Pavey 'plays like MVP' in Spartans' double OT win

| February 17, 2012 6:00 AM

MIDDLETON — Steffie Pavey summoned her ‘inner-Lin,’ scoring all nine of the Spartans overtime points and leading Priest River in a 50-48 double-overtime win to start the 3A girl’s state championships at Middleton High.

Pavey, a junior and the Intermountain League’s most valuable player, went three-for-three from distance late including a dagger from straight-away with 15 seconds to play in the second overtime period.

“She (Pavey) played like a MVP,” Spartan coach Gary Stewart said. “Those three threes’ she hit were clutch and she made a name for herself tonight.”

Pavey scored 20 points for Priest River (17-5), which hopes to have the legs tomorrow when they face top-ranked Marsh Valley (23-0) in a semi-final match set for 8 p.m. (PST).

“It’s an incredible opportunity to play Marsh Valley, which is on a quest for hardware after not quite meeting expectations in the past.” said Stewart. “But we’re going to approach it like we have nothing to lose, play loose and enjoy the moment. They’re the ones with the target on their backs.

Melissa Trost scored 10 points and Liz Halcro added seven for the Spartans.

Sadie Stutzman scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Fruitland (16-8), which faces Filer in the consolation round.

Fruitland 5 10 13 13 3 4 — 48

Priest River 8 14 11 8 3 6 — 50

FRUITLAND — Carlson 3, Farmer 4, Brown 0, E. Tesnohlidek 3, Moore 0, Clinton 6, Phillips 0, Ware 0, A. Tesnohlidek 0, Little 0, Tipton 0, Stutzman 20, Cuellar 12.

PRIEST RIVER — Weimer 0, Trost 10, Pavey 20, Endicott 0, Douglas 3, Deal 0, Bradbury 5, Doolittle 2, Halcro 7, Fink 0.

n Other scores:

Class 1AD1 State Tournament

Lapwai 58, Liberty Charter 36

Prairie 42, Glenns Ferry 27

Troy 60, Grace 49 Class

1AD2 State Tournament

Carey 46, Tri-Valley 37

Mackay 31, Richfield 25

Summit Academy 56, N. Gem 27

Class 3A State Tournament

Snake River 32, Weiser 25

Timberlake 59, Salmon 41 Class

4A State Tournament

Middleton 40, Madison 31

Moscow 40, Skyview 32

Wood River 34, Century 19

Class 5A State Tournament

Coeur d’Alene 68, Meridian 27

Highland 47, Eagle 40

Lewiston 47, Vallivue 40