Team Preview:
Written by: Will Hoenike
Fifth-year head coach Jerrod Farr has a solid core returning this season for the Challis Vikings and, hopefully, the added year of growth and experience can help the team dodge a mid-season dip that really hurt the team last season.
After a steady 3-3 start, which included a nice win over 2A West Jefferson, the Vikings dropped seven of their next nine games. But Farr feels improved depth provided by the younger classes will help propel the team forward this season.
“This team is very young and could be very excited if we get there,” Farr said, adding that he’s looking forward to, “helping kids try to reach their potential on and off the court.”
Farr returns senior forward Tristan Stillwaugh, an honorable-mention All-Conference selection as a junior. Kyle Gregory and Will Millick return to the starting lineup as well, giving the Vikings good experience. Ross Sheppeard and Mitch Contant return to the varsity squad as well, looking for increased roles and increased minutes.
All-Conference guard John Scott Farr has graduated, but Coach Farr believes sophomore guard Will Ashley is ready to step forward and help fill the void.
Challis averaged just over 50 points per game, which isn’t too bad. The team netted over 60 three times, going 3-0 in those games. Defensively, the team allowed close to 55 points per game. Farr would like to see that number drop, saying that his overall team defense should be an area of improvement this season.
Grace and Challis are the only two teams in the 1A Division I High Desert Conference. The two teams met three times last season, with Grace earning the victory all three times by an average of about 12 points per game. Challis’s rival went on to reach the 1A Division I state semifinals. No doubt the fans in Challis would love to see the script flipped this season and have the Vikings be the team playing in the semifinals.
The two teams will play their two conference games against one another in a one-week span. First, in Challis on January 20. Then, exactly one week later, the two foes will tangle in Grace on January 27. The Vikings play home-and-home sets with 2A Salmon, 2A North Fremont and 2A West Jefferson during the non-conference portion of their schedule.
Assuming the Vikings stay healthy (an “x-factor” for any team) and get the development and improvement that Farr and assistant coach Brad Lambson expect, the team has a good chance to compete for a spot in the 1A Division I state tournament in March.
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