Skyline advances to championship game as record watch for Shippen continues

IDAHO FALLS – Top-seeded Skyline advanced to the championship game of the 5A District 6 tournament with a 61-49 victory Thursday night over Shelley.

The Grizzlies will face second-seeded Blackfoot next Thursday with the winner earning an automatic berth to the state tournament.

The game appeared one-sided in the first half as Skyline jumped out to an early lead and took a 37-17 advantage into the half.

The focus then turned to Skyline senior Shay Shippen, who is chasing the state scoring record. Idaho doesn’t keep official records, but the 2,281 career points scored by Destiny Slocum of Mountain View is considered the top point total in state history.

Shippen needed 31 points to tie the mark and had 15 at the half. She hit three 3-pointers in the first half and scored on a steal and layup at the first-quarter buzzer.

But the early lead wasn’t safe as Shelley (9-14) chipped away and dominated the third quarter 14-4. The Russets would eventually cut the lead to single digits in the fourth.

Russets’ guard Mia Williams scored eight points in the third quarter and finished with a game-high 25 points.

The Grizzlies (15-7) maintained control midway through the fourth as Macy Marlow and Abby Muir knocked down 3-pointers to build the lead to 50-35.

Shippen had six points in the fourth before fouling out with 2:37 remaining.

“It came down to we got a little tense and a little tight,” Skyline coach Ty Keck said of the third quarter. “We have a lot of players playing in their first real district game and we all know it’s intense. The games get bigger, the moments get a little more important. But they rose up.”

Landyn Williams added seven points for the Russets.

Marlow finished with 11 points and Madison Merzlock scored 10 for the Grizzlies.