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Welcome to "What's On Tap," where we'll highlight the games on the IdahoSports.com broadcast schedule. Most of these games just happen to be the best matchups around the state. If there's a big game on tap on IdahoSports.com, we'll break it down for you right here, each and every week.
Tuesday, Jan. 21st
Fruitland at Weiser (Boys Basketball)
7:30 PM
Watch Live
League play in the Snake River Valley Conference is just getting started, but Weiser (0-2 SRV, 8-3 overall) has already dug itself a hole with losses to Cole Valley Christian and Homedale. Fruitland (1-1 SRV, 4-9 overall) also has a loss to Cole Valley Christian on its ledger, but the Grizzlies came through with what may be a season-saving victory this past Saturday. Fruitland toppled preseason favorite McCall-Donnelly 54-53 when Titus Vidlak drove the length of the floor and scored with just nine seconds remaining to tie the game at 53-53. He was fouled on the shot, and his successful free throw provided the winning margin. Weiser's backs are against the wall in this one, so anything could happen here.
Kamiah at Lapwai (Girls Basketball)
6:00 PM (PT)
Watch Live
A win by Kamiah (8-2 Whitepine League, 12-3 overall) could force a tie for second place in the league standings. A win by Lapwai (8-1 WPL, 12-2 overall) keeps the Wildcats in the race for the conference title along with Prairie. These teams met in Kamiah on December 14th, with the Wildcats picking up a 45-27 victory. Skylin Picard led a balanced effort with 16 points for Lapwai. Kamiah's Emma Krogh scored 11, a number that will have to increase in the rematch if the Kubs want to have a shot at the win.
Wednesday, Jan. 22nd
Jerome at Burley (Girls Basketball)
7:30 PM
Watch Live
This is a battle for second place in the Great Basin Conference, as both squads are currently looking up at Mountain Home in the league standings. Jerome (3-1 GBC, 12-5 overall) trounced the Bobcats by thirty points earlier this year, but the Tigers have been beset by injuries all season, and lost to Mountain Home recently by forty points. Six days after the Jerome win, Mountain Home battled Burley (2-2 GBC, 12-4 overall) and only won by ten. It appears that momentum is on Burley's side, but can Jerome pull a rabbit out of the hat on the road?
South Fremont at Sugar-Salem (Girls Basketball)
7:30 PM
Watch Live
The moment we've been waiting for all year has arrived. The three-team Mountain Rivers Conference boasts a combined record of 46-4, and between now and mid-February, we'll find out which team once and for all is the best in this league. The shoes have started to drop already, with both Sugar-Salem (1-0 RMC, 17-0 overall) and South Fremont (1-0 RMC, 16-1 overall) picking up wins over Teton (0-2 RMC, 13-3 overall) last week. It's tempting to point to Sugar-Salem's 69-33 win over Teton, and glance at South Fremont's 55-47 win over the same Teton squad, and declare the Diggers the overwhelming favorites. And yet, that's what so many did last year when the Cougars eliminated the Diggers from the District Tournament.
Thursday, Jan. 23rd
Bishop Kelly at Middleton (Girls Basketball)
7:30 PM
Watch Live
A win by Bishop Kelly (8-1 Southern Idaho Conference, 11-5 overall) would force a tie atop the league standings. Alas, Middleton (9-0 SIC, 15-1 overall) has proven to be a tough opponent this year, as evidenced by the Vikings' 50-26 win over BK earlier this year. That win came all the way back on December 16th, though, and Bishop Kelly enters this game on a four-game winning streak. The latest victory came over a Parma team that is ranked second in the entire state in Class 3A. If BK wants to have a chance, they'll have to contain 5-foot-11 junior Miley Steele, who flirts with a double-double every time she takes the floor.
Lakeside at Wallace (Girls Basketball)
7:00 PM (PT)
Watch Live
Lakeside (4-0 Scenic Idaho Conference, 7-5 overall) has breezed through the first lap of league play, defeating Clark Fork, Genesis Prep and Wallace by double digit totals. The Knights hosted Wallce on December 17th, and picked up a 54-37 win. In that victory, point guard Kyleigh Wolfe scored 22 points to lead the way for Lakeside, while freshman Laila Charley added 13. Wallace was paced by Kephri Wood's nine points. The Miners (3-2 SIC, 7-6 overall) have been playing better in recent weeks, but how much have they closed the gap on Lakeside? We'll find out Thursday night.
Friday, Jan. 24th
Shelley at Skyline (Girls Basketball)
7:30 PM
Watch Live
Skyline (7-0 High Country Conference, 12-6 overall) has taken on every challenger thus far in conference play and emerged victorious. And while a win over the Russets can't quite wrap up a regular season title, it would put coach Ty Keck's Grizzlies one step away from clinching first place. Skyline defeated Shelley on December 13th by a 61-49 score. Senior Shay Shippen finished with a double-double in that victory, tallying 27 points, ten rebounds, five steals and two assists. Shippen has committed to Division I Columbia of the Ivy League, and as her brilliant career winds down, the only item that remains on the checklist is winning a state title. Shelley (4-4 HCC, 7-10 overall) checked that box last year, and until the defending champs are truly eliminated, they are still a dangerous opponent, especially with deadeye shooters like Mia Williams and Sarah Kidman leading the way.
Saturday, Jan. 25th
Kendrick at Kamiah (Doubleheader)
2:30 PM (PT)
Watch Live (Boys Basketball)
Watch Live (Girls Basketball)
This Whitepine League doubleheader features the boys game first, followed by the girls. The Kubs (6-0 WPL, 11-0 overall) have rarely been tested this year, although Kendrick (3-2 WPL, 7-5 overall) pushed Kamiah in their first meeting on December 13th, a game that the Kubs won 60-53. David Kludt scored 23 points in the win, and the College of Idaho commit recently crossed the 1,000 point mark in his storied career. Lawson Landmark added 17 points in the win for Kamiah, but it was key three-point shots by Jayden Crowe and Matthew Oatman in the final two minutes of game time that gave Kamiah the breathing room it needed. Kendrick was led by Maddox Kirkland's 16 points and Hudson Kirkland's 13 points. In the girls game, Kamiah (8-2 WPL, 12-3 overall) is also the favorite. The Kubs are currently in third place, looking up at perennial powers Prairie and Lapwai. Emma Krogh has been scorching the nets for Kamiah lately, and containing her will be priority number one for Kendrick (5-5 WPL, 6-8 overall).
Coeur d'Alene at Post Falls (Doubleheader)
3:30 PM (PT)
Watch Live (Girls Basketball)
Watch Live (Boys Basketball)
This Inland Empire League doubleheader promises to be spicy. In the girls matchup, Coeur d'Alene (4-0 IEL, 10-7 overall) is aiming for the season sweep of the Trojans after a 61-50 win on January 7th. Brookeslee Colvin scored 27 points in the win for the Vikings, hitting five three-point shots along the way. Post Falls (3-3 IEL, 6-13 overall) was paced by freshman Annabelle Tucker's 12 points. The reverse happened in the first boys' matchup this year. Post Falls (4-0 IEL, 12-5 overall) outlasted Coeur d'Alene (1-2 IEL, 7-6 overall) 67-63. The Vikings' Caden Symons and Carter Rupp finished with 29 and 20 points, respectively, but the scoring dropped off from there. Post Falls, meanhwhile, showed more balance, as four different players (Connor Carver with 22, Tyras Blake with 16, Jaxon Lynse with 13, and Trenton McLean with 11) reached double figures.
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