Players to Watch:

Kyler Nitzel, Cascade
Kallyn Rodgers, Cascade
Isabelle Eppich, Council
McKayla Hart, Council
Rhianna Iveson, Council
Hope Zollman, Council
Katlyn Thompson, Garden Valley
Manon Tyler, Tri-Valley
Stella Warren, Tri-Valley

Written by: Keller Sherman

Council represented the Long Pin Conference well in the 2022 state tournament, but fell to Rockland in the state championship game. The Lumberjacks will look to go on another run in both the conference and at the state tournament. This time, they will look to bring home a different trophy to the small Adams County town. Paula Tucker enters her second year as head coach in Council and she is all too familiar with some of the other teams in this league with 23 combined years of experience during previous stops at Garden Valley and Salmon River.

Council had four players named to ten spots on the all-conference teams and all four are back this year. These players are Hope Zollman and Rhianna Iveson, both 2nd team honorees with the former being named to the second all-state team, and 1st team selections Isabelle Eppich and McKayla Hart. However, reigning league player of the year and first team all-state Sydney Nichols, the team leader in scoring, assists, and steals is gone. She demonstrated a sense of competitiveness, determination, and leadership that will be missed.

The depth is there for Council to go on another deep run at state. Seven players will be in the rotation on the Lumberjack offense. In addition to the four returning honors players, incoming players Ava Eppich and Pepper Matthews as well as Cora Bingham will all work to execute good inside and fast play that keeps opponents on their toes. However, shooting as a whole needs to be improved. While it only proved costly in the state championship game loss to Rockland, there could be more losses this year if it does not improve.

Council’s defense looks to be fast as well as aggressive. Many of the key players on offense will also contribute to defense, but incoming player Porter Hart will look to be an especially key defensive piece for the Lumberjacks. The defense will look to further improve on the fundamentals of coming together as a defense. As Tucker enters her second year as head coach, she has seen her players buy into the culture she is creating in the program and what she wants to see her players do in all areas of the game.

Don’t be fooled by Cascade’s 2-15 record last season. Paula Tucker believes they have some athletes and if they put it all together they could be tough. The Ramblers return two all-conference honorees in first teamer Kyler Nitzel and second teamer Kallyn Rodgers. Grace Huckabee graduated last spring and was also named an honorable mention.

Another team Tucker thinks is capable of surprising people is Salmon River. The Savages had a shortened season last year and had to forfeit a handful of games, but they will look to get back on track this year. Salmon River is a well coached team and can make some noise if they can keep their team healthy and get some good players.

Garden Valley won 10 games last season going 10-14 overall and right at .500 in conference play at 4-4. The Wolverines will look to turn some heads this season with Katlyn Thompson and Gertie Fuhriman, second team and honorable mention all-conference players respectively. Can the Wolverines challenge Tri-Valley and potentially finish second in the league next season?

Tri-Valley was bested in league play only by Council last season. A state tournament trip for the Titans ended in disappointment as they went two and out losing to Council then Leadore. This year, they will look to not only make it back to the state tournament, but also win a game while they are there. Reigning conference defensive player of the year Manon Tyler returns for Tri-Valley and is the highlight of a slew of all-conference honorees that the Titans bring back. Hadley Atnip was named to the first team last season while Stella Warren earned second team honors as a freshman. Maren Hansen rounds out a talented group of players that could make the Titans a legitimate threat to Council.

Council has a chip on their shoulder and anything short of an appearance in the state championship game would be a disappointment for the Lumberjacks. Getting back to the state tournament will require navigating a league full of teams looking to knock off the Lumberjacks while also having to play their A game once they are there for three straight days in order to cut down the nets and bring home a banner.