SportsMarch 8, 2025

Tigers continue to dominate in their now Class 2A ranks, adding a basketball state championship to the football crown they won in the fall

Lewiston Tribune
Kendrick receives their champion trophy after their win over Kamiah at the Idaho 2A state tournament on Saturday in Nampa, Idaho.
Kendrick receives their champion trophy after their win over Kamiah at the Idaho 2A state tournament on Saturday in Nampa, Idaho.Liesbeth Powers/Moscow-Pullman Daily News
Kendrick players celebrate a basketball during the first half against Kamiah in the Idaho 2A state tournament championship game on Saturday in Nampa.
Kendrick players celebrate a basketball during the first half against Kamiah in the Idaho 2A state tournament championship game on Saturday in Nampa.Liesbeth Powers/Moscow-Pullman Daily News
Kendrick's Hudson Kirkland jumps for a shot against Kamiah at the Idaho 2A state tournament championship game on Saturday in Nampa.
Kendrick's Hudson Kirkland jumps for a shot against Kamiah at the Idaho 2A state tournament championship game on Saturday in Nampa.Liesbeth Powers/Moscow-Pullman Daily News
Kamiah players celebrate a basket against Kendrick at the Idaho 2A state tournament championship game on Saturday in Nampa.
Kamiah players celebrate a basket against Kendrick at the Idaho 2A state tournament championship game on Saturday in Nampa.Liesbeth Powers/Moscow-Pullman Daily News
Kamiah's Dave Kludt jumps for a two-point shot against Kendrick at the Idaho 2A state tournament championship game on Saturday in Nampa.
Kamiah's Dave Kludt jumps for a two-point shot against Kendrick at the Idaho 2A state tournament championship game on Saturday in Nampa.Liesbeth Powers/Moscow-Pullman Daily News

NAMPA -- For a second sport within the span of one school year, the Kendrick Tigers have claimed a state title in their first season after moving up a size classification.

After a tightly contested three-plus quarters of play in an all-area, all-Whitepine League Idaho Class 2A state boys basketball final, the third-seeded Tigers roared to a run of 17 unanswered points to record a convincing 66-49 upset victory over the No. 1 Kamiah Kubs on Saturday at Nampa’s Ford Idaho Center.

The Tigers had accomplished the same feat in football last fall with a team consisting of many of the same players.

For the Kubs (23-3), it was a second state runner-up finish in four years. Kamiah had defeated Kendrick 60-53 and 65-58 in two regular-season meetings, but the Tigers struck back to upend the Kubs in a 52-46 district final and have now done the same at State.

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Kendrick (20-7), which had started the season off struggling to a 7-7 record in its first 14 games, went undefeated in its last 13, winning all of them by margins of at least two possessions and 10 by double-digit margins.

For more on this game, see Sunday's Daily News online.

Daily headlines, straight to your inboxRead it online first and stay up-to-date, delivered daily at 7 AM