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Homedale High School
School Info
Conference: 3A Snake River Valley Conference
Classification: 3A
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Head Coach: Joe Betancourt
Years as Head Coach: 4th Season
Previous Experience: 5 years as an assistant at Nampa
Record Last Year: 15-8
State Titles: 1980
Assistant Coaches: Taryn Corta Brady Swallow
Returning Players: Tory Lane, G-F, 12 Gardania Machuca, C, 12 Tristan Corta, PG, 12 Makayla Aberasturi, G-F, 12
Returning Players with Honors: Tory Lane (pictured), first-team all conference, 2nd team all-state
“Key Players” lost from last year: Morgan Nash, PG, floor leader Elise Shenk, averaged 9 ppg, could shoot, defend and attack the rim
Incoming “impact” players: Elizabeth Vargas, F, 12 Ashley Burks, F, 10 Madi Fisher, PG, 12 Carlie Sawyer, F, 11
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Photo By: Kelly Magee - #24 Tory Lane |
Team Preview
Written by: David Bashore
Homedale had a big season in 2014-15, making it to the 3A state tournament before losing its first two games once arriving at state. The ingredients are there for 2015-16 to possibly be an even better showing for the Trojans as they look to make a return trip to state in February.
The Trojans return four key players, all seniors, led by guard/forward Tory Lane, who was a first-team all-conference selection and a second-team all-state honoree last season. Point guard Tristan Corta, guard/forward Makayla Aberasturi and forward Gardenia Machuca also return for Homedale.
Homedale has the athleticism to make some headway both in the Snake River Valley Conference and in the 3A division at large. Its height, speed and athleticism will cause matchup problems for a lot of teams. The Trojans can run the floor in transition – their biggest strength and preferred offensive M.O. – but they can also shoot and crash the offensive glass.
Defensively, those qualities combine to give coach Joe Betancourt what he calls could be his best defensive unit in the four years he has coached in Homedale. With players constantly putting themselves in good positions to get rebounds, limiting the opposing offense to one shot on a consistent basis will be a key factor in the success the Trojans have.
The seniors on this team have played together since elementary school and they all know each other inside and out on the floor. Betancourt says that combining that knowledge and experience with the athleticism of the younger players could put Homedale in position for something special come season’s end.
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