gage Setser scored 11 points apiece, as the Cowboys’ (17-9) season came to an end Saturday in a state play-in game loss at Cascade High School.

It’s now the second time in the last three seasons that North Gem has missed the postseason.