avalanche_sports

Melba girls rumble to three more wins

Mustangs knock off old rival — A change in conference didn’t change much, but Melba High School got past a former rival to start a week of tough games.
The Mustangs edged Cole Valley Christian, 38-33, in a non-conference girls’ basketball game played Dec. 3 in Meridian.
Melba (5-2 overall before Tuesday’s 3A Western Idaho Conference opener vs. Nampa Christian) avenged a 49-48 overtime loss in its Nov. 15 season opener with the Chargers.
Tariah Carter scored 19 points to lead Melba (6-2 overall), who ended the week on a five-game winning streak.
Darby Lowber added 10 points for the Mustangs.
Cole Valley Christian and Melba were perennial championship contenders in the 2A Western Idaho Conference and the 2A District III tournament.
The Chargers moved from the 2A Western Idaho Conference to the 4A Snake River Valley conference during the summer, while Melba remained in the WIC, which turned into a Class 3A league.
Saturday: Melba 51, Buhl 23 — Carter outscored the Mustangs’ hosts in a non-conference win on the road.
Carter poured in 24 points to go with seven rebounds, five steals, and two assists.
Darby Lowber came up with nine points, five rebounds, and six steals.
Thursday: Melba 44, Fruitland 43 — The Mustangs held off the Class 4A Grizzlies’ fourth-quarter charge to win a non-conference game on the road.
Melba owned a 37-29 lead heading into the final eight minutes and stifled Fruitland’s offense with a barrage of blocked shots.
Carter scored 18 points to lead the Mustangs, adding seven rebounds, four steals and three blocked shots.
Johnson chimed in with 12 points, six rebounds and three blocks.
Lowber chipped in eight points, four rebounds and two blocks.