PR Sports

FIRST TEAM

TANNER HIGHAM

Senior guard, Shelley

THE PLAYER: From the dime-dropping assists to the unstoppable scoring to the lethal 3-point shooting, Higham is everything you could want in a point guard and more. Higham drew every defense from box-and-ones to zones to straight double teams — yet he led the area in points and assists. The only defense that proved effective was when Sugar-Salem committed two defenders to him in the backcourt, taking the ball out of his hands as soon as possible and keeping it away from him. Higham capped his basketball career with his second state title to go along with a football title and an individual golf championship.

ABOUT HIGHAM: “The thing we found, every team found, was that if you got into the fourth quarter and Shelley was close, Tanner took over and they won.” — Salmon coach Rick Sessions

Key numbers
19.9 points, 5.3 assists, 39.2 3-point percentage, 2.2 steals

JOSH FULLER

Junior forward, Madison

THE PLAYER: Madison needed Fuller to fill more than just one role. With the season-ending injury to 6-foot-5 senior Jameson Rammell in the first game of the year and the season-ending injury to 6-foot-5 junior Parker Anderson weeks before the state tournament, Fuller was the lone big man left on Madison’s roster. Not only did he have to fill his normal role, but now he also had to pick up Rammell’s and Anderson’s production while being the sole focus of defenses. All Fuller did was respond by averaging a double-double (21.7 points, 10 rebounds) at the state tournament, and he claimed the 5A tournament MVP award as Madison finished second.

ABOUT FULLER: “He was an extremely hard worker. He never gives up on a play. And he’s real versatile. He can hit inside and outside. He hit a lot of big 3s this year as well.” — Skyline coach Ty Shippen

Key numbers
17 points, 8 rebounds

MARK HOBBS

Senior forward, Salmon

THE PLAYER: The 6-foot-7 Hobbs found himself the focal point of every defense. Earning MVP at the Utah State camp over the summer will do that. But his all-around game left defenses helpless. He could use his frame to bang on the block or he could step out and splash effortless 15-footers. Or he could drive baseline and flush dunks over overmatched defenders. It got to the point where Salmon coach Rick Sessions stopped running the offense through Hobbs because of all the defensive focus. He just left Hobbs alone to find his, and he did.

ABOUT HOBBS: “We had to change set plays and not run certain set plays because we knew he would alter shots. When we played Salmon, we’d not run sets knowing he was going to be in the paint.” — Shelley coach Dave Hadley

Key numbers
13.4 points, 8 rebounds, 3.2 blocks

ROBERT EDWARDS

Senior center, Skyline

THE PLAYER: No player in the area put fear into opposing shooters like Edwards, a 6-foot-5 center who roamed the paint like a cougar stalking its prey. One of three blocks a game Edwards averaged was guaranteed to go six to 10 rows deep into the stands, forcing every opponent to think twice before lofting a shot in the key. But the key to Edwards’ season was the polishing of his offensive game. He added a midrange jump shot and a soft touch around the basket to go with his sky-high hops and defensive prowess.

ABOUT EDWARDS: “On the block, he’s so big and strong. Get him low on the block and he’s dangerous. And defensively, he’s so long, his presence definitely causes problems.” — Madison coach Bill Hawkins

Key numbers
14.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3 blocks

JORDAN JOHNSON

Junior guard, Hillcrest

THE PLAYER: Getting off the bus, the lanky, 6-foot Hillcrest guard wasn’t intimidating. But his size belied his Swiss Army-knife skills on the court. You’d expect a point guard to lead his team in assists. Points? Sure. But rebounding? Johnson played as if he knew where the ball was going and led the undersized Knights in boards. He also tied for the team lead in blocks. He was just as effective breaking the press and running the offense as he was slashing to the middle, working the high post, hoisting off-balance shots or posting up. But his most lethal weapon was lulling his defender to sleep and popping a 3 from the top of the key before entering the offense.

ABOUT JOHNSON: “The fact he’s only a junior is scary. The kid is a stud.” — Pocatello coach Lee Ralphs

Key numbers
13.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 36.8 3-point percentage, 4.3 assists, 2.5 steals

SECOND TEAM

Dalin Bernard, sr., G, Rigby: The 5-foot-9 guard had the athleticism to dunk and wreak havoc on defenses. He averaged 14.2 points and 4.1 steals per game.

Justin Coffin, sr., G, Hillcrest: One of Hillcrest’s three seniors, Coffin could light it up from the outside or hit an array of runners, floaters and teardrops in the lane to average 11.3 points a game.

Jase Schaat, sr., F, Rigby: The Rigby senior brought a force of muscle to the paint and imposed his will to 14.2 points and 10.6 rebounds, tops in the area, a game.

Colter Reeves, sr., F, Firth: The returning 2A player of the year drew the defense toward him and facilitated the rest of Firth’s offense. But he still averaged 11.8 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks a game.

Brennan Bean, sr., F, Sugar-Salem: Bean was that guy who drove you nuts because he always knew where the ball was going and played the game on another level. He averaged 14.4 points a game.

HONORABLE MENTION

Jason Burton, sr., G, Idaho Falls; Trevor Blanchard, sr., G, Madison; Adrian Johnson, sr., G, Skyline; Nate Walker, jr., F, Blackfoot; Kade Olson, jr., G, Hillcrest; Dallin Hancock, sr., F, Rigby; Tommy Higham, sr., G, Shelley; Kriff Jensen, jr., F, Firth; Rick Alvarado, sr., G, Challis; Kole Krosch, jr., W, Mackay