Final State Bids in the Idaho Falls Metro

<p>The State tournament is in sight as it opens up this week. Teams this weekend had their final opportunities to be one of those teams represented in the State Tournament. Let’s look at some of the squads that booked their spot. </p> <p><strong>Snake River Leans on Veterans to Earn Spot</strong></p> <p>On Saturday against Filer, guard [player_tooltip player_id="969629" first="Noah" last="Watt"] wasn’t on target in the first half. Watt found his rhythm in the second half, scoring all 15 of his points in the second half to help the Panthers win 61-46 and punch their ticket to the state tournament in a state play-in game at Pocatello High School. The team looked poised and in control in the second half leaving Filer no chance. </p> <p>Watt wasn’t the only senior stepping up for Snake River with the Panthers’ season on  — and, by extension, their careers — on the line. Mitch Lindsay, Chandler Coombs and Watt combined to score 30 of the Panthers’ 35 points after halftime.</p> <p>Lindsay equaled Watt with 15 points for the game and Coombs added 14 for Snake River.</p> <p>The Panthers will open the state tournament against Fruitland, the No. 1 seed from District 3, at Columbia HS on Thursday.</p> <p><strong>Rockland Outlasts Mackay</strong></p> <p>At Hillcrest, Rockland’s win despite a furious Mackay comeback clinched a state tournament spot and left Bulldogs coach Shae Neal with a simple reaction.</p> <p>Braden Permann’s two free throws with five seconds left gave Rockland a four-point lead and rendered Mackay’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer meaningless.</p> <p>The Bulldogs jumped out to a 13-0 lead to start the game and were up 38-25 at halftime, but Mackay scored 30 points in the fourth quarter to come storming back. Rockland’s clutch free-throw shooting kept enough of a distance from Mackay. This time their free throw shooting wouldn’t hurt them. </p> <p>Rockland lost to North Gem by one point in the same play-in game a year ago, with Permann missing two clutch free throws late to help the Cowboys complete a big comeback. It stung and stuck with them and helped them this past weekend avoid another tragic defeat. </p> <p>Freshman Teague Matthews led the Bulldogs with 20 points and 11 rebounds.</p> <p>Permann added 19 points.</p> <p>Rockland plays Clark Fork in the first round of the state tournament Wednesday at Caldwell HS.</p>