Preseason Coaches Poll
T-1. American Falls
T-1. Marsh Valley
T-1. Snake River
Players to Watch
Raquel Fehringer, American Falls
Zoie Grigg, American Falls
Hayley Bennett, Marsh Valley
Maycee Lunt, Marsh Valley
Rylie Edlefsen, Snake River
Reagan Van Orden, Snake River
Written by: Brandon Baney
The Snake River Panthers have been the South East Idaho Conference's premiere program over the past four years. Snake River has either tied for or outright won the league title every year since 2017-18.
That four-year run happened to coincide with the four-year career of Josee Steadman, who is now playing college ball at Colorado Mesa University. With Steadman gone, can Snake River replicate their recent success without their go-to leader? Can Marsh Valley, always lurking, take back the top perch in the conference? And what about a sneaky American Falls team that has flown under the radar recently?
If the preseason coaches poll is any indication, it's going to be a wild ride this year.
Snake River not only lost Steadman to graduation, but fellow All-Conference performer Jordyn Gilbert. Senior Reagan Van Orden is a great all-around athlete, but the player opposing coaches are most worried about this year is sophomore point guard Rylie Edlefsen. American Falls coach Stephen Grigg says, " She is also a good, smart player and will be tough to contain this year."
Snake River and Marsh Valley played an incredible six times last year. They split their regular season matchups. Marsh Valley then beat Snake River at districts in the semifinals, before the Panthers returned the favor in the championship round, setting up a winner-take-all second game. Not only did Marsh Valley vanquish Snake River in that game, but a week later, the Eagles defeated the Panthers again, this time in the consolation final at state.
Those performances have given Marsh Valley coach Kyle McQuivey a lot of enthusiasm headed into the 2021-22 season. Although do-everything point guard Zoie Armstrong graduated, senior guards Maycee Lunt and Sophie Hadley are expected to pick up the slack. They'll pair nicely with senior center Hayley Bennett down low. "Our quickness caused headaches for opposing teams last year," McQuivey says. "But we need to work on finishing (games) this season."
McQuivey also warns others to not sleep on American Falls. "American Falls improved tons last year," he says. American Falls coach Stephen Grigg doesn't think his team can sneak up on anyone, though. " I don’t know that anyone will surprise in our conference this year," Grigg says. "It will be a battle!"
American Falls lost several standout athletes from last year's team. McKenzie Long is now playing basketball at Walla Walla Community College, Emma Barclay is playing volleyball at Blue Mountain Junior College and Lili Bell is competing on the rodeo team at Idaho State University.
Despite those losses, Grigg feels good about his team, and it starts with point guard Raquel Fehringer. " She is a 4th year starter for us and I expect great things from her this year," Grigg says. Fehringer will be joined by juniors Zoie Grigg and Paige Adair to form the Beavers' nucleus this season.
All in all, the winner of the South East Idaho Conference may not be decided until district tournament time. "Honestly our conference is always tough," Grigg says. "It was a battle for the district last year and I would expect the same this year."