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Homedale High School
School Info
Conference: 3A Snake River Valley Conference
Classification: 3A
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Head Coach: Casey Grove
Years as Head Coach: 3rd season
Previous Experience: Homedale JV coach for 3 years
Record Last Year: 22-3
State Titles: 1969
Assistant Coaches:
Luke Ankey, Craig DeMark
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Team Preview:
Written by: Vince Trimboli
Three years ago when he arrived at Homedale Casey Grove inherited a team coming off a 4-17 season. But the former Trojan junior varsity coach quickly turned the corner going 10-11 in 2013 and then last year the Trojans we’re less than a second from winning the state title.
The Trojans went 22-3 and lost to Buhl in the Championship game when Talon Freelove’s long distance shot went in just after time expired. Despite losing Freelove, along with First-Team All Idaho selections Caleb Oviedo and Lane Sale, Grove hopes the newly established winning tradition will breed more success.
“We just move forward,” Grove said when asked about the tough loss. “It’s a good experience. They know what it took to get to get to that point. Hopefully they will repeat the process in how we went to work in practice.”
The success has been felt at all levels of boys’ basketball in Homedale. The Trojans are a combined 101-25 at the freshman, junior varsity and varsity level since took the helm in 2012, including 58-7 last year.
“People love to win and once you started winning its contagious. Losing is contagious too. The kids have learned what it’s like to win and they liked it. It’s all catapulted off that,” he said.
The Trojans return several players with extensive varsity experience. Senior guard Dillon Lowder as first team all Snake River Valley conference last year. “He has gotten better over summer. I expect him to be our leading scorer,” said Grove.
Twin brothers, junior forward Connor Carter (6-foot-2), junior Forward Garrett Carter (5-foot-11 both dedicated themselves to the weight room this summer. Conner Carter is a three point shooter, while Garret Carter is the “defensive stopper” who guards the other team’s best player most of the time. The Trojans will also rely on senior guard Miguel Monejano.
Unlike last year Homedale will lack a major presence in the post. The “small” and “scrappy” Trojans will play at least nine players.
“We’re going to be run and gun, that’s for sure this year,” Grove said. “Conditioning will be a huge part to four success. We are going to wear teams down by attrition. We have a good shooters. So it’s a matter of wearing teams down and shooting a lot.”
The SRV will be balanced from top to bottom. Homedale will certainly have a chance to defend as league and district champs. But Fruitland is expected to have a talented guard heavy team. Emmett drops down from 4A with several returning players and Parma has depth and should be much improved.
“It’s going to be the most competitive our league has been top to bottom in the last 10 years. I can see almost any team being able to beat anybody,” Grove said.
“Our first goal is to get through league and district. But now that we’ve had a taste of it (state) our goal is to make it back. Anything can happen when you get to state.”
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