State Tourney Preview – Idaho Falls vs. Mountain View
This is part 3 of 4 state tournament previews
Idaho Falls vs. Mountain View
6:15 PM at the Idaho Center
McCarthy's move to point turned season around
This is probably the second best match up of the first round for the 5A classification. Both teams have a great back story and the individual match ups are intriguing as well.
Idaho Falls (13-11) is headed back to state for the first time since 2003. They took an unconventional route to the state tournament but one that may ultimately have made them better for it. After starting the season out strong, they went on a six game losing streak. But in an effort to get the Tigers back on to the tracks, head coach Darin Monk moved the team’s leader, 6-3 junior Sean McCarthy to the point guard position and the team hasn’t looked back since. McCarthy gets a lot of support from junior Daniel Craig and big man, senior Derek Despot.
Percifield was the top scorer in the SIC
For Mountain View (18-5), it has been since 2007 since they were in
the state tournament. The Maverick’s Tyson Percifield was in 8th grade at the time so
this is his, and the rest of the team’s, first trip to the tournament. They finished the regular season tied for first in the conference but qualify as the #3 seed. Percifield, a 6-1 senior guard that has already signed at Carroll College, led the SIC in scoring and was at the top of most of the shooting percentage charts for the year. Teammate Brandon Luedtke (6-4 junior post) was near the top of the league in rebounds and blocked shots. They have a steady supporting cast including Tyson’s sophomore brother Tanner, a threat from the 3-point line, and seniors Zach Cooper, Brock Rule and Jesse Endicott.
This game, and specifically the potential match up between Percifield and McCarthy, is likely to go under the radar. But as two of the best players in the state go head-to-head, both with what Colby Blaine would call the “It” factor, this is probably the best individual match up between players in the tournament so far.
Next up, the best overall game of the 5A bracket, Post Falls vs. Borah
