Bonneville Punches Ticket to State Tournament After Rollercoaster Season

Bees win district tournament for first time since 2014 after up-and-down regular season.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Bonneville High School boys basketball team is headed to the state tournament after a rollercoaster regular season that saw them lose three of their first four games, endure a five-game losing streak, and then rally to win the 5A District 6 tournament championship with an 81-73 victory over Shelley. The Bees, who lost eight seniors from last year's team that finished third in the conference, entered the postseason on a four-game win streak that included victories over Idaho Falls, No. 2 Hillcrest, and No. 4 Shelley.

Why it matters

Bonneville's turnaround and return to the state tournament is a testament to the team's resilience and coach Cortland Hengel's ability to keep the players focused despite the ups and downs of the regular season. The Bees' success also highlights the competitive nature of 5A boys basketball in eastern Idaho, where several teams have a chance to make a deep postseason run.

The details

In the district tournament championship game, Bonneville trailed Shelley 28-26 at halftime but rallied in the second half, going on a 13-1 run in the third quarter to take the lead. Shelley briefly regained the advantage in the fourth quarter, but the Bees responded with a pair of 3-pointers to pull away. Senior guard Tyler Jordan led Bonneville with 23 points, while Grayson Temple added 14 and Kade Littlewood scored 13.

  • Bonneville lost three of its first four games to start the season.
  • The Bees endured a five-game losing streak in the middle of the season.
  • Bonneville won the 5A District 6 tournament championship on February 25, 2026.
  • The Bees earned a berth to the 5A state tournament with the district title win.

The players

Cortland Hengel

The head coach of the Bonneville High School boys basketball team.

Tyler Jordan

A senior guard for the Bonneville High School boys basketball team who scored 23 points in the district tournament championship game.

Grayson Temple

A player for the Bonneville High School boys basketball team who scored 14 points in the district tournament championship game.

Kade Littlewood

A player for the Bonneville High School boys basketball team who scored 13 points in the district tournament championship game.

Brett Crandall

A player for the Shelley High School boys basketball team who scored 22 points in the district tournament championship game.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We've been challenging them all season”

— Cortland Hengel, Bonneville High School boys basketball coach (eastidahonews.com)

“We knew we had the potential”

— Tyler Jordan, Bonneville High School senior guard (eastidahonews.com)

What’s next

Shelley will have to beat Blackfoot on Thursday and then win a state play-in game on Saturday to earn a berth to the state tournament.

The takeaway

Bonneville's rollercoaster season culminated in a district tournament championship and a return to the state tournament, showcasing the team's resilience and the competitive nature of 5A boys basketball in eastern Idaho.