Players to Watch:

Rakeem Johnson, Bishop Kelly
Francisco Sanchez, Caldwell
Jack Keller, Columbia
Stevie Howe, Emmett
Dakota Perry, Emmett
Javonte Boles, Ridgevue
Tye de Souza, Ridgevue
Eloy Chaparro, Skyview
Max Cutforth, Skyview
Jace Martinez, Vallivue

Written by: Lucas Gebhart

The 4A Southern Idaho Conference (SIC) is undergoing a major change this season as schools have either shifted into or out of the league.

The most significant change is the subtraction of Middleton and the addition of Skyview. The Vikings won the 2021 state championship and got back to the 4A semifinals a year ago but are now playing up in Idaho’s 5A class along with Nampa while Skyview is returning to the league have a four-year absence. The last time Skyview was in the 4A class, the Hawks won the regular-season district title and made a run to the state semis.

But many are expecting Ridgevue to take a big leap forward this year. The Warhawks will be young and tall, but if they are able to get to the state tournament, it will be their first trip to state in school history.

BISHOP KELLY KNIGHTS

Record Last Season: 21-6

Head Coach: Ryan Kerns

No school might be more relieved with Middleton’s departure to the 5A class than Bishop Kelly.

Middleton closed its 4A stint with 11 straight wins over the Knights, meaning that a third (11 of 33) of BK’s losses dating back to the 2017-18 season has come to Middleton. That stat includes state tournament.

Now, with the Vikings out of the picture, BK now becomes an instant favorite to not only snag a bid to the state tournament for the third year in a row, but become a favorite to win the 4A SIC.

But the Knights will have to do it without three critical seniors, who all graduated last year in Blake Hawthorne, Tommy Hunter and Aidan McGarvin.

The Knights won last year’s district tournament after Middleton was upset by Vallivue in the district tournament. The Knights then went on to beat Vallivue to win the district title.

RIDGEVUE WARHAWKS

Record Last Season: 6-16, Missed State

Head Coach: Daniel Vint

The Warhawks have yet to make a state tournament and have not finished over .500 since opening their doors seven years ago.

But the Warhawks now feel as though they have a good foundation to build a roster that can make a run at the state tournament, and the league has taken notice as the league’s coaches have picked Ridgevue to finished second in the SIC. It would be the best finish in program history.

Head Coach Daniel Vint is returning four players who are 6-foot-4 or taller, two of which are sophomores in Javonte Boles and Tucker Tiddens. Tristan Correa is also back for his junior year. They will also add senior transfer Ashton Eaton to the backcourt and get back junior Tye de Souza.

“We are a fairly tall team across the board that will look to play physical in the paint on both ends of the floor, as well as push the ball up the court in transition,” Vint said.

Vint started two freshmen and a sophomore last year in his first season at the helm. The result was a six-win season, something you might expect from a new head coach and a young team. Now, Vint says they will look to use their size to be a bit more physical at both ends of the floor and play with more confidence.

“We are excited to have the majority of our key players from last season returning,” Vint said. “We are still fairly young again this season as we look to start two sophomores and two juniors, but those are all guys that played a lot of minutes for us last year and played key roles for us.”

SKYVIEW HAWKS

Record Last Season: 11-13, Missed State (5A)

Head Coach: Aaron Sanders

The last time Skyview was in the 4A ranks, the Hawks won 19 games on their way to the state semifinals.

But the following year, Skyview was bumped up to 5A and the program struggled to find success. Skyview won four games the following year and finished in the 5A SIC basement. They never made much of a contention for a state tournament bid as a 5A school, something that may not be the case now that the Hawks are back in the 4A class.

“I’m most excited that this year’s team will be in the middle of a competitive league where we will play tough teams every night but will be right in the mix to compete for a conference and district championship,” said head coach Aaron Sanders. “Our consistency on the defensive end and rebounding is what will determine a large part of our success this season.”

The Hawks will get back Eloy Chaparro, an honorable mention in the 5A SIC last season, but lose their most consistent scorer Sean Murphy, one of their best defenders in Christian Collins and their young point guard, Kaden Salvadori, who has transferred to Owyhee.

“We will try to push the ball in transition and create easy scoring opportunities before the defense gets setup,” Sanders said. “We have a lot of guys that can guard multiple positions. We also have a smart group of players that allow us to make changes and adjustments on the defensive end throughout the game.”

COLUMBIA WILDCATS

Record Last Season: 6-17, Missed State

Head Coach: Dom Fear

Columbia won just six games in Dom Fear’s first season as head coach, but the Wildcats are returning one of the best players in the league in Jake Keller.

Keller was one of two non-seniors picked to the 4A SIC’s all-conference list and is the only player on that list that’s actually coming back to the 4A ranks as Middleton’s Talmage Stucki is playing up in the 5A ranks this year.

“Columbia could surprise some people as I think they have a potential player of the year candidate in Jack Keller,” Ridgevue head coach Daniel Vint said.

Keller helped Columbia score nearly 50 points per game, but the problem is the Wildcats gave up a league-high 58.84 points per contest. That mark was not only the highest in the SIC, but the fourth highest in the 4A ranks statewide.

VALLIVUE FALCONS

Record Last Season: 14-10, Two-and-out at state

Head Coach: Mario Betancourt Jr.

Vallivue snagged the eighth and final seed to the state tournament after upsetting Middleton in the district tournament, but the Falcons lose their best player, Jacob Martinez.

Martinez was a two-time first-team all-conference selection for the Falcons, and was a leader on and off the court, according to head coach Mario Betancourt Jr.

“I am very excited to see a brand new team come together and play for each other,” Betancourt Jr. said. “It will be a challenge for both players and coaches. We are excited for this year.”

The Falcons do get back Jace Martinez back who is entering his junior season and will add Anthony Berber to the rotation down low.

“He will play a huge role for us this year,” Betancourt Jr. said. “He played JV last year but has been working on his game.”

CALDWELL COUGARS

Record Last Season: 7-18, Missed State

Head Coach: Rick Tigges

Head coach Rick Tigges is the league’s reigning coach of the year and bring a new sense of confidence to the Caldwell program.

Last year, the Cougars got off to an 0-6 start, but went 7-12 the rest of the way and came within a game of a state tournament berth, which is giving this program something to build off of.

“Last year, we took our lumps early as the kids adjusted to my style of play but after that we played some really good basketball,” Tigges said.

Caldwell will have a small line-up, and doesn’t have a true big man, but what the Cougars do have are shooters as both Francisco Sanchez and Alan Mendoza are back for their senior years.

“Sanchez has the look of a next level player and is drawing interest from colleges, has worked really hard in the off season to raise the level of his game, definitely a kid to keep an eye on,” Tigges said. “Mendoza is our hardest worker but needs to become our floor leader at the point guard position.”

EMMETT HUSKIES

Record Last Season: 6-18, Missed State

Head Coach: Scott Kern

Emmett hasn’t had much luck go their way their way the past few seasons as the Huskies have finished at the bottom of the SIC last four seasons.

Head Coach Scott Kern is hoping to change some of that luck as he now enters his third season at the helm.

“Third year in my program,” Kern said. “The kids understand what we want and how to execute.”

Kern says the Huskies aggressive defense could be the team’s strength this year. The Huskies did give up over 57 point per game last year, the second-highest mark among SIC schools, but did lead the league in steals. Five of his players finished in the top ten. Among the key returners this year are seniors Stevie Howe, Dakota Perry and Brandon Weekes. Kerns also adds that sophomores Tucker Brown and Kenyon Carter could make an impact as well.