Team Preview:
Written by: Matt Harris
One.
That's the number of seniors that the Firth Cougars boys basketball team lost from their 2A state championship squad last season.
Last year's team returned Firth to their perch atop the 2A boys basketball world, where they were king from 2007-2010. With so many returning players, it's hard to imagine a scenario where Firth is not in the championship conversation once again this season.
"We have three kids returning this year with All-State honors," head coach Scott Adams said, now in his 11th season as the head coach at Firth.
Those three players he is referring to are junior forward Connor Burkhart, the 2A Idaho Player of the Year, along with 2nd team All-State selections Zak Johnson and Braydon Adams.
Complete the starting lineup with All-Nuclear Conference selection Dallan Bingham and the shifty Lucas Orme, and Firth has quite the formidable starting lineup.
As it has been the past few years, you can be certain that every opponent Firth faces will be giving them their best.
The one lone senior gone from last year's squad was starting point guard Jordan Chapman, a player who balanced the Cougars attack last season.
"Jordan was a good team leader and a floor general for us last season," Adams said.
When it comes to improvements, Adams and his players already know the formula.
"We need to be better than we were last year with are quickness, attacking, team defense, rebounding, and discipline," Adams said. "That applies to both offense and defense."
Firth seems to be the team that everyone is gunning for in the state. The Cougars know about the importance of sticking to what they know. Adams hopes that continues throughout the season.
"Our motto this year is 'Brothers - Be As One'. As long as we follow our game plan each and every night and believe, we will be successful," Adams said.
The Cougars could certainly be better than they were last year... which has to be a scary thought for the rest of Idaho.
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