Eastern Idaho Action: Part 1
Heading east to the land of rolling hills, dairy farms, and generally windy days, eastern Idaho is also a hotbed for some really talented basketball players who will go on to have great careers beyond their time at the prep level. Eastern Idaho has been a great place to find underrated talent for a long time, and the 2021-22 season has shown once again that this is a very true statement. As the state tournament approaches quickly, a lot of great players will be on display for all to see at the beginning of March. Continue reading for a look at some of the best recent performances from eastern Idaho.
Preston vs. Pocatello: In a matchup featuring two of the top programs from the eastern side of the state, Pocatello was able to complete a rallying comeback thanks to an offensive explosion in the second half. After trailing by their largest deficit of 13 points during the game, Pocatello used a 50-point second half to make up for their setbacks before ultimately winning by 4 points in the closing seconds. Pocatello scored just 2 points in the first quarter but started to gain momentum in the second quarter before really finding their footing and putting on an impressive offensive display in the second half.
Pocatello was led by a 27 point performance from Julian Bowie. He scored 22 of his 27 in the second half and brought a lot of energy and aggression to the table to give Pocatello the necessary boost. Bowie was all over the court on defense as well as he forced a lot of turnovers and did a great job of keeping Preston out of their rhythm. Ryan Payne Ryan Payne 5'10" | SG Pocatello | 2022 State ID also scored 15 points for Pocatello, including a couple of three-pointers at crucial times throughout the game to keep the lead close, as well as capping off a couple of big runs. Payne played with a lot of poise and showed that he was not rattled by a big deficit.
For Preston, Druw Jones scored a team high 21 points and utilized a stellar mid-range jumper throughout the night. He was constantly finding ways to score for his team and showed why he is one of the top guards in the state. Steve Roberts also added 11 points for Preston around the rim, Brecker Knapp added 10 points, and Cam Hobbs was able to score 10 points from mid-range in the losing effort.
