Players to Watch:

Daytona Folkman, Firth
Bridget Leslie, Firth
Emrie Lenz, North Fremont
Halli Orme, North Fremont
Brianna Scott, Ririe
Madi Andreason, Ririe
Makinley Bond, Ririe
Jaylee Ball, West Jefferson

Written by: Marlowe Hereford

Unpredictability and competitiveness have remained the constants for the 2A Nuclear Conference regardless of the year or how many players graduated from the previous season.

Ririe, which has won a record six consecutive 2A District 6 titles (including eight of the last 10 titles), graduated Nuclear Conference player of the year Maggie Ball and Breyer Newman from last year's 19-9 team which fell to Soda Springs in the 2A state consolation game. The Bulldogs have numerous seniors this season and return multisport athlete Brianna Scott, who reached 1,000 career kills this fall during a volleyball season that ended with a repeat district championship and the 2A state third place trophy, as well as Madison Andreason and Makinley Bond.

"I think this will be a team that shares the basketball well," Ririe head coach Jake Landon said. "We have to replace scoring from last year."

Defensively, Landon believes the Bulldogs are also balanced.

"We have good athleticism on the perimeter and some size inside that should make us balanced defensively," Landon said. "We like to get after teams with an aggressive defensive style."

North Fremont, which faced Ririe in an if-necessary 2A District 6 championship game last season, graduated all conference players Graycee Litton, Adrianne Nedrow and Mariya Hoffner from last year's 12-13 team. The Huskies, who reached the 2A state tournament last season for the first time since winning the 2013 state title, return all conference players Emrie Lenz, Alyssa Hill, Blanca Mazo and Halli Orme.

Longtime North Fremont head coach Ben Lenz said working hard and playing together are the top priorities for the Huskies. He added that the Huskies, Salmon and West Jefferson will all have young teams this year.

"Firth brings back the most experience," Lenz said. "Ririe will be good as well. It comes down to who's peaking and playing well down the stretch."

Graduation did not hit Firth as hard as other Nuclear Conference teams. All of Firth's players to receive all conference honors last year--Daytona Folkman, Piper Clayson, Macie Mecham, Rylee Nielson, Emrey Guthrie and Bridget Leslie--were underclassmen.

The Cougars went 7-16 last season.
West Jefferson graduated numerous seniors, including Eliza Anhder, Kimbur Mecham, Cambree Hall, Lindsey Dalling and McKenna Neville who received all-conference honors. The Panthers went 10-14 last season.

Salmon, which went 2-15 last season, graduated all conference players Ele Tarkalson and Hailey Pilkerton.