Team Preview:
Written by: Will Hoenike
It was almost a tale of two seasons for the Notus Pirates last winter.
During the “first” season, head coach Jon Conner’s crew lost six of ten, including two losses each to 1A Division II runner-up Council, Tri-Valley and Jordan Valley (OR).
Then came the “second season,” which saw Notus rip off five straight wins during January en route to a 10-4 finish and a solid run in the District III Tournament in late February. That included road wins at Victory Charter and Liberty Charter, the latter going on to reach the 1A Division I State Tournament.
Can Conner and his assistant coach, Matthew Carrier, build on the strong finish and carry it over to this season?
“I’m fortunate to have a terrific group of quality kids,” Conner told the Preview. “I have no doubts they will work hard and progress throughout the season due to their character and willingness to play for one another.”
It starts with senior guard Jacob Godina, a 2nd-team All-Western Idaho Conference selection as a junior.
“Jacob is a terrific floor leader,” Conner noted. “(He is) really good at getting us in to our offense.”
Godina will be joined in the lineup by junior guard Caleb Zimmerman, junior forward Mark Green and senior forward Eryk Peterson.
“Eryk and Mark do a solid job providing a nice defensive presence inside,” Conner pointed out. In its 14 wins last season, the Notus defense only allowed one team to score over 45 points. Conversely, in seven of the team’s nine losses, its opponent topped 45.
The Pirates will get at least one chance to settle a score from last season when it travels to Midvale, Idaho, to take on Tri-Valley on December 6. The Titans are also part of a post-holiday tournament at Notus on December 29 and 30 as well.
With Notus returning four key pieces of a team that finished hot last season, winning 14 games, Coach Conner’s group should be in the mix in the 1A Western Idaho Conference. It’s a tough conference, though, boasting the defending 1A Division I state champion (Ambrose) as well as state qualifier Liberty Charter and a solid Riverstone International School squad, among others. When asked what he sees as the key for Notus to battle for a possible WIC title, he pointed this direction:
“Health, continued growth of young kids and continued leadership by upper classmen will determine how successful we are.”
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