PLAYERS TO WATCH
Kyler Kelly, Buhl
Dominic Robles Pierce, Buhl
Tate Trevino, Buhl
Kasen Christensen, Filer
Jarrett Evans, Filer
Karsen LeMoyne, Filer
Kimball Anhder, Gooding
Braden Martin, Gooding
Broden Anthony, Kimberly
Jakob Cummins, Kimberly
Kasen Hammond, Kimberly
Written by: Brandon Baney
The Sawtooth Central Idaho Conference is always tough to predict. Talent ebbs and flows through Buhl, Filer, Gooding and Kimberly with regularity, making it hard to gauge where everyone truly stands. That was apparent in our preseason coaches poll, where Buhl was picked to win the league. Second-place Kimberly was only a point behind Buhl in our poll, and third-place Filer was a single point behind Kimberly. Add it all up, and the 2023-24 SCIC race should be thrilling once again.
Buhl was tabbed the league favorite based upon eight returning players from last year’s team, including four starters. The Indians rode the rollercoaster a season ago, starting 1-9, before finishing 5-5 down the stretch. The Indians won when it mattered most, winning the district tournament with a perfect 3-0 mark. Then, at state, after a first-round loss to Bonners Ferry, the Indians defeated Homedale in a loser-out game, before falling to Fruitland in the consolation final.
Now that the ups and downs of last year are behind them, 14th year coach Dan Winn feels good about the talent returning to Buhl. “We have a nice blend of guards and size,” says Winn. “We are a motion-based offense, trying to get movement of the ball and players. We will feature those who have skills to score in various ways: shooters, post play, dribble drive, cutters, and offensive rebounders.”
6-foot-3 senior guard Kyler Kelly is the reigning SCIC Player of the Year, and he’s joined in the backcourt by six-foot senior Dominic Robles Pierce, who Winn says “is the best defender in our conference.” Sophomores Tate Trevino and Zack Azevedo will also be counted on at the guard position this season. Those shooters will pair nicely with 6-foot-5 seniors Conner Sullivan and Jackson Allen inside, along with 6-foot-4 junior Kaiden Villaro.
Winn was equally effusive in his praise for league rival Filer, though. “Not only do they return their top six players, but they added back their best player from the start of last year in Kasen Christensen,” Winn says. “Not only that, but they added Wendell transfer Karsen LeMoyne, a 6-foot-4 stud.”
Indeed, coach Rob Anderson has a good nucleus to work with in Filer this season. A trio of starting guards return in senior Kasen Christensen, and juniors Owen Grant and Preston Volle. They’re joined by senior Jarrett Evans and LeMoyne in the post.
“We have a very athletic team that can get out and run and put pressure on defenses,” says Anderson. “Defensively, we have a decent-sized team that can cover a lot of the floor.” Anderson added that as long as Filer’s complementary players can find and accept their roles within the team, the sky’s the limit for the Wildcats this year.
It wasn’t that long ago that Kimberly was hoisting the blue trophy at state as the 3A champion. Two years removed from that title-winning squad, tenth year coach Daren Garey once again has a stable of high-octane athletes to rely upon.
Senior forward Kasen Hammond was an All-SCIC selection a year ago, as were guards Jakob Cummins (senior) and Broden Anthony (junior). That trio is joined by a pair of football standouts; quarterback Kade Larson will slide into a starting guard position, while senior forward Mike Goff was an All-State linebacker for the Bulldogs. “Mike is back after an injury kept him from playing last season,” says Garey. “He will bring a football toughness to our team.”
Hammond, Cummins, Larson and senior Parker Stringham were all member’s of Kimberly’s state championship team as sophomores, and their experience will be invaluable. “We have several players that have been a part of the varsity program for many seasons,” says Garey. “Having those kids mesh with some of the younger players will be fun to watch. These kids have a great mentality and their focus is all about winning.”
“Our depth is talented, but inexperienced,” Garey concluded. “It they can get up to varsity speed, we can have a special season.”
At Gooding, veteran coach Ryon Pope returns for his second season leading the Senators. His 27-year career also involves head coaching positions at Wendell, Preston and South Fremont. Pope’s team didn’t lose a single senior from a year ago, and return five seniors, three juniors, and a sophomore to the varsity team.
Senior post Kimball Ahnder was Gooding’s only All-Conference selection a year ago, but he’ll pair nicely with senior guards Braden Martin and Bryce Patterson, and senior forward Chase Patterson. Gooding will also welcome back senior forward Jackson Kelsey, who missed last season with an injury, as well as freshman Briger Pope.
“We have everyone back from last year and we showed a lot of improvement,” says Pope. “We worked hard in the summer and we think it will help us take another step in the right direction.”