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Kuna High School
School Info
Conference: 4A Southern Idaho Conference
Classification: 4A
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Head Coach: Alex Jensen
Years as Head Coach: 3rd season
Previous Experience: Troy three years, Orofino one year, Clearwater Valley six years (five assistant, one head coach)
State Titles: 1978, 1990
Assistant Coaches:
Mikel Baker
Dennis Jordan
rianne Hughes
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Team Preview
The 4A Southern Idaho Conference was a one-horse race last year as Skyview was heads and shoulders better than the rest. With the defending league and state champs losing some key seniors, Kuna coach Alex Jensen says the league will be more balanced which bodes well for his experienced team.
The league also lost Emmett to 3A and Columbia and Nampa move up to 5A which will change the complexion of the league and could open up opportunity for a team like Kuna that brings back experience and depth from a 9-14 team.
“We hope to be in the top three range. It will be hard to predict. Last year I could have told you Skyview could do as well as they did. But this year it’s going be a lot closer.”
The Kavemen (or should we say women) only graduated two seniors and return six players that saw meaningful minutes in 2013/2014. A team strength will be in the post.
Junior post Allison Law (5-foot-11) is back for her third year on varsity. Law was 2nd Team All 4A SIC averaging 18 points per game. She is described as a “fundamental post” by her coach.
“She’s not going to overpower you. But she has more moves than anyone else I’ve ever coached,” said Jensen who has also coached at Clearwater Valley, Orofino and Troy, all District-2 basketball powers. “She’s plays really well with her back to the basket and is a good finisher.”
Senior post Paige Brower (5-foot-11) is good presence in the middle as a rebounder and holds her position well. “
She guards the other team’s top post threat and helps keep Allison out of foul trouble,” said the third year coach.
Senior point guard Nicole Arizana is a defensive leader that creates ball pressure. “She runs the show offensively and we don’t have to worry about getting pressed often. She can handle it on her own,” Jensen said.
“I really adapt to my team. Our focus is to value every possession and limited wasted possession. We have to play through our posts to be successful. We have to make sure the big girls touch the ball on every possession.”
Jensen said he is going to have a coach chart each possession and if posts don’t touch the ball, he’ll make sure they do on the next possession.
The SIC will be solid again as the league boasts Skyview, Bishop Kelly and Middleton all three have won titles in the last five years and all three should be good again this year.
“Our goal first goal is to give us a chance to play at the state championships. We need to play better at districts. We haven’t played for a chance at state. We need to value the preseason to get better, but gear up for league and districts,” he said.
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