Players to Watch:
Oakley Homer, Highland
Charli Cook, Madison
Kambree Barber, Rigby
Kylie Dansie, Rigby
Aspen Caldwell, Thunder Ridge
Marley Spencer, Thunder Ridge
Kennedy Stenquist, Thunder Ridge
Written by: Marlowe Hereford
Thunder Ridge and Rigby made their way into the winner's bracket of the 5A state tournament the past two seasons, ensuring that eastern Idaho teams would be playing in trophy games usually occupied by Boise and North Idaho teams.
Several familiar faces return this winter for both the Titans and Trojans, who played each other four times last season and split those meetings.
The Titans, who have claimed 5A state trophies the past two seasons (consolation last season, second place in 2021), return Aspen Caldwell (Idaho commit), Marley Spencer (Montana Western commit) and Kennedy Stenquist from last year's 22-4 5A District 5-6 championship team.
Thunder Ridge head coach Jeremy Spencer said the Titans are fast paced on the floor and are working to improve free throw shooting this season. Defensively, Spencer said this team has a high basketball IQ and will be working to reduce the amount of points they give up.
"You'll see us jump back and forth from man and zone," Spencer said. "Game by game, play by play we shall see what our adjustments are based on how the game is going."
Spencer said to keep an eye out for Highland, which graduated multisport athletes Saydree Bell and Halle Richards and returns Oakley Homer. The Rams went last 10-12 season.
He added that Rigby's Kylie Dansie and Madison's Charli Cook are players to watch this season. Madison, which went 10-13 last year, graduated Whitney Wasden and Grace Dow.
"(Dansie) had a great state tourney last year," Spencer said. "(She) will be a factor in Rigby's success. Madison will look for (Cook) to lead that team. She'll be up for that challenge."
Second year Rigby head coach Todd Barber returns Dansie, Kambree Barber and Mylee Graham from last year's 19-7 team which fell to Lake City in the 5A state third place game.
Barber tabbed Cook and Caldwell as players to watch, and, like Spencer, tabbed Highland as a team to not overlook.
"They have some good returning players and a second-year coach will have them playing better," Barber said.