Coaches and athletic directors: We want to include your scores and stats in this nightly roundup but we need your help. Please submit scores and stats to Times-News Sports Editor Adam Engel at Adam.Engel@magicvalley.com, call Engel at 208-735-3288 or email TWFSports@lee.net.
BOYS BASKETBALL
1A DI
Lighthouse Christian 62, Shoshone 15
TWIN FALLS — After mistiming a potential dunk earlier in the game, Lighthouse Christian senior Jack DeJong had his moment late in the fourth quarter against Shoshone. He stole a pass, and found a wide open lane ahead before throwing it down.
DeJong, however, had already dunked in a high school basketball game. The real goal was to get senior Sam Rogers, who had never dunked in a game, his moment. He rose up for a dunk earlier in the game, but it clanked off the back of the rim. DeJong said Rogers has had the ability to dunk since eighth grade, but never found the right opportunity in a game.
People are also reading…
But on the possession following DeJong’s dunk, he picked off another Shoshone pass and tossed it ahead to Rogers. Rogers rose up and slammed it home, putting the exclamation point on a dominant performance. The Lions (3-0 overall) were the more athletic and skilled basketball team, controlling the Indians (0-3) from start to finish in a 62-15 win.
“It’s magical,” Rogers told the Times-News about the dunk. “I really can’t explain it. It was fun. I want to do it again. It was great.”
DeJong and Rogers scored a game-high 18 points, while Kai DeMoor also finished in double figures with 16. Kevin Juarez led Shoshone with six points. Lighthouse Christian is 3-0 for the first time since 2018-19, when it went 26-0 and captured the 1A Division II state championship, which remains the program’s only state title.
The Lions haven’t been a stable program since, with head coach Matt Harr the fourth person to have that position in the last four years. Harr does bring a wealth of experience though, having been the boys basketball coach at Twin Falls from 2002-2020, where he led the Bruins to three state titles and 14 state tournament appearances. He also coached basketball and baseball at Burley before coaching at Twin Falls.
Lighthouse Christian has just 13 players in the program combined on the varsity and junior varsity teams, but Harr has been impressed with his team’s effort so far. Learning a new offense and defense has been a bit more of a work and progress, though Harr thinks that will come around as well.
“They play hard, I can’t stress that enough,” Harr told the Times-News. “The X’s and O’s we’re a little weak on right now. It’s not the kids fault, it’s more of our system. So we’re getting better and better and by the time January rolls around I think we’ll be a pretty solid team against anybody in the state.”
The Lions will play next at Butte County (1-1) on Friday at 7:30 p.m., while Shoshone will host Glenns Ferry (2-0) on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
Interclass
Carey 51, Sun Valley Community School 26
Preston Wood had a game-high 23 points and Owen Parke added 15 to help the Panthers (1-2) pick up their first win of the season. Beckett Gates had nine points to lead the Cutthroats (0-2). Carey will host Liberty Charter on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., while Sun Valley will travel to Hagerman (1-1) for a 6:30 p.m. tipoff on Tuesday.
Camas County 69, Oakley 43
Tristen Smith led the Mushers (2-0) with 22 points, while Troy Smith added 18. Camas County will host Rockland (3-1) on Wednesday at 7 p.m., while the Hornets next game is at Valley (1-1) on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
4A
Burley 68, Caldwell 49
Nash Gillette had 15 points, while Ryker Page and Landon King both had 14 to help the Bruins (1-1) pick up their first win of the season. Burley's next game will be at Century (0-3) on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Interclass
Hansen 42, Richfield 35
Jesica Gomez had 21 points to help the Huskies (3-3). Hansen's next game is Thursday against Castleford (0-4) at 7:30 p.m., and the Tigers (4-3) rematch at Hansen at 6 p.m. Dec. 12.