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Kuna High School
School Info
Conference: 4A Southern Idaho Conference
Classification: 4A
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Head Coach: Brian Deatherage
Years as Head Coach: 3rd season
Previous Experience: Middleton (head coach), Skyview, Highland
Record Last Year: 10-14
Assistant Coaches:
Tracy Donaldson
Joe Kleffner
Alex Usog
Kyle Votrouvek
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Team Preview:
The Kuna Kavemen finished with 10 wins in the 4A Southern Idaho Conference. Coach Brian Deatherage said his squad “over achieved in a tough league last year.” He hopes the hard work pays off this season.
“It helped us understand situation basketball and what we can do in the end of quarters and game to win and how to value possessions,” said the third year head coach. “I’d love to win every game but the best part is teaching kids about life really and that’s the best part forming those relationships.”
Kuna lost five seniors, but returns five players with considerable experience from last year, including junior guard Jake Johnson.
At 6-foot-6, Johnson is an “athletic” guard who stars in hoops and on the football field. He’s drawing interest from schools like Washington with his skills at wide receiver. Johnson could be in a situation where he can pick what he wants to do between football and basketball.
“He’ll be our most consistent scorer,” Deatherage said. “He’s a mismatch nightmare… He is a great ball handler, good passer, know where’s his teammates are and is getting physical.”
The Kavemen also boast experience and size with a quartet of returning seniors in guard Jamison Tolbert (6-foot-3), the team’s “defensive stopper,” along with guard Ben Rogers (6-foot-1), post Gavin Patterson (6-foot-2), and post Haiden Hansen (6-foot-4).
Kuna also adds a quartet of juniors coming up from a successful junior varsity team in guard Kyler Ray (6-foot-3), guard Taylor Barton (6-foot-2), post Kyle Keenen (6-foot-3) and post Dilian Rowe (6-foot-3).
Of his additions from the junior class the coach said, “I think they really added to our cohesiveness. Their athleticism is better than what we’ve had. They understand our scheme and help us attack the rim with that length.”
When asked where his leadership will come from this year Deatherage said, “I want all of our kids to be leaders. As long as they’re good communicators on the floor. To us we should all be leaders. These are the nine best players at Kuna we want them all to be leaders.
Kuna starts the season with 5A opponents RM, Meridian, Eagle and Mountain View and then will play some of the best 4A team from Eastern Idaho at the Twin Falls Christmas Tournament. The tough schedule should prepare the Kavemen for another balanced in the 4A SIC. Skyview and BK are expected to compete as always, Mountain Home is improving steadily and Middleton returns lots of experience.
“We want to play with effort and cohesiveness,” said Deatherage. “We’re going to ride the guy with the hot hand. We are going to defend with passion and do the best we can defensively If we do that, we’ll be in every game we play.”
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