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Written by: Matt Harris
Follow Matt Harris on Twitter: @IdahoSportsMatt
We’ve reached the essential mid-point of the boys basketball season and the three-quarter mark of the girls season. Believe it or not, the Real Dairy Shootout is right around the corner in the Treasure Valley! There’s nothing like the three day extravaganza of basketball we get to partake in each year in the Boise area. I look forward to it each and every year, as I’m sure you do as well. It doesn’t matter if you are at the 5A tournament or just taking in some 1AD2 ball, there are always great matchups and games once we get to the ‘Dance’.
That all being said, here’s a breakdown of how schools are doing in their respective conferences. First starting with the 5A and 4A High Country Conference’s in East Idaho.
BOYS BASKETBALL
5A High Country Conference
Highland Rams: The boys in red and black sit in first place in the conference, being led by standout players Stefan Gonzalez and Connor Harding. Chris Frost has his crew playing excellent basketball, sporting a 9-2 record. Their two losses come against Roy, Utah and the Century Diamondbacks. The return match against Century is Jan. 29 on the road, a game that if you’re in the area, you better go to it! If Highland continues to play the way it has during their wins, they will be a tough out in the state tournament.
Skyline Grizzlies: The Grizz are the surprise team of the conference this year. First-year head coach Clint Cornish has his squad with a 9-1 record overall, with their only defeat coming at the hands of Highland on the road. This Skyline team is sort of unconventional, as there is no true low-post threat on the team. You could argue that Zak Bennett is their low-block go-to-guy, but he, along with the rest of the Grizzlies, execute the offense from the outside and post up as necessary. Skyline’s defense has been huge for them this year, forcing even the best of ball handlers into bad passes and turnovers. They edged Madison 61-60 on Jan. 10 in the back-and-forth, see-saw kind of a game that saw plenty of runs. In the last three years when these two teams have met, the difference in the final score has been three points or less.
Madison Bobcats: As long as Bill Hawkins is coaching Madison, the Bobcats are ALWAYS in the race to the state tournament. This year, only two seniors returned to the roster, led by standout guard Lyle Sutton. A plethora of juniors and a few sophomores round out the squad. This team is extremely quick and can shoot the ball very well. They seem to have less of a post presence than in years past, as those who play down low seem to facilitate the offense through post passing as opposed to taking it to the rack. Madison is 7-2 on the year with a good amount of the conference schedule left. Don’t count out these Bobcats: their defensive tenacity and speed can get you out of your rhythm and into the loss column.
Hillcrest Knights: The Knights started off the year well, going 3-0. But since that time, a 3-4 record with big losses to Bonneville, Madison, and Highland along with a close loss to a 3A Shelley team that seems to be searching for their own identity cannot help boost your confidence. Coach Don Baldwin can coach his kids up however and Hillcrest could be the dark horse heading into the district tournament. They have two conference games this week against Idaho Falls and Skyline that will go a long ways in determining their positioning in districts.
Idaho Falls Tigers: Well, the positive is that the Tigers can only go up. It’s been a rough go of it for new Idaho Falls and former West Jefferson coach John Tucker. The Tigers are 1-8 on the season, having lost quite a few games by large margins (20+ points). On the bright side, Idaho Falls snapped what was a 29-game losing streak at home vs. Shelley on Dec. 10. While the Tigers probably will not compete for a berth at the state tournament this season, if Tucker can establish continuity and confidence in the program, Idaho Falls could return to prominence.
4A High Country Conference
Bonneville Bees: The Bees are 8-2 this year and have not lost to Idaho competition. Bonneville played in the “Tournament of Champions” in Chicago and went 2-2 against excellent competition. The Bees closest game in Idaho this year has was a 56-49 overtime win against 5A Madison on Jan. 4. Jared Stutzman, who has committed to the University of San Francisco, leads Bonneville alongside Telly Davenport and Scott Simmons. Could this be the year that Bonneville breaks their 5-year drought from state tournament participation?
Century Diamondbacks: The D-Backs are led by junior standout Malek Harwell and a great supporting cast. Century sports a 6-3 record including a big win against 5A Highland up on the hill. The D-Backs fell to Bonneville at home 74-65 on Jan. 8, with the return trip to the Hive looming on Feb. 7. Century has been consistent in advancing to the state tournament, qualifying for the trip to Boise the last four years. The problem? Each time, the Diamondbacks have gone 2-and-out. Will this year be different?
Rigby Trojans: If last year is the example, the lesson is “Don’t EVER count out Justin Jones and the Rigby Trojans”. After graduating literally EVERYONE from the 2012 state championship squad except for Jon Ryheem-Peoples, the Trojans came back to Boise as the top seed from the High Country Conference and proceeded to win it all again. Is there a “3-peat” in the works? The road is much more difficult this time around with Bonneville and Century playing at a much higher level and, with only a 5-4 record thus far, the Trojans need to peak at the right time. Landon Larsen, Haydn Landon, and Tyrel Phillips lead Rigby and will need to increase their presence to help Rigby return to state once again.
Preston Indians: Preston could be the dark horse of the 4A High Country Conference race to state. 6-foot-6 forward Preston Hobbs leads the way for the Indians, along with Austin Smellie and Kyle Lords. The Indians will always be a tough out, and if they hit their stride at the right time, they could possibly make a run to the state tournament. That would be a big step for Preston, which hasn’t been to the state tournament since 2007. A 7-4 record is promising for the Indians, but a 1-3 conference mark thus far won’t help matters.
Blackfoot Broncos: The Broncos have played well at times, including a 51-43 win over 3A No. 1 Snake River. However, Blackfoot has struggled more often than not, including big losses to Madison and Hillcrest. Taylor Pearson and Aaron Vail have led the way for much of the season and will need some boosted play from their supporting cast. Blackfoot’s 3-7 record isn’t great, but they could surprise you on any given night: just ask Skyline about that, who had to have a perfect 4th quarter from the field to edge the Broncos 65-62 last week.
Pocatello Indians: Joe Green and the Indians have had a rough season. A 1-9 record including an 0-5 mark in conference play. However, some injuries and close game-losses have kept that record looking less than stellar. In their last game, a 63-57 loss to Century, the Indians played one of their better games this year. They were aided by the return of senior Dexter Gunter, who led the way with 17 points. The core is young and foundation is being built for Green and the Indians, but the struggles will most likely continue this season.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
5A High Country Conference
Highland Rams: The Rams look to return to the state tournament once again and are in prime position to do so. They lead the conference with an 11-1 record, having won 11 straight games since a surprising season-opening loss to the Bonneville Bees on the road. They’ve won a lot of close games, showing their cool under pressure. The Rams have a big week ahead of them, visiting Skyline on Jan. 15 before hosting Hillcrest two days later.
Hillcrest Knights: While there isn’t a particular star on this team per se, the Knights just do whatever they have to in order to win. The Knights have played very well against competition in the 4A classification and are 3-1 against conference opponents. Five points is what separates Hillcrest from being 11-2 and undefeated. Those two losses were to Pocatello by 3 and Highland by 2. This is a dangerous team that can make a run at state.
Skyline Grizzlies: A lot of the focus on this team comes back to star forward Tilar Clark. The Utah State commit regularly leads the Grizz in points and rebounds. She is aided by sophomore Rylee Jensen, a threat from outside the arc. The supporting cast will need to continue to improve if Skyline wants a berth in the state tournament. An 8-6 overall record is solid, but in the competitive High Country Conference, that might not get it done. The Grizzlies have played in 11 games decided by 8 points or less: in those games, Skyline is 5-6.
Idaho Falls Tigers: Much like Hillcrest, there is no bona-fide star on this Lady Tigers team. But they work well together at times. Consistency in the offense has been an issues for Idaho Falls, as they are 3-5 in their last eight games, scoring mainly in the low 40’s. A recent four-game stretch all included losses to Highland, Hillcrest, Skyline, and Century. The 8-6 Tigers begin another similar stretch over the next two weeks that will be very important for seeding in the district tournament.
Madison Bobcats: After qualifying for the state tournament the previous two seasons, this year’s Bobcats squad has struggled from the get-go. Madison started the year with a modest 2-3 record, but since that time it’s been all downhill record-wise. Eight straight losses have this young team reeling… and it doesn’t get much easier from here on out. The Bobcats remaining five games include four at home, but they are up against teams like Pocatello, Skyline, Highland, Hillcrest, and Idaho Falls before entering the district tournament.
4A High Country Conference
Century Diamondbacks: The defending state finalists are back at it once again in the conference. Chris Shuler’s squad is playing at a high level and with six games left before districts, they are just getting warmed up. They will play the remainder of the year, however, without forward Kylee Casper who is sidelined with a knee injury. But college prospects Henny Hearn and Sarah Holt won’t let the D-Backs get down on themselves. With a 12-2 record and their only losses being vs. 5A Highland, there is plenty to be happy about at Century.
Pocatello Indians: After getting off to a slow start, the Indians are rolling now. You can’t really blame them for the slow start either. The messy firing of former head coach Laraine Cook just days before the season started really put a cloud over Pocatello High School. But new coach Brock Gunter and his team have done a very good job at battling the adversity and playing each and every night. Coming down the stretch, the 9-5 Indians seem to be in the race for a state tournament berth with 8-5 Rigby. It’ll all come back to execution that plays the key in determining who moves on to Boise.
Rigby Trojans: Rigby welcomed back former head coach Clyde Nelson this season and has helped re-organize a program that missed the state tournament last year after taking second place in 2012. Nelson told the Idaho Falls Post Register that his team focused a lot of defense over the Christmas break and that it has “paid off”. That defense will be the key for this 8-6 Rigby squad if they want earn a state tournament berth. Madison Harper, Kaitlyn Hawke, and Tori Anderson lead the way offensively for the Trojans and their supporting cast will play a big role in their potential success.
Blackfoot Broncos: If I had a dark horse pick for the High Country Conference district tournament, it’s the Blackfoot Broncos. It’s almost a “Jekyll and Hyde” situation for the Broncos: one night they play excellent against a tough a opponent, the next night that momentum doesn’t carry over. Blackfoot surprised Rigby at home with a four-point win on Dec. 17. Morningrose Tobey and Cassandra Clarke are the go-to players for the Broncos and they will need excellent play from their teammates to pull off any potential upsets.
Preston Indians: The Preston girls basketball squad keeps improving this season. A 6-10 record may not look too stellar, but it’s certainly forward progress. After knocking off Rigby this past week at home, the Indians have a good amount of momentum moving forward. They may not compete for a state berth this year, but the foundation is being built for bigger and better goals in the near future.
Bonneville Bees: While the Bees 3-11 record doesn’t look good, the play on the court at times says otherwise. Bonneville has played in eight games where the final point total differential was eight points or less: in those games, the Bees are 1-7. They just haven’t been able to play well in the close games this season, but the potential is definitely there. Savannah Marley and Mackenzie Johnson along with Haylie Keck have been fairly consistent for Bonneville. Don’t overlook this squad however... they have played very close games with Pocatello, Rigby, and Blackfoot. If they start playing consistently well as districts underway, Bonneville could the source of upsets in the 4A High Country Conference.
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