Players to Watch:
Tyler Thurston, Cascade
Samuel Huckaby, Cascade
Josh Gipe, Council
Wyatt Vining, Council
Tacoma Kelly, Garden Valley
Porter Larson, Horseshoe Bend
Koby Rivas, Meadows Valley
Cordell Bovey, Salmon River
Zane Nichols, Tri-Valley
Written by: Keller Sherman
Council cruised to a 12-0 conference record and 20-5 overall record last season, so it was no surprise to see the Lumberjacks as one of the Long Pin Conference’s two bids to state. The second bid would likely be decided by a tight middle tier of the conference between Garden Valley, Horseshoe Bend, and Cascade. The Ramblers upended Wolverines and Mustangs to take second place in the district tournament and advance to state. With a strong returning core, Cascade will hope to get back to the state tournament and avoid going two and out as they did last season. Council for their part will seek a spot in the state championship game.
Cascade’s late season rise helped Josh Hurley win conference coach of the year and also saw some players named to the all-conference list. Tyler Thurston received first team honors while Samuel Huckaby was named to the second team. Both are entering their junior seasons meaning they still have two years to leave their mark on the Ramblers’ program. Grant Whipple and Cole Olson are also young and will look to aid in taking Cascade to new heights. Hurley believes that just getting to the state tournament is a major motivator for his players to play well to help their team get back there again. By utilizing team speed, the Ramblers will look to get open looks to great shots in.
Council brings back league MVP and second team all-state player Wyatt Vining, who received the honor as a freshman. He is a great young talent that will only continue to get better over the next three seasons. First team all-conference honorees Porter McLinn and Josh Gipe as well as second team Malachi Goodwin in addition to honorable mention Macen Glenn will provide Vining with some great support as the Lumberjacks look to defend their conference title. Co-defensive league MVP and also a selection to the second all-state team Thatcher McLinn graduated however leaving a major hole to fill on Council’s defense.
Garden Valley is a team with a hungry desire to win. The Wolverines won the state title in 2021 and the team put in some hard work over the summer. Cascade head coach Hurley believes that the Wolverines’ shooters will be difficult to defend. They lost two thrilling games to Horseshoe Bend and Cascade in the district tournament and will have a chip on their shoulder. The Wolverines may be without two great players in Hudson Fields and Levi VanDyk, but they still have some all-conference talent in Tacoma Kelly and Trayson Corn among other good players that will keep the team a factor in the conference race.
Horseshoe Bend will be talented as well. Porter Larson and Kaelun Jones return, but the Mustangs will be without Decker Larson. Their point total was more than doubled up in a 60-29 loss to Council in the district championship game, but they had one last chance to make it to state and fell just short in that attempt losing 48-41 to Cascade. Horseshoe Bend like Garden Valley will also be playing with a chip on their shoulder and the Mustangs will look to be that second team to the state tournament in 2023.
Tri-Valley will have Zane Nichols back, but lost Charlie Gay. The Titans last played in March in 2018 and have their work cut out for them to get back to the state tournament. Salmon River lost a big one however. Co-defensive league MVP Garret Shepherd is absent from the Savages’ roster this season, but will have Cordell Bovey back. Meadows Valley will look to get back on track after a 1-17 record that included an 0-12 mark in conference play. The Mountaineers bring back a key piece in Koby Rivas as they look to right the ship.
Council seems to be the clear favorite in the Long Pin Conference yet again with the amount of talent the Lumberjacks return. Garden Valley will look to reclaim its spot on top of the league and get back to the state tournament while Cascade will look to be playing in March for the second straight season. Horseshoe Bend will look to remain in that second tier of the league while Tri-Valley and Salmon River will look to join that group as well. Last year’s results only make for a rough guess on how the conference will play out this year. The final standings at the end of the season could be completely different from the preseason expectations of a league that has several teams capable of surprising.